Yesterday, DH went to collect DD from school (Year 7). He phoned me a while later and said she hasn't come out yet, but the rest of her year group have all gone past. He got out of his car and walked to the end of the road to look for her and as he did two girls from her class approached him and said that DD had hurt her ankle and was at the school gate, unable to walk any further. So, he drove up to the gate to collect her. She was waiting with two other girls who had physically held on to her as she hopped from the school door to the gate (quite a long way, past the school field etc).
She had sprained her ankle at 10am that morning - first break! She told her teacher when she got back in class and they said if it is still hurting in half an hour she could go to medical. Anyway, she did go to medical - they put ice on it and she stayed there for a while. She had her lunch in there as she couldn't walk to the canteen. The medical lady then took her back to class and could see that she was hopping all the way.
When DH carried her from the car to the house, I could see straight away from a distance that her ankle was really swollen. She burst into tears at home as it was painful and she was exhausted at having to put up with it from 10am. We phoned our surgery for advice and they said to take her for to a and e. She had an x-ray and it is a 'bad sprain'. He said she needs to stay at home today and rest it. She has an ankle brace to wear.
Anyway, DH and I were both disappointed that school hadn't called us to let us know. We could have at least made arrangements to help her physically at home time. I know it's a judgement call at the end of the day, but is was very obviously very swollen!
I have sent an email telling them that she will be absent today, and I did mention that we would have appreciated a phone call. Is it just that secondary schools are tougher and less nurturing than primary schools and I just have to 'man up'?