Child unwell at school and no one noticed

grass_is_greener

I picked my daughter up from school today and she came out absolutely sobbing (this has never happened before). her eyes were red and she looked very pale.

I asked what was wrong and she said that she didn't feel well, so I asked the teacher who said that she was 'just tired'.

I drove dd home (a two minute drive) and she was asleep by the time we got there. When I picked her up out the car, she was absolutely burning up and I took her temperature and it was 40 degrees.

When i spoke to dd when she woke up, I asked why she didn't tell anyone she felt ill and she said she had actually told two teachers (a teaching assistant and the teacher) and they had told her to go and sit in the quiet corner. I checked her lunch box and she ate nothing at lunch except a bite of her sandwich.

Now, I know that nothing bad happened and I am grateful for that but the school are aware that dd suffers with fitting when she gets a high temperature, luckily she obviously didnt today but I am really concerned that it did not cross their mind that she might be poorly. Surely she did not suddenly become ill when they opened the school doors at home time?

Is it worth complaining or am I overreacting as I hate to think of my daughter suffering and no one helping her.

balletshoes

well I wouldn't complain to the school as such - but could you ask the teacher and teaching assistant tomorrow what happened today, just so you get both sides of the story so to speak?

MandM90

If she told two teachers I'd certainly have a word with them and ask them what the usual procedure is; perhaps at primary school sometimes they have to take things with a pinch of salt (I remember several hypochondriacs from my school days) but in your DDs case I'd probably kick up a bit of a fuss, if only to make sure next time nothing serious happened. DD once had a fit due to high pitch and it was probably the scariest night of my life, so I understand you must be shaken at the very thought of it.

At DDs school they are always able to tell me whether or not she ate well (and are quite specific about what she did/didn't eat). Certainly when I was at school they watched us to make sure we ate sandwiches first etc., so I would be quite baffled at no one noticing she hadn't really eaten at all.

POPPYOSCAR

grass_is_greener wrote: »

I picked my daughter up from school today and she came out absolutely sobbing (this has never happened before). her eyes were red and she looked very pale.

I asked what was wrong and she said that she didn't feel well, so I asked the teacher who said that she was 'just tired'.

I drove dd home (a two minute drive) and she was asleep by the time we got there. When I picked her up out the car, she was absolutely burning up and I took her temperature and it was 40 degrees.

When i spoke to dd when she woke up, I asked why she didn't tell anyone she felt ill and she said she had actually told two teachers (a teaching assistant and the teacher) and they had told her to go and sit in the quiet corner. I checked her lunch box and she ate nothing at lunch except a bite of her sandwich.

Now, I know that nothing bad happened and I am grateful for that but the school are aware that dd suffers with fitting when she gets a high temperature, luckily she obviously didnt today but I am really concerned that it did not cross their mind that she might be poorly. Surely she did not suddenly become ill when they opened the school doors at home time?

Is it worth complaining or am I overreacting as I hate to think of my daughter suffering and no one helping her.

This is unusual.

My children only had to say they did not feel well and I would get a call to go and collect them.

I would be concerned just as you are and would go in tomorrow and have a quiet word with the teacher.

I would also impress upon them again how important it is that you be told if she is feeling unwell due to her medical condition.

Hope she is feeling better now.

POPPYOSCAR

faerie~spangles wrote: »

Did you notice if she was unwell this morning of so why did you send her to school?

Are you going to keep her of school tomorrow, if not why not?

What exactly are you going to complain about?

Teachers are there to educate they are not nurses or babysitters.

They are also responsible for the children in their care whilst they are in school!

whitewing

Would it be practical for her to have a small laminated card that she could point to the various options if she feels ill. Even if her teacher knows of the condition, a supply teacher or stand in may not.

MandM90

faerie~spangles wrote: »

Did you notice if she was unwell this morning of so why did you send her to school?

Are you going to keep her of school tomorrow, if not why not?

What exactly are you going to complain about?

Teachers are there to educate they are not nurses or babysitters.

Would you not be alarmed if your daughter came out of school sobbing, with a 40 degree temp, having not eaten? The least I would expect is to allow her to make a phone call. As far as I'm concerned if DD gets ill or injured during school, the school has a certain responsibility to either call me so I can come and get her, or provide the appropriate first aid if it can be dealt with.

Obviously, teachers are busy and it may not have been anyone's fault but it's worth getting to the bottom of to make sure the OP's daughter doesn't end up convulsing on the classroom floor!

CH27

faerie~spangles wrote: »

Did you notice if she was unwell this morning if so why did you send her to school?

Are you going to keep her of school tomorrow, if not why not?

What exactly are you going to complain about?

Teachers are there to educate they are not nurses or babysitters.

They are responsible for the well being of their pupils while they are in school.

averagemummy

faerie~spangles wrote: »

Teachers are there to educate they are not nurses or babysitters.

Exactly. That's why it is usual practise at my DD schools to send home children who are feeling unwell, certainly if they are distressed about it or not eating.

Might be worth an enquiry with the teacher or the school office to find out what happened from their point of view.

Edit, sorry just read again about the high temp. I would certainly make an enquiry with the school office.

Has she had a temperature or anything this evening?

Stephb1986_2

faerie~spangles wrote: »

Did you notice if she was unwell this morning if so why did you send her to school?

Are you going to keep her of school tomorrow, if not why not?

What exactly are you going to complain about?

Teachers are there to educate they are not nurses or babysitters.

They have a duty of care while that child is in school.

OP When I was a kid I fell over and bust my leg open there was blood everywhere not 1 teacher cleaned me up or put a plaster on my leg they called my mum out of work to come and sort me out.

I hope she's feeling much better now hugs for her.

Steph xx

Gingham_R

faerie~spangles wrote: »

Teachers are there to educate they are not nurses or babysitters.

Having been a teacher, and as a mother, I'm horrified by this glib comment.

A 40 degree fever is extremely high and a child who fits with a fever is at risk if she is not adequately cared for by the adult in loco parentis.

A basic but important message we were given when we first started teacher training was that we were in loco parentis for the whole school day. "In the parent's place."

If a child is ill at school, the very least they should do is call home. Her temperature should have been taken and her comments about feeling unwell should have been respected and listened to.

The teaching assistant could have spared a moment to get a thermometer . They probably have the basic strips that go across the forehead. At least stopping to ask more about how she was feeling would have been something.

No, I'm unimpressed with the actions of the staff in light of her medical problem especially. A letter outlining your concerns should be enough to put it back on their radar. I'd also send another letter to the teacher at the start of the next academic year in case her notes aren't adequately attended to next year either.