Going to look around a school tomorrow for DD who has medical needs, can anyone help me with questions?

[used2bthin]

DD would need an injection if ill or injured and would need medicines through the school day so I need to find out about who would do this. Also need to see how they would deal with her generally but can't think it through because she's only 20m atm so it all seems a way off.

Is it a mainstream or special school?

Ds1's special school has a full time qualified nurse on site. Not sure what happens at mainstream.

Its a very small mainstream school, its private age 5 + but I could have her there for her funded education 3-5. There is what I think is called an integrated school about 20min walk away too though which I am also considering. I wondered whether they would have a nurse on site. Any idea where I stand with choice of school or is it too dependant on LEA? Its just I heard that schools can say they aren't willing to do medical treatment and if a school said this then my DD couldn't go. Would she also need someone there just for her or would the class teacher usually do medical things if needed?

Probably not (to the nurse on site). I think its fairly rare these days (Ds1's school is SLD/PMLD so many of the children requite medication/have epilepsy etc etc).

I really don't know how it works in mainstream. Dh's nephew is diabetic and my MIL said that the school won't do his insulin for him when he starts, which seems crazy in infants. I don't know if that's true though.

I think it could be true if what I heard about schools not legally having to agree to medical treatment is true. In my dd's case she really can's go unless they would do her injection in emergency as its not something paramedics will always give. We are on a special list so they SHOULD send the correct paramedic but have been told to always give her injection then call an ambulance/get to hospital. Hmm will see what the school says tomorrow. I wonder really if it means I'll have to make sure I am near enough to the school when she is there so that I can be called in emergency or if she's ill and be there quickly enough. Thanks for your help though. When I was at school we had a school nurse, I wish they all still did!

Well we went and had a look. It seemed nice enough but the tour was very much focused on the academic and at this stage I just want to know that they will look after my pfb and keep her safe and happy! I have to write her medical needs on the application form and they will let me know if they can cope, is this normal? Also they don't take children who are still in nappies which I was quite surprised about. DD may well be out of nappies by the term after she's three but its not a definate and I would have thought they were excluding many children with special needs by having that rule can they do that?

Hi u2bt, how are you?

I think the issue with nappies is schools often do not have the facilities to change them which is why they prefer pants. I know a couple of parents who hvae just put their children in pants when their dc are not toilet trained and the staff have just had to change the dcs clothes a lot!

If this chool says that they cannot cope with your dd, it is up to the education authority to find a school that can.

It sounds as though your dd's situation is similar to a child with an epipen. Obviously, the signs are different but that would presumably just need some of the staff to be trained in her medical needs.

I hope this does not become too complicated for you to sort out for your dd. You could try phoning the headteacher of the school and chat with him/her.

They're naughty with the nappies. Govt guidelines say schools have to cope.

Thanks desperatehousewife we are good thanks how are you? It does seem that it may become complicated. I've got a thread on this in health and was advised about getting a statement so that staff could train properly. I actually rang the childrens info service for my area today and they are going to put me in touch with an organisation who will help with this sort of thing once she is 2+. The hospital have said they would send someone out from endocrine to do training, the difficulty is partly the injection as its intra muscular (there are not enough people needing it to warrent the expense of producing it in epipen form
GBIYJJ the lady from the childrens info service was not impressed when I mentioned the nappies thing, she said she had hoped there were no more schools in the area saying this as it is only just about legal in terms of discrimination and suggested I ring ofsted! I think I don't really want DD to go there now I've thought it all through, they don't seem very willing to cater to all childrens needs. I think what I may do though is ring the headteacher and get her take on it all, and ask for clarification on the nappies thing then ask what they do to be inclusive etc in that case.

It's so unfair that parents have this battle for schools so often. Life is hard enough coping with health difficulties/special needs as it is.

I think it would be a good idea to talk directly with the headteacher. it would be interesting to hear what she/he says. Keep a record of the responses to quote back to ofsted/sn dept!

It keeps shocking me actually how many things add unnecesary stress. And my DD has it easy compared to some. Ah well theres a little while yet at least. The good thing is she's september born so won't go till jan 2010 I think.

I've written a bit about mainstream schools and nappies here. Someone on here gave me the link - it's excellent.

Thanks GBIYJJ haven't been able to download the link but looks very useful and I think I'll download and print it off at my parents house because it helps to have something in writing. DD will not be going to that nursery though it makes me quite cross that they are being like that and wouldn't bode well for good relationships there I think.