Starting school and no support

[rebl]

Hi,
My ds (4yrs) is starting school in September. He has a mild speech and language delay which is a result of being deaf. The education side of things isn't bothering me, I'm happy with him starting without extra support in an education capacity.

The thing I'm most worried about is his medical issues. He has multiple food allergies, he needs medication through the school day, he needs formula as he doesn't absorb his food so has to drink a certain amount each day (and its too much to get him to drink only outside of hte school day) and he's incontinent. I'm worried about him nicking food from others plates and being very ill (he wouldn't hear verbal warning from a teacher in a busy school hall even if the teacher on duty noticed). I'm also thinking that the class teacher really can't spend her day changing my son, giving him medicine, given him formula etc. I'm also worried about his safety in the playground. He can't hear outside even with his aids and he would never hear a verbal warning, he needs someone to tap him to get his attention.

He's currently coping very well in a small preschool setting but of course their outside area is tiny, the number of staff to child is high. At lunch club at preschool there are 8 children and 3 members of staff so although he's not got 1:1 they can definatly make sure he doesn't knick someone elses food.

What should I be doing to make sure that his health and safety is ensured when he starts in September? I've asked the tod about a statement and she says his education needs don't warrent a statement. But his medical needs clearly do warrant something I would have thought. Is that covered under something else? The tod hasn't volunteered anything.

Thanks for reading.

Hi this may be no use to you at all as I am at the pre school stage with DD rather than school but her pre school has a care plan for her medical needs and a kind of action chart on the wall which has severe, moderate and mild symptoms and the action needed. Her medical needs aren't allergies but the pre school supervisor got the idea from a similar pie chart they had for a child with them.

We had the nurse come to pre school to go over DDs needs and emergency treatment and the staff are all aware of her. Good luck.

in my older dds primary school they had photos and laminated fact sheets that they had in each class room and the dinner ladies had them as well.

they had a photo with things like i am thomas, i am allergic to xxxxx and xxxxx. if i eat it/touch it i ( description of symtoms). I need my epipen/medicine/call an ambulance etc.

i thought that this was good because the other children became aware and kind of acted as extra ears and eyes ( miss-thomas is trying to eat and dinner and he musn't).

I think you need to go to the school and document all of this- dont worry about being too fussy- your job is to advocate for him

Thanks, I'll call the school and see if I can arrange a meeting. I know the tod is going in to deliver training at the next inset day but its only for the deaf side of things.