DPA and school - help please

me_and_me_monkeys

My sons come home from school with the most shocking graze on his collar bone area. It was so noticable that I asked his teacher what happened all I got "happened at lunch time so I don't know"

Asked my son who said that he was playing near the benches in the playground and one of the crossbars had been removed leaving two upright posts about 18" high. He had fallen and landed on the edge of one of those.

I went to the office and asked to see the accident report and eventually the deputy brought the accident report book out and refused to allow me to read it, but read it to me. - there was no mention of what happened only that he was treated by a qualified 1st aider.

There have been other incidents this year that I have been unhappy about but my question in this instance is can they refuse to allow me to see my sons accident report? I understand completely that they cannot show me the page if another childs accident report is there but why not offer to photocopy the bit refering to my child. Any one know if i can ask for a photocopy?

bluebell13

When my son has had an accident at school they send home a slip of paper with details of the incident and first aid given. He is only in Reception though. Not sure if it applies to older children.

I wonder if the school are being cagey as they think they may be liable as it was involving school property which potentially should have not been left in that condition.

How old is your son?

me_and_me_monkeys

he is 7 and has aspergers which in his case means that he over/under reacts to pain. It should have been flagged up as although his chest was swelling and bleeding he wasn't crying or infact making much fuss - he asked for tissue to clean it up as 'mum will be cross if i get my uniform dirty!! (he knows that I get fed up with him comming home caked in mud everyday but I certainly wouldn't be cross about this'. School have been told about this over/under reaction on numerous occassions. Also his teacher should have been told as it can take him a very long time to process an event and will react a while after something happens

I phoned the school just after posting the 1st message to arrange a meeting for next week - I was told that she keeps her own diary and that she has already left for the day (funny I saw her car leaving the carpark about 20 mins after I called).

I had been in the office today to verbally cancel my younger boys place in nursery as I had concerns about the older ones care and then this happens. I so do not want to send my big monkey to school on monday!

Kimitatsu

me_and_me_monkeys wrote: »

My sons come home from school with the most shocking graze on his collar bone area. It was so noticable that I asked his teacher what happened all I got "happened at lunch time so I don't know"

Asked my son who said that he was playing near the benches in the playground and one of the crossbars had been removed leaving two upright posts about 18" high. He had fallen and landed on the edge of one of those.

I went to the office and asked to see the accident report and eventually the deputy brought the accident report book out and refused to allow me to read it, but read it to me. - there was no mention of what happened only that he was treated by a qualified 1st aider.

There have been other incidents this year that I have been unhappy about but my question in this instance is can they refuse to allow me to see my sons accident report? I understand completely that they cannot show me the page if another childs accident report is there but why not offer to photocopy the bit refering to my child. Any one know if i can ask for a photocopy?

The school accident reports should be pro forma one page reports anyway - so you should not be able to see anyone elses data on that page.

You have every right under the DPA to see anything that relates to your child from school, from his files or any official records. So yes you can officially request a photocopy. if I were you once I had that I would ask your GP to send a letter into the school detailing your sons condition so they have no excuses to not take any notice!

me_and_me_monkeys

thank you both. I just really don't know what to do - My smaller monkey is staying at playgroup for another term, but I really am not happy with the big monkeys care.

Since last sept he has been let out of school with his pants over his clothes (what was he doing that required him to remove his pants? I still have no idea), he was caught eating his plimsoles - I was only told because they were a safety hazzard - This was after a trip to A&E with a very high temp and a suspected blocked bowel. He also left class face caked in the 'lead' from a yellow pencil - no one noticed in class. They do not seem to care about his communication and emotional needs - just the fact that he is expected to get the highest grades in his sats. Sorry this is getting me very upset and angry

Savvy_Sue

If you're that unhappy, is there any possibility of moving your older son to a different school in September? If there is another school you could get him to, then a phone call on Monday might be worthwhile to ask about places, to ask about their special needs provision, to ask whether they've had any experience of a child with Aspergers or on the autistic spectrum.

