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The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Original poster

Secondary school. Bit of advice please....

22 replies

Sparklingbrook · 30/03/2014 20:53

Not a teacher.

Daft question time.

DS1 (14) injured his knee at school on Friday. Trip to A&E, massive swollen knee and he is now on crutches.Standing up, going up stairs pretty hard work IYKWIM.

Anyway, school tomorrow. No idea how long he will be like this. Any ideas what school will say about the situation? Can't keep him off indefinitely but will school even want him?

help! TIA

OP posts:

Hobnobissupersweet · 30/03/2014 20:57

I am marking controlled assessments guv, honest, not on mumsnet at all, no, however, you need to ring school ASAP tomorrow morning. At our place he would then have all his classes rearranged to the ground floor, normal teachers and rest of class, just the room changes to an accessible one for him. He also would be permitted to leave lessons early to make the next one on time, and similarly get precedence in the lunch queue.

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 30/03/2014 21:00

Ooh thanks Hobnob. Sorry to interrupt you Miss.

The school is 12 miles away, he can't get bus (can't go up stairs) so was thinking of driving him in and popping in to see 'someone' to explain. But who?

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notnowImreading · 30/03/2014 21:03

At ours, you would have to come in with him to do a risk assessment with the school nurse, then he would have to get good at crutches quickly. They get five mins extra to move between lessons and can have a friend to carry their stuff while they cope with their crutches. They still have to climb stairs. Mostly, the kids manage absolutely fine and boys in particular get excited about their improving upper body strength and offer anyone who comes near them two tickets it the gun show.

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 30/03/2014 21:12

Right notnow, so going in would be sensible-thanks. Hope his mates are feeling helpful, 14/15 year old boys are flaky at best.

OP posts:

HotelFromage · 30/03/2014 21:36

Brand new building here and we are officially suitable for wheelchair users etc. so we have a lift and they get to leave 5mins early. Think there is a member of staff at the lift to make sure only those who need it use it.

School bus ride sounds like a potential problem. Maybe LA would pay for taxi? We have had visually impaired students who got a taxi but not sure how it would work on a short term basis as presumably there are forms to fill in etc.

MrsHerculePoirot · 30/03/2014 21:41

I would go in with him tomorrow, maybe email tonight to forewarn them if you have contact details for anybody, and aim to get there 30 mins before school start if possible. We have lift access to most areas, but would rearrange classes downstairs if necessary. Agree with others though, they get super quick on crutches, enjoy the celeb status it brings and we would usually allow them to leave lessons 5 minutes early with a buddy to get to next lesson etc...

EvilTwins · 30/03/2014 21:42

Same at our place as HotelFromage - you would speak to the attendance lady (only because she is also the most easily accessible first aider) and she would send an email to all staff saying that Master Sparkling has an injury, needs to be allowed to leave 5 mins early and has elected XXX Friend to help carry his stuff. He and friend would be allowed to use the lift. Info would also be sent out about stuff like painkillers - ie he can go to reception/identified first aider at break/lunch (or whatever) to get painkillers if necessary, please keep an eye on him etc.

We would definitely want him in school.

TheReluctantCountess · 30/03/2014 21:43

If he went to our school, he would be allowed access to the lifts and would be able to leave lessons five minutes early to get to the next room before the crowds.

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 30/03/2014 21:46

Fortunately me taking him and fetching him although £££s and time consuming is ok the next 2 weeks.

School mix of v new posh and v old IYKWIM some parts have lifts. I will email his Form Tutor now I think and warn him. He hopefully will open the email before we get there tomorrow.

You are all lovely. Not that scary in the Staff Room after all.

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AntiJamDidi · 30/03/2014 21:48

In our school we are mostly on the ground floor anyway but widely spread. We allow an extra 5 mins to get to next lesson, including a friend (who are usually dead keen to get out of lessons 5 mins early) to carry bags. Any lessons which are upstairs, pupils get work sent to them in the library. This is obviously not ideal, so we do arrange room changes whenever possible, but our ground floor science labs for example are pretty much constantly timetabled for pupils who are permanently unable to go upstairs, so temporary crutches users don't have priority over them.

