How to approach school about DD's foot injury during PE class

[InjuryInPE]

Hello

I'm after some advice as I feel I need to talk to the school about this.

DD is in year 8. Last week she twisted her foot (not her ankle) on landing when doing a roundoff in PE (they are doing gymnastics). Today we went to A&E as she still couldn't put weight on it. It has been x rayed and is possibly broken - not confirmed for sure either way yet but referred to the fracture clinic next week for their opinion. She now has a 'boot' so she can walk (with crutches) and will probably need to wear this for 4 weeks if broken or 1 week if not.

My concern is this - DD says their teacher said they were only allowed to use thin mats (2-3") although thick crash mats are available. Given what the girls were doing, which included things like backflips (not my DD) & jumping off a horse / box, I don't think the thin crash mats were sufficient, and neither does my DD.
DD has been attending a recreational gymnastics class since she was 6 so does have some experience of suitable equipment. (And she has never been injured at these classes.)

Do schools normally do an investigation after accidents (like would happen in the workplace)? Presumably the school will have done risk assessments to decide what equipment they should use for each sport / activity? Do they review these following injuries to make sure they are adequate?

I want to email the school and ask them to review their choice of mats in light of her accident. I am thinking of emailing the deputy HOY as she is also a PE teacher and was also DD's form tutor until she became deputy HOY in the summer term. In fact I might email the HOY as well as the deputy.

I know accidents happen, but I do feel this could have been avoided. DD had mentioned to me the crash mats being thin the week prior to her accident and thought it wasn't right.
I'm keen to avoid a further accident to DD or another child.

This is already DDs second PE injury, both to the same foot, but the first was doing the long jump which I don't think could have been avoided.

So, lovely Mumsnetters - how would you approach the school on this?

Sorry its so long...

Hope her foot isn’t broken. Poor thing.
Crash mats aren’t appropriate for round offs. The thin mats are fine.

Worth mentioning to the school to double check everything was right but probably just an unfortunate accident.

I’d not expect crash mats for round offs either. Too thick and don’t allow a safe landing. Thin mats are normal for that sort of Acro.

You would not use crash mats for a round off. sounds like she just landed badly, it was an accident. No ones fault, certainly nothing to hassle the school over.

OK. This is why I wanted to check.
Thanks all.

I broke two toes and tore the ligaments in one knee jumping off a 50cm high bench in PE at school. Just landed funny. Accidents do happen and yes, round offs would never be done on thick crash mats as they are too squishy.

More likely to do a twisting injury on a thick mat than a thin one tbh.

I’d not expect crash mats for round offs either. Too thick and don’t allow a safe landing. Thin mats are normal for that sort of Acro
Agreed. Thick mats offer a worse surface to land and increases the risk of injury.