And if you're not happy that they are really taking his special needs into account, a call to IPSEA might also be useful.

bribri_2

Have you been down the statementing route? - You can ask the education authority to provide a statement of your monkey's special needs and depending on circumstances gain extra help for him.

Also get the school's policy on accidents and see if anything has been done about the posts now it has been reported. This all depend on how much energy you have for the arguments.

Also just because you have told one person at the school about your monkey's needs, it doesn't mean it has been relayed. Again, find out the school procedure for this.

Kimitatsu

I agree with bribi go down the statementing route, but go to your GP for a private referrel to the local unit. If you wait for an educational psychologist you will be waiting over a year.

If you ask for a private referral and explain your concerns to the GP, you will be referred to the local families group, who may still take 3 or 4 months to get to, but they tend to be more efficient than the EP.

The school will be asked to take part and give their opinion, but it is a good way to shorten the process!

I know that you are hoping to see the Head next week, if I were you I think I would point out that she is failing in her duty of care to your child and under the new government initiative of "Every Child Matters" then you are concerned that your sons care is falling through the cracks. Always helps if you start quoting recent initiatives.

Good luck and let us know how you get on! :A

bestpud

Perservere with the appointment - they should make themselves available!

We have to sign the accident book at dds school, to say we have been informed and we also get a slip with info about it. She is in reception class though - not sure if they do it for older ones.

My advice to anyone dealing with schools is to communicate everything by letter as well as verbally. If I speak to a teacher about something important, I always follow it up with a letter saying, spoke today and I understand you will be doing such and such - that kind of thing. That way, they have to write back if they feel you have misunderstood and there can be no ambiguity or denial. If they don't write back, then you can assume you have correctly understood what action they will take and yo have some comeback if they don't.

It sounds a bit OTT I know but I've found it gets results every time. I'm always polite, of course, and do state any actions I will take to help resolve the issue too. Basically I try and communicate that I and they should work together to benefit my child/the children as their well-being is paramount.

I also think it would be a good idea to get your GP or anyone else your son is involved with to back you up, in writing. Once letters are on file, they cannot deny they knew the circumstances!

Best wishes,

Bestpud

TediousPhoenix

I have a brother who has Asperger's.

He was statemented because he attended a special needs school at the age of three and a half. But when he joined a mainstream school they tried to de-statement him.

My parents fought long and hard with teachers, the head teacher, educational psychologists, the local educational authority, doctors and our local MP to keep him statemented. In the end they more or less wrote the statement because they were so unhappy with the drafts they came up with.

The statement - correct me if I'm wrong - is a legal document detailing the plan of action for a child and the help they should receive. (Whether they receive the help is another question and one which was another cause of angst.)

Your son, Me And My Monkeys, is obviously highly intelligent but this does not mean he doesn't require specialist help. I would recommend you push, push and push - it cerainly won't be easy - to get a non-teaching assistant for 25 hours a week SOLELY for him. (When schools get this they see it as funding for the whole class, so make sure it's just for him because they won't stick to it.)

The LEA will say he doesn't need the support, but by the sounds of it he does and you are clearly concerned because you are posting here. I can only recommend you fight and fight and become known as a 'trouble maker' - although you won't be; you are only a concerned and caring mother.

Schools will fob you off time and time again, so go through your LEA and arrange meetings with them to discuss your monkey's needs.



At the moment my brother is living at home and attending university and doing well, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel, the long, long tunnel.

me_and_me_monkeys

Hi everyone. - a quick update

Headteacher has phoned and I have a meeting for tomorrow morning. So I will be making a list of all my concerns.

I have phoned the 2 next nearest schools to ask what places they will have in september - I'm waiting for them to get back to me.

His graze looks very red and is sore - He allowed me a good look and after much wailing and upset he allowed me to get a splinter out. Also looks like a small deep bruise. If the redness and swelling hasn't gone down today he'll be going to the drs.