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Original poster

Can I ask a quick question about accidents on school premises?

25 replies

BerylStreep · 19/11/2015 17:48

Can anyone tell me are schools obliged to have accident registers for injuries to pupils which occur on school premises?

TIA

OP posts:
JOEYDOESNTSHAREFOOD · 19/11/2015 19:43

Nope, not alone.

JOEYDOESNTSHAREFOOD · 19/11/2015 19:43

Sorry, wrong thread!

MrsLeighHalfpenny · 19/11/2015 19:48

Yes they are. And all businesses, shops etc. We have one at Guides.

LIZS · 19/11/2015 19:50

Surely it would cover all accidents to pupils, staff and visitors . Not all are notifiable though.

SocksRock · 19/11/2015 19:55

Yes, an accident book. Everywhere should have one, I though?

Original poster
BerylStreep · 19/11/2015 19:58

My DD injured herself yesterday at school - suspected broken hand, although it is now looking like a soft tissue injury. I was wondering if school were obliged to record it in the accident book. She didn't tell staff about it at the time as it was 5 minutes before the end of school, but she showed me it as I was collecting her from school - we went straight to casualty.

OP posts:
StrawberriCream · 19/11/2015 20:01

If she didn't tell anyone it can't have been recorded, is your question more should you inform the school that this happened?? Yes because the series of events that led to it could possibly be avoided preventing further accidents hth

LIZS · 19/11/2015 20:01

Well they could only have noted it down if they had known about it! Why didn't she say and how did she do it. Probably they would have just given her some ice for it and let her wait for you.

heavenlypink · 19/11/2015 20:08

Yes they should have and I would say will have an accident book It is something that will be checked on by the LEA

By your DD's own admission she did not notify staff of the accident ..... The treatment at the time would have been to rest/support it and to apply an ice pack Hours after the event I doubt it would have had any impact on her injury Teachers /TA's aren't psychic I'm sure if your DD had said something she would have been treated accordingly and if there had been concerns you would have been phoned

MrsLeighHalfpenny · 19/11/2015 20:26

You can complete an accident log any time after an accident. It's not always practical to do it there and then. Tell the school tomorrow, in a nice way.

Original poster
BerylStreep · 19/11/2015 22:41

I have already informed the school. I e-mailed them the first thing this morning explaining what had happened. I just got a rather disconcerting email from the head suggesting that because it hadn't been reported at the time they weren't accepting it had happened in school.

There is quite a history of the school minimising / ignoring issues, so I can fully understand DD not mentioning it at the time. it happened during choir practice, and last year during choir practice 3 girls fainted, and despite this the head made the rest keep singing, which was pretty traumatic for the girls as they saw their friends fainting.

My DD broke her ankle in 3 places 2 years ago whilst at school. They iced it and kept it raised for four hours and didn't contact me until I arrived to collect her at the end of the day, and as soon as I saw it I could immediatly tell it was broken and went straight to A&E.

So given my past experiences, I have concerns that the head minimises injuries / incidents and that this is what is happening again this time. The thig is that DD has a major exm on Saturday, and the school don't appear in the least bit interested in supporting her in making any adjustments given her injury.

OP posts:
Original poster
BerylStreep · 19/11/2015 22:42

And apologies for the spelling mistakes - using a very ropey keyboard.

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LIZS · 20/11/2015 07:10

Why would you feel the need to tell the head. All you had to go was go into the school office a first opportunity and record it. Then dd goes to the exams officer, ideally with a fit note, to ask about adjustments. What exam is it and how old is she?

Original poster
BerylStreep · 20/11/2015 08:38

She is 10. The exam is the 11+ equivalent.

The Exam Board have asked for evidence of the injury in the form of a letter from the school on headed paper, but the school won't do it.

I am waiting for an emergency appointment with the GP today.

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 20/11/2015 08:41

You fully understand her not mentioning it at the time??

Original poster
BerylStreep · 20/11/2015 11:06

Yes, I do. It happened at the very end, and as I explained, previous experience of choir is that the girls are not under any circumstances allowed to interrupt. Even when three girls fainted last year because they had been standing in an overheated church hall for two and a half hours, they had to keep singing whilst the Head held one fainted girl's legs up in the air and conducted with her remaining hand. It was an absolute farce. Many of the girls were really upset and frightened seeing their classmates collapse, and were crying, and they were dismissed as being a bit hysterical. So yes, given previous experience, I totally understand that my DD didn't have the confidence to speak up at the time.

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MrsLeighHalfpenny · 20/11/2015 16:36

Why do you need an emergency appt with the GP if you've already been to casualty? What can GP do?
DD (17) broke her a bone in hervhand earlier this year. She was advised to continue using it as normal - they didn't strap it up or anything.

LIZS · 20/11/2015 16:38

Presumably to get a letter for the exam board. I'm not clear on the type of school though, is it independent/state/overseas ? and is the 11+ equivalent for entry to another school or banding perhaps?

MrsLeighHalfpenny · 20/11/2015 16:53

Does the accident need to have happened at school for your DD to need exam support? You don't say how DD broke her hand but if the school stopped thinking you're trying to blame them/accuse them of negligence (not saying you are, but they might think you are), they might be more forthcoming about providing support.
Bear in mind that providing support will incur a cost to the school, so perhaps offer to part fund it, particularly if private school?

IguanaTail · 20/11/2015 20:26

I'm also unsure where you are actually going with this.

Original poster
BerylStreep · 21/11/2015 00:41

The appointment with the GP was to provide evidence that DD had an injury which causes difficulty in writing, as the school was unwilling to provide this. I've now got a letter from our GP to recommend additional support for DD during the exam.

He was very scathing of the school that they wouldn't provide a letter, echoing my own thoughts.

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MrsLeighHalfpenny · 21/11/2015 08:52

Perhaps the school were worried that you'd take further action if you thought it was their fault in any way. People are very litigious these days.

If you're not happy with the school's general attitude to sick and injured children, and it sounds as if you're not, perhaps it's time to look at alternative schools.

Original poster
BerylStreep · 21/11/2015 09:56

MrsLeigh DD is transferring to big school at the end of this year anyway. The thing is that her teachers over the last three years have been amazing, including her current one. It is just the Head who is really really poor.

OP posts:
LIZS · 21/11/2015 10:18

So why not email her class teacher to report it and ask for the note instead of the head? Hope exam goes ok.

MrsLeighHalfpenny · 21/11/2015 10:39

Fair enough then. I suspect its fear of legal action though. Maybe they've been stung in the past. (Not saying this is YOUR motive).

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