Give me strength, another problem at school

[rebl]

1st my ds and inclusion issues, now my dd. Honestly, they've only been in the school for 1wk and 2 days, all half days.

Today my dd's very serious medicine was sent home in another childs book bag . This is serious stuff, my dd has just 1ml of it, its strong stuff. The bottle was full, 125ml in it. The other child was found by her mother with the bottle in hand.

In the mean time the TA and class teacher are trying to find the medicine, repeatedly telling me that they had put it in dd's book bag. Then TA suddenly thinks maybe she put it in wrong book bag. So then I'm sent to secretary and sit there whilst they start phoning round all the parents. HT becomes aware of the situation and is going a funny shade of purple whilst the TA is just standing there looking terrible.

The parent who finds her dd with the medicine then turns up at the school with the medicine. I leave.

I don't know what to do. I'm totally fed up with complaining. But this could have been very serious. I have also found out where the medicines are stored and they are on a table in the classroom at child height. Any child could get them. I don't understand why it has to be put in the book bag for a start as if they were handed to the parent then there wouldn't be a mistake. I also don't understand why the medicines aren't kept in a high up cupboard.

I'm worried about complaining again as well because I'm under the impression, rightly or wrongly, that the school doesn't have to give medicines during the school day and I could be asked to come in and do it. That would mean I would never be able to get a job.

I agree with Feenie, I know it will feel awful as you have just started the school but I'd suggest you write to the goverors and just explain the situation and ask them to assure you that policies and procedures will be followed.

If they can't or won't give you that reassurance then maybe you do need to look at a different school.

On a practical level could your dd have a different colour bookbag so it's obvious which one to put the bottle in when it needs to come home

I think the school has a serious problem. If OFSTED visit I can see them being very concerned about medicines being stored in classrooms. At DCs school all medicines are stored in the fridge, and are administered by one of two (secretaries) with responsibility for this.

Ah I see - obviously dosing yourself up at 4 not very practical

I don't think dd can do the dosing herself. Just 0.5ml over would lead to side effects. She's only 4. My dh is calling the school now to speak with the ht.

rebl, I would look very seriously at moving my children if I were you.

Once is a mistake that shouldn't have happened.

twice (and even more shockingly, the day after a serious incident has already occurred!) is just beyond the pale.

and add in to that your issues with ds too.

god, this is a total nightmare for you.

I would be complaining, complaining, complaining at the very least.

have you aske dot see school medication policy? there is no way their policy states medications are to be left within reach of children, especially not if the drug is a powerful one.

and, without wanting to worry you - are you absoluutely sure they are remebering to give it to your dd? why would the TA be worried baout not remebering if the bottle was left in the staff room? is she relying on her gaze happening across the bottle to reme,ber to administer it? what if she is out of the classroom (eg helping another child with toilet or similar) just before lunch, and then goes on to join the others in the dining hall? woudl she forget it then?

this school really need to buck up their ideas, this is shockingly poor behaviour.

Our position is difficult. My dh has called the school this afternoon but hasn't called me back so I don't know what the outcome of his call was.

How do I find out who the school nurse is and her phone number?

If I go and look around another school will the current school find out? If they only have space to take 1 of my twins what is my position with regards getting the other one in? I feel very stuck because I would be after 2 reception places.

Can you talk to the LEA about the school not being suitable for your ds? If you can them to move him to a school that can cater for his hearing problems and it is over 2 miles away then they have to provide free transport.

I think you would have to fight hard though to prove that this school is not suitable if he has already been assessed as suitable to go to mainstream - although you could argue the mixed R/Yr1 class is part of the problem?

I symathise I really do, but my DSs school won't have any medicine in school. Parents have to go and do it and you can see why....

Phone up the school and ask them when the school nurse is next coming in as you would like a chat.

Depending on the outcome of that-either there is one or not-there should be because reception is when they do the hearing tests-down our way (Dorset) anyway-not sure if it is national.

If there isn't I'd phone up the LEA and ask for their advice.

I just know how helpful school nurses can be. DS has a nut allergy and needs an epi pen at school- and the nurses have twice organised staff training on how to use epi pens.

rebl that is quite apalling, really. I hope they are logging these occurences as near misses. If just 0.5ml extra can cause adverse effects for your DD, that is bad news for her, and the other children.

I would say that no matter how precarious you feel your position, you need to document this by writing a letter to the school, expressing your concern - create a paper trail.

I'm sorry to say that I don't think this is going to be 'teething problems'. I think this school is unable to care for children with additional needs

We've made a decision that as of tomorrow our dd will not be getting her mid-day dose. I will call the GP and get an appointment ASAP to see if the missed dose can be split over the other 2 doses. I will call the neurologist as well and see if I can get a message through to him to call me. I can't live with the risk. This medicine will kill a child and its been in childrens hands twice in 2 days. The school clearly can't be trusted. I can't risk it. I would rather my dd was ill and had poor attendance than continue with the risk the school seem happy to take.

