Health Checks at School

IrishRose12

mrcow wrote: »

You are beginning to sound completely unhinged.

A parent may not have returned a form for a multitude of reasons.

At school, if there is a letter that has been missed, then we chase it. It really is not that difficult to do.

And yes, it is part of our job!

Firstly I am not unhinged in the slightest. I get sick and tired of parents thinking that they can just do anything they want and we as a school community will just go after them picking up the things they don't bother doing.

Secondly I didn't say it wasn't the TEACHER's Job to chase after them, I said it wasn't the school secretaries job to do it.
But then again, some teachers think they are too good to be doing things like that and pass that job over to us classroom assistants and secretaries.

You say it's also not difficult to do, it may not be for you, but for many other schools it's a hard job as they have parents in their schools who just don't give a damn about the school, their policies or their children in fact so after the 3rd time asking knowing rightly you're not going to get a reply either way, you then have to explain to a child why they can't go on a school trip, or oh I'm sorry love, I know you can't see the whiteboard properly as you have sore eyes, but mummy didn't send your reply slip back in to see the nurse so you'll have to carry on as you are.

surreysaver wrote: »

You first paragraph contradicts your last. On the one hand, you agree that no opt-out does not equal consent. On the other hand not opting out is the parent's fault when something occurs that they have not consented to.
That's why you need to send a form out for every little thing, because you are not mind-readers and you cannot possibly know whether we agree to something unless you ask and we give consent.:wall:

Ermm no it doesn't.

I do think it is an odd arrangement that schools give an option to opt out instead of just sending permission slips home for each event.
But Obviously when you decide to send your child to that school, and you agree to this arrangement and their many policies they have, you have given your consent to various things, it seems that a school nurse visit is one of these things.

But yes, it is the parents fault if, when enrolling your child at a school that does this, you do not ask or read what you are opting out or in for. Same if a note is sent home saying the school nurse will be in, on such a date. If you don't let the school know you don't want your child to see them and it is an opt out arrangement then your child will go and see the nurse.

I know myself from signing various permission slips at the start of each school year for my own children that I sometimes can't be bothered reading through each note (we get about 8 or 9 each September) when it can be just as easy to sign it and have done with it. But because of the problems I have in my own place of work with notes and mis-information, or plain ignorance, I read each and every one and then sign it.

It's like my daughter's milk money. It's about £4 per month, but if you don't send the money in by a certain date your child won't get their milk next month. So in September I pay for my daughters milk for the whole year, so I won't forget about giving her money each month.
This is an opt out of service at the start of each year, as they have to order the milk for their first day back to school, so every child is ordered for and if you don't send a note in, or inform the teacher/assistant you don't want your child to have milk you will be charged each month until you do inform them.
Same for my son's school, however he doesn't want milk so I had to pay for the first month, but then sent in word that he didn't want milk so it was cancelled.

It really does go back to when you decided to send your child to the school. If you are aware of the opt out arrangement and agreed to it, but then don't opt out of things then you have given your consent for such event to continue.

Me personally if I was looking at a school that had an odd arrangement like this, I would be asking what exactly this involves, ask about what this covers, i.e trips, visits from outside organisations (travelling theaters etc) school of music visits, being taken out of class for things, nurse or dentist visits etc. And I would go through each one and give my permission or opt of of the events I want my child to participate in or not in the case.

jellyhead

IrishRose12 wrote: »

Firstly I am not unhinged in the slightest. I get sick and tired of parents thinking that they can just do anything they want and we as a school community will just go after them picking up the things they don't bother doing.

I'm not disagreeing, but on the other hand there are parents who think they should be able to just get their child to school in clean uniform with appropriate equipment and lunch, and that should be enough.

I've heard moans this week about all the assemblies, parent activities, the book day parade and coffee morning, the kids theme days, the invitation to come and eat a school meal, etc. etc. and the requests for money for this and that.

