4 year old face split open in classroom , teacher didn't see it ?

[ChirpyRedMoose]

So i recieved a call from my sons school about a hour after dropping him off. I was told He had an accident and had a deep cut on his face. When I arrived at school to collect him , he was in a side room with his teacher , the Head teacher and school nurse . He had a split across his face just below his eye which needed stitches. I was told he had and accident in the class but nobody witnessed it and if I could talk with him and fin me out. We left school heading straight to A&E where he had the wound stitched.
After speaking with my son he explained he tripped over a tray that was pulled out ,fell and hit his face on the coner of the unit. He the got up and went to the teacher.
I am aware accidents happen and teacher may not see everything but this was inside the classroom . It has been a few days since that accident my son returned to school but nothing more has been said about it and I have not recieved a report about the accident or any updat on it anything is being done.
I'm unsure what todo any advice?

Oh, that looks sore. Is he feeling better? My son tripped at home when he was much smaller and basically had what looked like a hole in his face at the time; it was dreadful and happened in a flash—very little scarring now, thankfully. Accidents are just that—accidents.

It's likely the accident would have been reported in their accident book, and I imagine there would have been some discussion at school about why it happened and if it could be avoided in the future. It's okay to ask them about steps to prevent accidents but it's likely just to be one of those unfortunate things op. I hope he heals well.

The teacher will have had to complete an accident report. He should have been seen by a First Aider and assessed and that info included on the accident report. But a teacher will only see what is in their eye-line and not everything is in a teacher's eye-line, all the time, in a classroom.

The teacher could have been:
Writing something down
Pinning things to a noticeboard
Speaking to children at the other side of the room
In a cupboard getting something out
Helping other children with something
Giving out resources
Listening to a child who wanted to tell him/her something
Sorting out a problem
Setting up ICT

Sounds like it was just an accident.

What do you want to happen?

Because there is nothing to investigate.
Child fell on corner.
Body reacted accordingly.

It's going to happen again. That's it.

You're being absolutly ridiculous and will definitely be the talk of the staff room.

Accidents like that happen.

If I really wanted an accident form, I'd be going into Reception (Office) nice and breezy tomorrow morning and just say "Morning, bit chilly out there today, just popping in to sign my Joshua's accident form from Monday. No rush I can wait I know mornings are hectic in schools" (and take a seat).

They'll probably say "ooh how is he now? that was a nasty cut,let me go get the form for you" and either bring you a half filled out form awaiting your signature or rush around and get one filled in then and there.

Do they have accident forms at school? I remember signing many of them at nursery but I haven't had to do one at school, even when my DS has bumped his head.

Accidents happen. I'm sure the school will have an accident log and the teacher has already recorded the details (they probably don't show this as standard) they contacted you as soon as the accident happened. It sounds like they've done enough to me, what is it you want from this?

You are also naive to just assume that accidents will only happen during the playground, and expecting a teacher of potentially 20 plus children to see everything that happens.

Totally agree .. kind of hard to explain also but the draw is really low basically on the floor that's why I came for advice ....if it had happened to me or a adult at work it would be a different story, risk assessments , possibly a claim regarless of if in was walking with my eyes closed.
BUT I would like u to understand I am not trying to get the teacher in trouble or looking for a claim just would like to know they are handling the situation properly even if they need to question my son to find out. Its been 13 yrs since I was doing the primary school thing I'm learning again but thanks for ur response.

@mynameiscalypso there should be some sort of first aid paperwork, particularly as it resulted in a hospital visit.

So he tripped over this low drawer which caused him to fall and cut himself. What do you believe would be ‘handling the situation properly’ look like?

Prevent how...like not letting him walk around? Wrap bubble wrap around him? What do you have in mind, exactly??

He wasn't looking where he was going and tripped over something. Why are you alluding to it being anyone else's fault?

He is doing well thank you , I agree accidents happen just thought they would atleast say something about looking into it maybe with my son let him show them. But nothing his teachers basically hiding behind the door at pick up and drop off now and I havent showed them an angry face , I was more surprised when I collected him that day.

Something similar happened to my oldest at primary school, got a deep cut to eyebrow and had it medically 'glued' as it bled a lot (still have a small scar there) but honestly never expected the school to 'do anything' about it, it was just a bit of a freak accident.

School is really different to nursery and pre-school to be fair. With bangs to to head for example, they might just come out with a sticker on their jumper saying I banged my head today. Accidents are fairly frequent with hundreds of kids in one space.

It does look a nasty cut and as a mum, you're bound to feel protective.

But as everyone's said, it was just an accident; accidents happen; teachers can't have eyes everywhere; it doesn't sound preventable so nothing for the school to investigate.

I think the school handled it absolutely fine. They didn't let you know at the end of the day; they called you straight after it happened. There was a teacher and a first aider with your son so he had been given first aid and had adults to reassure him while he waited for you.

There's not really anything more for them to do.

School have to record the accident. Ask for a copy of the entry from the accident book.

It does just sound like an accident, but it's fine to ask for the info.

Hope he's ok soon.

it doesn't sound preventable so nothing for the school to investigate Maybe, maybe not.

I'm so sorry this happened. If it was one of mine I'd be upset I've worked as a TA and even with 3 adults in a room it's not possible to have eyes on all 30 at once. Accidents happen, but I do empathise as a parent.

You said it yourself accidents happen, a drawer could have been left out at home or a toy and your child could have fallen in your care and done the exact same.

im not really sure what you are expecting, it was an accident.

my ds did the very same thing in my aunts garden, fell over a toy, these things happen.

It’s just an accident. Man up or maybe consider homeschooling if you want your child observing 24/7

‘Split his face open’ and the photo shows the child with a smallish but nasty cut. The photo provided comes with a ‘sensitive content’ warning. As a mother you’re upset - but really?

I must have seen too many little children in Gaza with faces really split open.

I fell over on the school playground when I was 5 and had the most horrendous black eye (it happened in October and the bruising is still visible in my school Nativity video from early December!), but my fall was unwitnessed by teachers. My Mum just took me to A&E when the school phoned her and accepted that it was an accident which could have happened anywhere, including at home. I’m sorry your little boy is hurt, it does look very sore! It was an accident though, and nobody could have prevented it.

Oh, don’t be so horrible. Of course there will always be something worse happening to someone else, but I would also be heartbroken to see my own little boy in pain with such a nasty cut on his face.

I agree, as I said it’s a nasty cut but to but it’s really a huge exaggeration to describe it as she did. Hopefully this is the worst injury her dc ever suffers. Not being horrible, just factual.

That's a horrible cut that needed stitches. There's no need to put OP down for the way she expressed it.

If one of the children in my class had had that kind of injury, despite it not being anyone's fault, I'd be making sure that I sympathised with the OP and checked on with her when he returned to school. So I think it's kind of reasonable to be disappointed with radio silence.