Special school not feeding my son

alps1972

I used to work in a special needs school, and it is so true that the parents who kick up a fuss (and we had a few of them!) get heard and seen to. Definitely contact the LEA, Chair of Governors to start off with, then there's OFSTED, the papers/local news etc. Good Luck.

Sarah943617

Julesangles - I will ask the dietician when I see her about an over ride pump because it always worries me what we do if there is a problem with his current pump - I dont fancy pushing milk through a syringe for an hour at a time.

Alps1972 - I think we've reached the stage now where I am going to have to kick up a fuss - I didn't really want to because at the end of the day I have to continue to deal with the school for a few years yet and I worry what sort of effect my complaining will have on the way they treat my son but perhaps I'm just being a bit paranoid.

wicked_witch_2

Hi,

have just had a read through your thread and I'm quite angry for you and your son, there is no excuse for it to happen once let alone four times.

Please make sure you keep a diary so you have a record of dates and times of what has happened.
Put everything in writing, you need to be creating a paper trail of evidence.
If you have written to the Head teacher ask for a response within five days.
Also write to the chair of governors too and again ask for a rresponse within seven days.
Can you contact your local parent partnership, they will be able to help and could accompany you to the review at the school and help put your point across.
If you do not get any satisfaction from the governors contact your LEA for an official complaints form this will trigger an investigation.
I know it is difficult as you probably want to maintain a good relationship with the school but at the end of the day they are failing you and your son and it is neglect.
Please let us know how you get on.
x

cymrubaby

I'd be pretty peeved myself. My son has a Mickey button but only gets pump fed at night so I'm grateful in a way that it's only me and my hubby that get to deal with it. He eats blended food in the day but is only 20lb 11oz and the size of a 12-18 month old so that's why he has night time feeds - to help build him up or rather, keep him stable (he's 4 yrs old BTW).

I'd certainly complain very loudly and I know that I'd probably threaten to report them to any relevant education department (if anyone knows who please say).

My son fusses with his food in the day, he can't feed himself so we spoon feed him and it can take around 20 minutes to get a small bowl of blended food into him because he closes his mouth or only opens it a tiny bit before finally opening his mouth for the spoon. To the untrained eye it would look as though he doesn't want any and indeed, family memebers often give up feeding him after a spoon or two because they think he's not hungry. That's why he's never away from us - we're afraid he'd starve!

I think it's disgusting that it's happened four times to your son! Ask them if they want his nutrition nurse to visit and show them how to work the pump again. I got a nutrition nurse to visit my son's school to show them what to do if my son's Mickey leaks or comes out etc.

I know it's frustrating when your child comes home starving and you have to try and feed them up a bit before their night time routine. Once, my son hadn't eaten all day with my mum-in-law and so we tried to give him a bowl of porridge before bedtime, which he ate. However, we then put him on his pump for the night and he was sick all night (he has reflux) because he'd eaten too late and too close to his pump feed (which is 500mls over over 8 hours because he cannot tolerate a lot going in at once).

I'm hoping that when my son starts school full-time in September (he's nursery hours at his special needs unit) that his teachers and support workers persevere with his eating habits and feed him properly. It's something I'm dreading already.

cymrubaby

julesangles wrote: »

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

You've just described my son's feeds - Paediasure Plus.

angelheart

Hi

I've just been reading the thread and I feel that this is nothing more than abuse. Totally inexcusable. Surley the support staff have a legal duty to administer the feed. I work with adults in a similar situation and if the staff were found to be doing this very detailed records would be kept and discpinary action would be taken. Are schools responsible to CSCI and is there an equalivant to Vulnerable Adults. I would be fuming if this was my child. This is an absolute disgrace, shame on the support staff who think this is acceptable pratice, I would be concerns that if this is happened, what other practices are occuring that you don't know about.
sorry to sound so strong, expereince has taught me that when staff get complaciant that other corners are been cut!!

kassandra

I am appalled at what I have read. Fair play to you on writing to the head and giving the head chance to explain but I would be down there demanding to know what is going to be done.

The others are right. This is neglect, abuse and absolutely inexusable. Is it perhaps because your child does not speak and therefore can't complain or make them aware he is hungry so he is easily ignored. I am sooooo mad. I know you don't want to come across as unreasonable by going and shouting the odds but don't forget that if your son has no voice then yours needs to be louder! Believe me, I know you are concerned because you have to deal with them for years but if they know you won't be pushed around then they will pull their socks up. Take it from one with experience!

I hope you have luck with the head and this doesn't happen again
xxxx

Sarah943617

Hi all,

Thnaks for your replies. I am going into school after the holidays - I will give the head the letter I have written so it is a matter of record but i'm going to speak to them face to face as well. I have written to his hospital consultant and his dietician and I think i'm going to get in contact with his nutricia nurse as well and have her go in and see the support staff. What irritates me is that his school is designated special needs - he is not the only child there on a pump feed and I just feel they should be better prepared to cater for this sort of thing.

Will let you know how I get on after half term.

Sarah

franr43

Failing to feed a child is NEGECT and Social Services may have role here. The child HAS by law to be in school, and school, like anyone else, is subject to the law on child neglect or abuse.

PolishBigSpender

franr43 wrote: »

Failing to feed a child is NEGECT and Social Services may have role here. The child HAS by law to be in school, and school, like anyone else, is subject to the law on child neglect or abuse.

Incorrect.

The child does not have to attend school, it is merely compulsory for the child to receive an education.