I know this doesn't address the overall issues but right now I see it as the only thing I can do that will take affect tomorrow. Everything else I can do with regards all the problems with the school, even moving schools, is going to take time.

I administer medicine to a child everyday at school, my phone alarm is set to go off at the time he need its... I've never forgotten.. I remember before it goes off.. its my back up....

his mum used to hand it over to me in the morning and it was kept high in the classroom cupboard...

it was never a problem

could you not do a hand over to the ta's in the morning and after school?

don't really see what their problem is with it... sounds quite straightforward

magicmayhem I suggested that of adult to adult handover and apparently no . It isn't rocket science is it? But clearly for this school it is so I will safe guard the children to the detriment of my child's health and education but there is no alternative at the moment. Out of the 2 options I clearly have open to me right now this is the better one. Neither is great is it?

I can't risk it. What if my dd isn't getting the right dose? What if a child drinks the bottle down? This medicine will kill. I can't face another sleepless night over this so it will not be going in and I will start getting other things in motion to enable my dt's education and care to be right. I can't continue these daily large problems with the school. Its eating me up.

doesn't the bottle have a childproof cap?
did they give a reason why a adult to adult hand over was out of the question?

Rebl - I am really sorry that you have been put through this but as a very long standing school governor and Chair (20 yrs+) I would suggest that you do the following:

Get a copy of the school complaints process and a copy of their drug delivery policy.

If they do not have a drug delivery policy then offer to help them write one.

At my school, two adults are always present for any drugs which are given to check the label and the child's name. All drugs are stored in a locked cupboard in our medical room - our staffroom has a wall with a picture of each child on medication or with an allergy, so that all staff are aware.

At this point I would be putting a formal complaint into writing.

However I would also suggest a simple visual is added to the front of your child's book bag, perhaps a picture of a medicine bottle to act as an aide memoire to th TA. I can also understand that the TA will have been in a similar state to you so may have been flustered when she packed up the bottle to send it back home... I once sent the same wrong item out in the post twice, despite "carefully" checking.

If as I suggested you do complain, you follow the policy, you do not use a scattergun approach as the other agencies will ask you whether you have exhausted the options in the policy.

Schools usually use a boilerplate policy as follows:

1. Raise complaint with member of staff
2. If not happy, then the Head verbally and or in writing but you must state that it is a formal complaint.
3. If not satisfied then it goes to the Chair of Governors
4. Complaint Panel investigates, sits and adjudicates
5. Appeals Committee if you feel necessary
6. At this point you may use other agencies.

Obviously this is a very simplified process and you need the actual school policy for timescales etc.

And finally there is no legal duty for the school to administer medicines however most will undertake this to ensure that every child has complete access to school and the curriculum.

rebl Horrible, worrying situation for you, this link may be useful nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/84514

My DD was diagnosed with T1 Diabetes at 4 years old and it has taken many meetings with staff, school nurse and our Diabetes nurse to get care in place that suits everyone - I too came very close to removing DD from school due to things going dangerously wrong at times.

I would arrange a meeting with HT, also putting my concerns/reasons for considering withdrawing your DD in writing, telling her everything you have said on here - let them know you want to work with them to reach an outcome that suits all involved but ultimately ensures everyone is safe and your dd gets her meds, her health should not have to be compromised.

IMO, locked cupboard, record of medicine being given, named staff to administer (inc back up for sickness etc) are essential and like others have said should be manageable.

I've got her at home today, ill . I have now spoken to the GP and they have no usefull suggestions on the medication front, there is no option but for her to have during the school day. I was hoping we could maybe split it over 2 instead of the current 3 doses.

My dh is trying to get hold of the HT. We need to get this sorted. And not just my dd's medicines but the handling and storage of all medicines in the school.

LatteLady Thank you, that is a very helpful list.

I'm about to call parent partnership as well and see what they can advise.

Headmistress has spoken with dh. She was shocked and appauled at what happened on Tuesday and told all staff on Tuesday to ensure that they were familiar with the schools medicine policy and that they were adhering to it. She also reminded them all that ALL medicine should be kept in the staff room. So yesterday when I asked for dd's medicine to be put in the staffroom and was told by the TA that she couldn't keep it there because she would forget about it that was against what all staff had been told. Responsibility of medicines has been taken away from the TA and teacher involved in Tuesday and yesterday incidents until they have been retrained.

I really hope this is the end of this now. Just to sort ds now!

Your Doctors surgery should be able to give you contact details of the school nurse for your children's school. Convey your concerns to the nurse and get them to back the school up.
If you have any further concerns contact Ofsted. If what has happened was to be found out during an Ofsted inspection the school would fail.

Oh good! The head does seem to be on the ball about this. You were right to be worried.