My 5-Year-Old Broke His Arm at School – School Ignored My Warning. What Should I Do?

[Hannuda]

Hi everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice from other parents who may have experienced something similar.

My 5-year-old son is in Reception. At the beginning of June, he had an accident at home and came back to school with his left arm in a cast. I spoke directly with the headteacher and clearly asked that he not take part in any outdoor or physical activity, as I was concerned about the risk of further injury.

Despite that, on 11 June, during class time (not breaktime), he was outside in the play area with his class. He climbed onto a low block and fell, breaking his right arm — with multiple fractures. He was supervised by a teacher, but at the moment of the fall she was speaking to another child and did not see what happened. They claim he had been told not to climb, but honestly, he’s five — when you put kids in front of playground equipment, it’s predictable that they’ll want to use it, especially if they aren’t closely supervised.

What upset me most is that the school did not send me any written report until 21 days after the accident, and only after I repeatedly emailed them. When I finally received the report, it seemed to shift the blame onto my son rather than taking any real responsibility for what happened — even though they had agreed to keep him indoors for his safety.

My son has suffered a lot, physically and emotionally. He missed important football training sessions (he plays for a pre-academy), and it’s been hard for all of us to see him so down. I’m now considering making a formal complaint to the Council and possibly seeking legal advice — but before I take that step, I wanted to ask:

Has anyone experienced something similar with a school? How did you deal with it?

So are you writing a similar complaint to yourself about him injuring himself first on your watch?

I get that the school assured you they would supervise him but they've probably kept him in at playtimes and lunchtimes and this sounded like it was during class time. It was an accident and to be fair if he can't follow teacher instructions then should he have been in school? I think you have a right to be annoyed but then think bigger picture: the school did not intend for this to happen, schools are stretched so although they agreed to your initial request, it is a big thing to ask.

Just say you're unhappy and then move on.

Also what exactly are you going to achieve going on and on at them?
save your tokens with school because one day you may have a serious actual issue and they will eye roll you… he had an accident with you and then at school. Shit happens OP - stop being a drama queen with all due respect

You know your child doesn't have one-to-one in school so I think the school were ok to presume that if you needed an adult to have eyes on your child 24/7 you wouldn't send him to school.

There is no way that in the space of 3 weeks she has had him checked for brittle bones. The referrals take time to begin with, then the only way to truly rule out brittle bones is a genetic test, which takes 6-9 months to get the results.

Especially if he is going to be a professional footballer...

It was not organised activity where thry forced him to do it? No? Then he chose to do it and no I would not hold them responsible for this, he broke his arm away from school first so that is not on them

I’m sorry to hear about your son and wish him a speedy recovery. However, the initial accident happened at home. You could argue your expectations are very high, expecting the school to watch your son intently, when adequate supervision wasn’t achieved in his own home. But you’ve experienced accidents do happen. If he wasn’t ready to return to school, maybe he should have been kept off for longer?

I also believe your priorities are skewed. You state“ He missed important football training sessions (he plays for a pre-academy)” He is only 5 years old! I would be more worried about why he has had so many fractures!

Important training sessions at 5 years old. You are one of ‘them’ parents 🙄

To be fair this is a good point. My son plays football - and quite well. But the whole thing is just for fun he ain’t gonna be the next Ronaldo and even if he did- it wouldn’t be from my push (shove)

I think the same. There may weii be a problem with his bones.

It’s honestly bonkers. There are parents who set up instagram accounts for their kids to ‘showcase’ them!

“Important football training sessions”- he’s 5! He might be missing having fun but I doubt that it will impact on his future premiership potential 😀

Your poor DC, unfortunately accidents happen. It doesn't even sound like he was really playing, so I don't really understand how this could've been prevented. You said he was on a low block, it's not like he was at the top of the jungle gym. I think a complaint is a waste of everyone's time, but fair enough if you want to feedback to the school about the time it took getting the written report.

Bahah- my sister in law did this 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Blatantly AI. Either a bot or OP has run their responses/post through ChatGPT for some ungodly reason.

cough Louise pentland cough

Who’s Louise’s pentland?

This was my thinking. What magical system is this, where you can get checked for brittle bones in such a short space of time? My son waited almost 6 months for an IBD diagnosis and he was extremely ill.

What do you think you are going to gain from legal action, OP?

Is there a reason you're using AI to write your replies @Hannuda ?

FFS - you seem to be more obsessed with his football career than his bodily wellbeing. A football career which may be charitably described as "embryonic" at best. (Though TBH, I CBA to read more than one page...)

At 5 your son's bones would still be flexible so he's had green stick fractures? His first break must almost be healed by now then? It sounds like they were doing an outside class .... your son could have tripped walking around a classroom ... its unfortunately and very frustrating for you both but it is one of those things.

There was a time when my daughter was slightly hit by the net of a falling netball post.

When I complained I was told she should not have been standing close to it!

I moved her to another school.

@Hannuda

I’m with you OP. Your poor DC. Mumsnet always seems to defend the school, but child’s best interests always trumps school’s best interests.

I wouldn’t blame any one individual - particularly not the teacher. it’s more looking to see if better policies and procedures could help prevent something like this happening again.
I’ve worked in school’s for about 30 years now and the ways things have changed is quite shocking. The very, very basics such as provision, safety seem to be overlooked in favour of meetings, non contact activity, IT related activities. Often resulting in one stressed, over stretched individual trying to do the fundamental basics.

I also don’t think school’s concern or complains procedures are impartial so I’d look up the contact email of your area Director of Children’s Services - and get support there too.
Bottom line - don’t blame an individual, but try to create positive change for the future.

I hope your poor DC is comfortable and recovers quickly x

When your son is at his pre academy important football trainings and he doesn’t follow instructions do they just say “He’s 5, that’s OK”. I suspect not because that would be dangerous. If he is capable of taking part in such trainings, he is capable of knowing to be careful with a broken arm.

I actually can't tell if this is sarcasm or not, because it's probably actually realistic in MN world for someone to complain their child was lightly touched by a falling net.

Something large starts falling - you move away from it. Common sense, no?