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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

My son has just broke school computer!

94 replies

Gatesy007 · 14/09/2018 16:46

Hi everyone.
My son is in his second week of reception and today I’ve been informed that he ‘might’ have been responsible for smashing the screen on an expensive iMac monitor. The teacher was very kind about it and explained she did not witness it but a couple of the other children said it was my son. To say I’m mortified is an understatement!
I have asked my son who is still protesting his innocence but I think he probably is guilty.
So what do I do? I offered to buy a replacement and was told by the teacher not to worry. But I know it’s a new one. I really can’t afford to buy a new one but feel like I should. What would you do??
Help!
Thanks in advance

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

dlnex · 14/09/2018 16:51

Hello, you must feel terrible.
I am sure the school are insured, as computers must have been broken in the past.
In the second week of reception, your son has the rest of the year to confess, make amends or for the real culprit to come forward.
I would try really hard to not dwell on it over the weekend and start afresh on Monday.

Knittedfairies · 14/09/2018 16:54

The school should be insured. Tbh, I’d be concerned with how/why the screen was smashed; accident or temper?

Finfintytint · 14/09/2018 16:54

Don't worry, they will be insured.
We accidentally killed the school's gerbils if it's any consolation.

Aprilshowersnowastorm · 14/09/2018 16:57

Fin does your family have psychopathic tendencies?!

Perfectly1mperfect · 14/09/2018 16:57

We accidentally killed the school's gerbils if it's any consolation.

Dare I ask ?

SneakyGremlins · 14/09/2018 16:57

How do you know it was your son?

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 14/09/2018 17:00

We accidentally killed the school's gerbils

Well in light of the above ^ I don't think the Op is worrying anywhere near as much as they were about an inanimate computer screen.

Ticcinalong · 14/09/2018 17:00

Killed the gerbils . Plural?? That’s really shocking.

Op - I wouldn’t think you should have to pay as the schools insurance should cover it. However if you feel it was DS I’d want to be getting to the bottom of how, why etc and also would be wanting better supervision for him from the school.

Original poster

Gatesy007 · 14/09/2018 17:17

Thanks. I hope they are insured. But still feel awful.

OP posts:

Fevertree · 14/09/2018 17:20

Ah OP bet you feel dreadful. The teacher will know you are genuine from your conversation. I'm sure they're insured xx

Perfectly1mperfect · 14/09/2018 17:23

Gatesy007

I can understand you feeling awful but they will definitly be insured. Maybe leave it for today but have another chat with your son tomorrow about the incident and the importance of telling the truth. It may not have been him, but if it was, something like this will probably never happen again, it just unfortunate it's happened 2 weeks in.

llangennith · 14/09/2018 17:35

No you are not liable to pay for it's repair. The school will have insurance.
Reception children should be properly supervised when using expensive equipment and the teacher shouldn't make accusations unless she saw what happened.

admission · 14/09/2018 20:44

As a governor I would want to know how the school had ICT equipment in reception that was so vulnerable to damage. My school has Ipads with covers, which are used all the time by reception pupils and we have not had one broken in the last 3 years. They have literally been bounced on the floor by accident and not being damaged.
As others have said there will be insurance, so concentrate on trying to find out how the screen got damaged

Rebecca36 · 14/09/2018 21:28

The school have informed you only that your son 'might' have broken the computer. Doesn't mean it was deliberate (or did he do a Kirstie?), or even that he did it. I note he says he didn't.

It will be covered by insurance, don't worry.

MingaTurtle · 14/09/2018 21:33

I doubt they would claim for a monitor on insurance as they probably have to pay an excess.

But I’d wonder how a reception child could be in a position to do that.

Naty1 · 14/09/2018 21:53

Maybe offer to pay the excess.
I also would not have expensive equipment around 4yos!... That theyve known less than 2 weeks.
Young kids impulsively thrown things.
If he has a kindle/ipad i would take it away for a bit- if you think he did break the school one

ballsdeep · 14/09/2018 21:55

They should have kept the expensive equipment out of reach of four year olds. I wouldn't worry about it especially as there were no adults to witness it.

GoatYoga · 15/09/2018 07:28

With a iMac it’s not it’s the monitor everything is built in to it - the screen is in effect the whole computer - if it needs replacing it is going to cost well over 1K for the cheapest model. Having said that letting unsupervised 4 year olds play with it sounds incredibly stupid - I would be leaving it for their insurance to sort out.

Finfintytint · 15/09/2018 08:13

Re the gerbils. Our Jack Russell got to the cage unfortunately when we were looking after them in the summer holidays. ( back in the 70s and still feel guilty).

InfiniteCurve · 15/09/2018 09:03

This is an insurance job,and he was obviously not being adequately supervised if he was able to break the screen.
But I would have a good chat about what happened and telling the truth,and taking care of expensive fragile stuff.
I wouldn't offer to pay anything though,because I don't think he should have been in a situation where this could happen,at reception age.

Original poster

Gatesy007 · 15/09/2018 09:17

Thanks everyone for your comments. I feel a bit better about it now. It was apparently hit with a large metal bolt ( about 3 inches long) which they use for counting.
And yes I’ve definitely spoken to him about the importance of telling the truth and also respecting property. Thing is, I still don’t know if it was him!
Anyway... thanks everyone :)

OP posts:

Ophelialovescats · 15/09/2018 09:22

He may have some SEN issues as this sounds extreme.
How is he at home ?
Have the school monitor his behaviour and get him assessed asap.

Temporaryanonymity · 15/09/2018 09:26

SEN issues and getting him assessed? Lol. It sounds like a mix of insufficient supervision and an accident. Wtf has a large metal bolt lying around with reception kids?

Gazelda · 15/09/2018 09:39

Really Ophelia?

noseoftralee · 15/09/2018 09:47

He may have some SEN issues as this sounds extreme.
How is he at home ?
Have the school monitor his behaviour and get him assessed asap.

Lol. Or he was, y’know, maybe playing Star Wars or something.

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