To Whom it May Concern;
I am writing to you with regards to the matter of my son XXXXX. When he started the school, I made those who would be responsible for his welfare during school hours aware of his needs; that is he needs to be checked for soiling on a regular basis throughout the day. At the time, I was satisfied that you were aware and happy to take responsibility for this, as no issues were raised with me at all.
However, as time has gone on it has become apparent that my child's welfare and medical needs have taken somewhat of a backseat. I have raised a number of concerns surrounding the fact that my son appears to be being left in his own filth for hours at a time, coming home with rashes and dried on excrement. It was discussed with his teachers several times that he needed reminding, at the time, to go to the toilet and to be checked and if need be, changed. As time progressed, XXX was not changed, instead he was left until home time, or until I had left home or work to come and change him, and in turn made to take him home from school for the rest of the day, and sometimes 48 hours despite it not being due to illness. XXXX was later diagnosed with Encopresis, possibly caused by constipation and overflow, making him faecally incontinent. Despite this diagnosis, I was approached by a member of staff on one occasion and told, in front of my son, to ?gee him up? and that this had to stop. On this occasion XXXX had excrement all down his legs, with fresh trousers on top to hide it, excrement on his socks, up the back of his school jumper, on the front and sleeves of his school jumper and in his shoes. This member of staff on a previous occasion sent him home unchanged, but with paper towels stuffed down the back of his trousers and pants causing the mess to ride up the back of his jacket. On many other occasions he has been sat in reception or the first aid room, alone, on a paper towel, again in his own excrement. I brought this matter to the attention of the head teacher, XXXXXXXXX, who expressed surprise that he had ever been changed at school. After I pulled him out of school due to this neglect, provisions started to be put in place for his care. Unfortunately his needs are still not being met. I have provided him with 'pull up pants? and wipes to make the situation as easy as I possibly can, so he is not dirtying his clothes and thus making the condition as quick and hygienic to deal with as is practicable; but the fact remains that for the past two days my child has been sent home soiled and upset. I have requested that XXX be checked hourly so he is not left soiled for any length of time as he is too ashamed and fearful to tell the teachers, but this request has been denied, that only one member of staff is willing to change him, under the supervision of the head teacher. No provision has been made for when Mrs XXX is elsewhere, and I have been told more frequent checks are unacceptable as they are unwilling to change him more than the once a day in his current education plan. As I have explained many times, this is not laziness on my child's behalf. This is an extremely upsetting medical condition that should be dealt with using the utmost sensitivity and discretion, and not in a manner which is compounding the psychological aspects.
This failure to meet his most basic of needs and rights not only infringes on the Every Child matters and the underpinning Children?s Act (2004), The Equality Act (2010) but also The Human Rights Act 1998.
Your staff however; would appear to have somewhat of a different take on the situation, and it has become apparent through a recent exchange between the head teacher and XX's teacher, Mrs XX?s in which immediately after a meeting between myself and Mrs XX on 27/04/2011, in which I had asked again for XXX to be checked hourly as now he was on Movicol he was soiling up to 6 times a day, Mrs XX walked up to Mrs XXXs and exclaimed ?do you want the bad news or the really bad news". The unfortunate exchange took place in front of myself and my son. Again; unacceptable. The irony is, that if I were to leave my son sitting in his own filth for hours on end because I was 'too busy', it would be viewed (rightly) as neglect.
The effect of your cavalier attitude towards his physical welfare has been exacerbated by the inappropriate conversations I have been forced to have with you about this in front of him, which has cause our family and my son in particular considerable distress. I would urge you therefore to deal with this situation immediately before further damage is done.
I am copying this letter to the relevant authorities and our GP, who has been consulted with regard to this matter, and in the event that this situation is not addressed immediately, I will be reluctantly forced to consult a solicitor with regard to the personal injury and Disability Discrimination aspects of this unfortunate situation.
I feel that a reasonable request would be for an assistant to be allocated to my child to assist him with the regular changes that are needed, since I realise that the teacher may be unable to take the time to check him hourly. Any other child with difficulties, be it learning or health difficulties would be given the appropriate help. I would like to know why it is that my son is being discriminated against?
I would like this letter to be considered not only a formal complaint against Mrs XXXX and the treatment of my son by the members of staff at XXXX School, XX, but also as a platform for a dramatic change in the way my son is being treated and his educational, physical and psychological needs are being met and to unsure this sort of treatment never occurs again to my son, or any other child.
I look forward to your earliest reply;
Yours sincerely
Mrs XXXXXXXx