Can a school not let a child in because of a broken bone?

[Gracebeau89]

What the title says really my 5 year old has broken the top part of her arm, close to her shoulder. School have known about this for 1.5 weeks, they also knew she is in a sling she needs to stay in at playtime. As they need to protect her from falling etc. They agreed she would come in today with a letter from her consultant saying she can go to school basically. She was discharged from the fracture clinic as her bone has started to heal and there's no displacement, her doctor then had his Secretary type a quick letter. Which said she can go to school as long as you protect it from getting knocked etc. The break approximately takes 3/6 months to heal doctor is happy she can take sling off on Monday, we are now two weeks into recovery. I dropped her off at school within half an hour my phones rings telling me to pick her up as school can't guarantee this, they say she has to play out etc that's how her class works and they can't provide her with extra help and there's 60 other children in her reception bubble they can't watch her that much also what do I want her to do table top activities? Then they say she can come in Monday when she doesn't need sling anymore, my point is it is still healing on Monday she still needs help can't play out needs protecting from trips and falls etc sling makes no difference. Also school knew before the letter from the doctor,I told the same staff member who has been dealing with this twice that she has a sling she cannot fall play out be bumping into other kids, so they could of spoke of this sooner and let me know before today, Also is this discrimination? I thought you had to try your best to provide care for all (inclusion reasons. )sorry for waffling on I've had a night shift very tired

It's very different if a child is in a protective cast, though. A high arm fracture can't be cast, so there is no protection if it's knocked.

They should have thought of it earlier, or tell you they will check once the doctor's fit note arrives, so you would be ready for a no.
They should also do everything in their power to get her in school, if she is over 5. That would include a 1 2 1 for breaks, or any other activity needed, and find tasks for her to do during PE, break or when the kids go wild (lunch time, and so on). But it looks like they just do not have the amount of TA/ teachers needed. And so it is safer for your daughter to stay home.
But you are right that Monday without the sling makes 0 sense. At least they are getting someone in for her 1 2 1. Or they are not understanding that the bone is still very fragile, even if sling has come off and fracture is starting to heal now.

When my son broke his arm it came under the D in SEND despite not being permanent, so the school were obliged to meet the first £6,000 of his D needs (I think it was 6), this paid for additional supervision at breaktimes.

I think its likley they thought the no knocks was so they didnt feel pain but the doctors letter clarified it was because it would stop healing.
Im not sure why she can come in without the sling other than she will have better balance.

I'm a primary teacher. We have often facilitated children with broken bones. Often they have to stay in at playtime to avoid injury and last year when I had a child in my class with a broken arm I just made sure that he moved to/from the tables first or last when we were moving around. My daughter went into school with an elbow dislocation after 2 days.

Maybe you could ask the consultant to re-word the letter as "it should be protected as far as possible", although they will probably think the school are being jobsworths.

You could speak to the local authority for advice?

My son broke his elbow when he was six and had surgery so no cast. School worked with us and kept him in at breaks he was alllowed to choose a friend which was rotated round a group of boys so the other children would stay in one break and a lunch on a different day a week. Lasted about 3 months until we felt he was sufficiently healed enough to play outside (carefully). Then back inside again for a few weeks when he had surgery to remove the plate they'd inserted.

He wasn't supposed to have knocks either. I don't think they had teacher supervision. There were a few kids that stayed in at break for whetever reason and they hung out in the little ones libary. Comfy beanbag chairs and a few boxes of toys. Across from the school office so the secretary would keep a vague eye on them and some of the more responsible children from the oldest class would volunteer to come and read/ play with the little ones.

I would say it'd be unreasonable for us to expect there never to be knocks. There were but these things do happen not at break (as far as I remember 3 years ago now) but someone tripped over and landed on him at storytime and he managed to fall off his chair. Also had the odd accident at home. All anyone can do is be as careful as they can.

If they've only just been told they need to guarantee no knocks then that's new information to them and of course they can't do that.

Quick update, I did inform school before the letter the no knocks was to do with preventing further damage, and that she will be in a sling. She's been discharged from the fracture clinic, the consultant wasn't concerned. School have since get in touch with me yesterday explaining the school nurse has been given the doctors note, and she has cleared it and said it's fine for my daughter to attend. She went in school in school today all went well.

You’re telling us that you were a TA for 11 years and yet you can’t work out why they don’t want her in! Really! It’s absolutely obvious to anyone with any sense why they don’t want her in. As for ‘moving TA’s around’ to cover her care, what TA’s exactly!