Child unwell at school and no one noticed

grass_is_greener

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.

Of course I wouldnt have sent her to school if she was unwell this morning, my goodness, if you had a daughter who fitted with a raised temperature, you wouldn't let them out of your sight if they even mentioned they felt ill so no, she wasn't ill first thing at 8.30am.

Of course she is staying off school tomorrow, what exactly are you trying to insinuate?

The teachers are there to educate (along with parents) but while she is there, I expect her to be looked after and for me to be contacted if she is ill. I don't expect them to look after a poorly child.

I would be complaining that my child was ill, didn't eat anything all day, told the teachers she was ill yet no one noticed or did anything about it.

sassyblue

That must be really upsetting OP, how many are in her class? (not that it excuses it but could go some way to explain) I think you should definitely point out about the temperature as that should have been noticed, l also wonder why nothing was said when she didn't eat her lunch too, doesn't seem to be any continuity there?!

See what they say, and ask that the basics are done if your daughter complains of being unwell again ( simple things like seeing if she pale and noticing her temperature would help!) but ultimately put it behind you.

Hope your daughter gets well soon and doesn't have any issues returning after half term. x

averagemummy

OP don't take any notice. I don't think any mum who cares would be doing any different to you.

I think you have every reason to complain. I would take it a bit further than just the class teacher though. i would complain to the school office or to their head.

balletshoes

averagemummy wrote: »

OP don't take any notice. I don't think any mum who cares would be doing any different to you.

I think you have every reason to complain. I would take it a bit further than just the class teacher though. i would complain to the school office or to their head.

would you? without even asking the teacher and teaching assistant what happened today?

sassyblue

Putting in writing is the best idea like gingham says, l think this goes beyond having a word....

WestonDave

Its not clear how old your daughter is - I'm guessing quite young. We had a similar incident recently where our son (5) came out of school saying he'd been sat in the quiet corner (this was confirmed by the teacher). My OH didn't think to ask any more at the time, and later was a bit concerned that this might have been for some time, but it transpired that it was actually quite late in the day and so it wasn't long before the end of school. He also hadn't eaten much of his lunch which is unusual but it wasn't clear he was unwell to anyone else at that point.

Its worth finding out what happened before getting too assertive about this - if it was late in the day and she was simply kept quiet and watched for the last hour or so of the day then its probably just making a comment that she has had a history of fits due to high temperature and that if possible you'd prefer to be called (I suspect some parents give schools all sorts of grief in these situations because they don't want to be called out of work!). If however it was longer then you may want a better explanation of why you weren't notified earlier - again pointing out her medical history. The danger is of course that if you push it on this one, you'll simply get asked to take her home every time she squeaks and she may start to play up to that!

Most teachers are pretty caring so tread carefully - its not easy being a parent or a teacher so its understandable that you are concerned but you also have to balance your instinct to provide instant comfort with the long term "lessons" about school being important.

Alikay

It's not great that the teacher seemed unconcerned, however children's temperatures often do suddenly soar when they have a bit of a bug, and in my experience, mid/late afternoon is a peak time for it to happen. They often seem to pick up again around 6pm, then go downhill again later in the evening.

I can only imagine your DD didn't look or feel too poorly when she told the teachers, as most aren't keen on keeping sick kids in class longer than absolutely necessary (due to possible puke or spreading germs, in addition to the poorly child's wellbeing:D). Can you tell your DD that in future it's OK to say she feels ill enough to go home?

Hope she's OK now btw and that the Calpol has worked it's magic

POPPYOSCAR

balletshoes wrote: »

would you? without even asking the teacher and teaching assistant what happened today?

I agree with balletshoes.


I would approach the teacher in charge in the first instance.

miss_independent

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.

I'm a teacher and as far as I see it when children are in my care I act "in loco parentis", in the place of the parent. Of course, I am there to educate but I also have to ensure each child is safe, neglecting them is not ensuring they are safe. If I was the OP, I would be very annoyed that my daughter was "ignored" when she told both of the adults responsible for her well being at that time. As a teacher, you frequently get "whingy" kids who complain of a tummy ache or a sore finger when there is actually little wrong. I've often found that the majority of children in this situation are worrying about something and what I call the "worry tummy" comes on. However, its usually pretty instinctive to realise a child that complains of being ill more than once and who does physically appear unwell (pale, drowsy, feverish) needs looking after. And its pretty inhumane to ignore that! Added to the fact that the OP's daughter suffers fits, the staff should be extra vigilant. They shouldn't have took a chance.

Fevers can also come on quite quick with children. I've seen them bouncing around having fun, then go all pale and floppy and start vomiting half an hour later. It also works the other way round, they can get better fairly quickly too! I wouldn't blame the OP for sending her daughter to school in the morning. My mum sent me to school in reception class and I was perfectly fine, not a mark on me when she dressed me (she is a nurse) and by 12pm I was covered in chicken pox!

OP, I'd certainly raise your concerns with the school. If I was your child's teacher and I had made this mistake ( they do happen after all when you have lots of kids in your care) then I would want to know. Poor thing. I just think about how I would feel if I was really unwell and was forced to stay at work. I don't know how old your daughter is, but if she is 6 +, it might be worth telling her not to be frightened to go back to the same teacher or assistant and explain she REALLY doesn't feel well at all until someone pays proper attention. Nothing wrong with being assertive especially when you need help!

grass_is_greener

whitewing wrote: »

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.

Thank you, this is a great idea. Being only five though, I am not sure where she would put it but I might think about a medic alert type bracelet or something if the school will allow that.

averagemummy wrote: »

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?

Her temp is now 38.8 after calpol and ibuprofen. She is asleep on the sofa now and will pop her in my bed tonight.

sassyblue wrote: »

That must be really upsetting OP, how many are in her class? (not that it excuses it but could go some way to explain) I think you should definitely point out about the temperature as that should have been noticed, l also wonder why nothing was said when she didn't eat her lunch too, doesn't seem to be any continuity there?!

See what they say, and ask that the basics are done if your daughter complains of being unwell again ( simple things like seeing if she pale and noticing her temperature would help!) but ultimately put it behind you.

Hope your daughter gets well soon and doesn't have any issues returning after half term. x

There are 27 in her class. They had two trained teachers today and one teaching assistant so although I know it's difficult for teachers, there were more staff than they usually have in.
Thank you, I am sure she will bounce back once she is over this bug.