Popping in first thing in the morning sounds like a good idea, speak to the main office and they will be able to get the right person for you to speak to as soon as they are available.

Nocomet · 30/03/2014 21:57

Dad's school puts them downstairs, DD2 says it's unspeakably boring.
Therefore, either refuses to go to school or insists on going to school without crutches when they would help.

(She's an accident prone gymnast)

Nocomet · 30/03/2014 21:59

DD's (my DDad's gramma school had never heard of H&S, they flew petrol powered control line planes at lunch time).

Wolfiefan · 30/03/2014 22:02

He needs to be on the ground floor if at all possible. They may keep him in one room to start with and have work sent down. Make sure his bag is as light as possible (or try and bribe a friend to carry it!)
If he has to move around school he should leave early and with a friend. Same for lunch and break times.
Consider how he can safely evacuate if fire alarms go off. (I'm rubbish with crutches!!)
It ought to be lovely in the staffroom. I would worry about any school who wouldn't go the extra mile for an injured student.
Get well soon teen Sparkling!!

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 30/03/2014 22:15

I feel a bit better about it all now. Thanks. I would love to keep him off until he's back to normal really but that's not an option.

Because his school is that far away I hardly ever go in there so will need to put some make up on and look half decent in the morning.

OP posts:

MrsHerculePoirot · 31/03/2014 15:47

Hope it went well this morning sparkling.

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2014 16:14

Thanks MrsH, I have news....

I dropped him off at school at 8.30am and went to see someone in Admin to explain the situation. She was so nice-told him he could use the lifts (some have keys) and to go down and see her with any problems.

At 10.30am I get a call asking me to pick him up as he was in a lot of pain.

So on the way home I dropped back into the hospital to ask whether it should be a bit better by now. They re-examine him, check the XRays and say there is a fracture after all.

So we are off to the Fracture Clinic tomorrow to have the fluid drained and see what's next.

Now my concern is over his attendance %.

OP posts:

MrsHerculePoirot · 31/03/2014 17:38

Oh no poor DS - don't worry about attendance he'll have been marked present this am .

My school is super strict with attendance, but if there are medical reasons of course it is fine and he needs to get better first and foremost. I am sure his tutor will say exactly the same!

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2014 17:53

Thanks MrsH. I hope the child that put the dodgy tackle in will think twice next time-this is horrible. Must have used quite some force to break a knee. Was in the playground too-not even PE or anything.

He will definitely be out all day tomorrow then we take it from there. His attendance up til now from September fortunately is 100%

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BackforGood · 31/03/2014 18:02

No reason to worry about his attendance then - it's fine, and clearly they realise it's genuine when you have to go for further appts.
Generally his mates will be fighting to help him at lunchtime, if it means an early lunch / no-queue pass
Doesn't have to have been a horrific tackle for a fracture, it just happens to be the way a person lands, or unlucky with the angle thy are caught - it's life, if you don't wrap your dc in cotton wool all their lives.

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2014 18:06

He has been playing footy for 8 years Back, really we should have been in A&E a lot, but this is the first time. Miracle really.
Looks like he will miss the rest of the season for his teams though.

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MrsHerculePoirot · 31/03/2014 18:45

Poor him, it happens loads though I have to say, although it must be horrible when it is your child, especially for the first time. Not always a fracture, but football bumps, bruises, sprains and crutches etc... If his attendance is 100% to date then you definitely have absolutely nothing to worry about attendance wise I promise. Hope they help get him sorted at the fracture clinic tomorrow.

BackforGood · 31/03/2014 18:46

My dd played for 5 different teams last year at her Primary school (as in 5 different sports), plus going to dance and gym clubs, plus playing football for the District side. Never injured once.

They let her out to play at lunchtime, she tripped, and fractured her wrist . Was gutted about missing the future games, but, hey ho - these things happen.

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