Personally I love all of that and am glad we get invited into the school to do things with our children. I can't always attend everything, but my husband can sometimes take time off work. I think the activities and trips are excellent value for money and really bring the learning alive, especially for the children who are not naturally academic.

But not all parents agree, some feel that keeping up with all the letters and activities is a bother, especially if they have more than one child at the school (I only have one), or if they work in a job where they can't take time off at short notice.

Some wish that school would go back to being simple, where you just had to get them there, clean, on time and with lunch.

I've even heard comments about TA's being jobsworths if they chase up on consent forms or equipment that haven't been brought in on the right day, and a feeling of resentment that school requires so much admin from parents.

It's not so much that parents don't bother, but they wonder why they are required to bother, and that it's all very well for stay at home parents with all the time in the world to saunter into school for a jolly, but not very fair on those whose parents have to work.

FBaby

surreysaver wrote: »

Discharged is an administrative procedure. They would not physically prevent you from leaving. You are not tied to the bed or locked in the hospital! lol.

But it remains that she carried out a check not only without asking consent, but with an underlying threat that we wouldn't be discharged without, whether I could legally walk out or not.

surreysaver

FBaby wrote: »

But it remains that she carried out a check not only without asking consent, but with an underlying threat that we wouldn't be discharged without, whether I could legally walk out or not.

If you have not complied with all the checks, then they cannot discharge you, as the administrational tasks would not all be complete. But it stands you can leave, as it would be false imprisonment to keep you there. All you need to do is get up and go. It is not a threat she cannot discharge you, it is a fact, as there would be a box on a form or computer somewhere that cannot be ticked. And no doubt raise a flag somewhere accusing you of abuse!

pollyanna24

I haven't managed to read through all the responses, there were so many pages, thanks for everyone that responded. I will try and read them at work tomorrow, haha.

It turns out that I wasn't the only parent not to know, so I don't think a letter was put in their book bags.

A few days after my daughter telling us this, I did get a letter informing me of her weight (17.8kg), height (108cm - so almost as tall as me!) and that her eyesight and hearing are normal.

Can't remember if I got this in the post or if it was in her book bag as my mum handed to me when I got in from work (she minds my girls for me).

Only thing I was concerned about was her eyesight as both me and her father are short sighted (me extremely so), but I haven't taken her to the optician yet.

gingin_2

pollyanna24 wrote: »

Only thing I was concerned about was her eyesight as both me and her father are short sighted (me extremely so), but I haven't taken her to the optician yet.

I'd take her for a full eye check, it can't do any harm ( my 10 year old daughter still enjoys going). Both my husband and I are short sighted and both of our children were in glasses by age 9. The optician said it's likely that if both parents are, your children will be too.

surreysaver

pollyanna24 wrote: »

It turns out that I wasn't the only parent not to know, so I don't think a letter was put in their book bags.

I would definitely pull them up on it. It might be stuff you would have agreed to anyway, but how do you know what else they would do without your knowledge and consent? Even if the child is of an age where they can make up their own minds, do they understand the possible implications of having things permanently recorded, and not knowing who might be able to see or use that information in the future?

I think the days that healthcare professionals should be trusted just because they are healthcare professionals are gone.

mumtosix

I live in a London borough & this is how our local authority does things;

when our children commence school, ie reception you are given loads of school leaflets including one that tells you about checks the LHA will do during the time your children are at school, these include hearing, sight & dental. They also mention the height/weight at the end of reception & year 6. You have the right to refuse any of these and must do so in writing to the local health authority, the address is on the leaflet.

The school do not inform you when these checks are going to take place as you have already agreed to them.

Hth

surreysaver

mumtosix wrote: »

The school do not inform you when these checks are going to take place as you have already agreed to them.

Hth

But when have you agreed and consented to them?

mumtosix

Sorry surreysaver, can't find the leaflet, but it states on them these health checks will take place, you can opt out if you so wish by writing to...

I chose to opt out of these because of many reasons, but not being told when being one.

Here's a link
http://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/services/community-health/children-family-services/school-nursing-services/