Special school not feeding my son

duchy

Putting it in writing alone may be enough. Once there is a paper trail notice is taken. Verbal should be used only for minor issues.
It is certainly appropriate to bring up feeding issues as part of the review-and again it then becomes part of the evidence paper trail and it would be an utterly stupid head who didn't take action pretty quick smart once it is a matter of record.
Stay calm -and just spell it out firmly (easier said than done I know)

longhotbath

Hi - as you have an annual review after the holidays, I would suggest that you contact your consultant to explain what is happening and ask them to write a report to the school for inclusion in the SEN that your son MUST have his full feed whilst at school. Ask for this to be included in part 2 with the strategy for meeting his feeding needs in part 3 which must be followed by the school. How can he fully take part and be alert at school when he is hungry.
(Possibly do the same with your dietician)
He must have had an awful time.
When writing to the school possibly include some of the quotes on the net on studies on children not eating breakfast / eating junk food at lunch. Its the same for your son.
Best wishes

poet123

This makes me so angry. After the first incident it should not have happened again,but to happen 4 times is inexcusable. Are they understaffed? or badly trained or inept? it has to be one of the above,or possibly all three.

This is neglect and failing to exercise their duty of care,a serious charge for any school,let alone a special school.

Wait until you get the response,but if you still feel uneasy (why should you be at home or work wondering,and no doubt worrying, if your child is being fed correctly?)then make a fuss until it is resolved.

Good luck.

ben500

A word of caution, I would suggest you "seal" the food canister in such a way that you will be able to detect if it has been tampered with, just in case someone in the future fails to feed your child and decides to empty the contents to conceal the fact. Bear in mind if someone is doing this out of malice or mischief they will now know how you are determining it is happening, god knows what damage it is doing to your child.

Sarah943617

Hi all,

I am going to write letters to the consultant and dietician to be included in his statement - I hadn't actually thought of doing that.

Poet123 - They are always understaffed and I have had past issues with him not being correctly restrained in his wheelchair so now I refuse to allow any temporary staff to take him in or out of his chair as it was becoming unsafe. Communication between staff is pretty poor also.

Ben500 - Unfortunatley I can't seal the bags as they are pre packs which attach to plastic tubing so anyone could just empty the bag out if they forget to feed him. It is pretty worrying that someone could do this - especially as I have very little trust left in the school staff at present.

Sarah

julesangles

has your feeding system got a override system on it? like a little hand pump system.
i do rest bite for a young girl who is fed with a gastric tube, and on 1 occasion i could not get the pump to work no matter what i did, change the feed tube. clean tube. it was the electric pump. i sat and used the little hand pump bit, being careful not to push the feed in to quick. it took 2 hrs but i would not leave her unfed.
she then had to have a new electric pump, thankfully the same day so she didn't suffer.
i would go into school and ask to see the person who feeds your child, and see them set machine up and feed your child, making sure they know what they are doing. if they are doing the correct procedure then i would, monitor the feed bottle and only give them new ones. then you can see instantly what they have fed.
wishing you well. i do have a child with special needs as well as look after children with special needs. (ta) i want to go into special schools now as i have has such good experience from it. can you go onto the harder bottles

Sarah943617

Hi Julesangles - There is not hand pump override on our pump - if it fails we have to syringe feed through the gastrostomy button which is even less fun than it sounds

We have only just changed to pre packed milk from using glass bottles decanted into a big plastic bottle which is then attached to the pump tubing, so i'm not sure what you mean by harder bottles sorry.

Sarah

duchy

I'm quite worried about what Jules means by rest-bite-I sooooo hope she means respite !!!

Sarah943617

Lol... I do too. I am freaked out enough by my respite carers desperation to have my son for overnight care without thinking there is something sinister going on!

julesangles

sorry spelling ain't my strong point lol. the bottles used are if i remember correctly 500ml hardish plastic square shape bottle if that makes any sense all vanilla flavour. the top of the bottle is part of the tube feeding equipment.
see if you can get a overide pump. not that solves your problem in anyway more peice of mind. good luck