Accident / Incident records - advice pls

[retha]

Hi everyone
My 2yr old mindee fell down today in the hallway while running towards me. Nothing serious, just a few tears and she stubbed her toe and said her finger was sore. I checked her and there was no visible marks at all and she soon started playing again and did not mention it again.

I wrote a short note to mom saying what happened and she signed the note which I will put in her file. The reason I did this is because I know obviously the child would go home and tell mom she fell down or hurt her toe and what would mom think if I did not say anything...?

Now I just want to know if I also have to fill in the Accident/Incident form (I have the NCMA book) for such a minor thing? Or would just the note that mom signed be ok in this instance since there was no big injury?

This might be a really silly question...pls don't laugh at me
Only reason I made mom sign a note is so I have prove that I did tell her about it and she knows what happened, just in case.

Thanks

[mamasheshe]

sounds right to me but i don't know if that's the "right" thing to do or not sorry

[mama2three]

i always do a form , just in case! if youre writing things downa nd asking mum to sign anyway then it may as well be on the propqer foqrmqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq ( sorry ds likes the letter q!)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ( and x)

[retha]

Thank you for your replies.
I'll just go ahead and do the proper form as well. I guess I'm still sometimes a bit confused about what I should document regarding injuries, especially if it is something minor that they arrive with like a small bruise.

Well, i guess it's always better to do more and be safe.

[sarah707]

I always write a proper accident form and put it in their file.

The thing is, if she says at home her finger hurts and parents decide to take her to the doc / hospital for an xray, then you need written evidence you have informed her family about it because you will need to ring Ofsted and your insurance company to inform them.

So always best to be safe and cover yourself

[miffy]

I always fill in an accident form if the child says they have hurt themselves even if there are no visible signs - you never know what might happen later.

Miffy xx

[retha]

Sorry I just thought of something else.
After filling in the form and giving carbon copy to the parent, do I keep my copy in the Accident Folder or do I take it out and file it in the parent's folder?

[sarah707]

Sorry I just thought of something else.
After filling in the form and giving carbon copy to the parent, do I keep my copy in the Accident Folder or do I take it out and file it in the parent's folder?

There are 2 schools of thought on this one... aren't there always?

I keep mine with the children's information so everything about each child is kept together for confidentiality and ease of finding...

I am sure others will tell you they do it the other way.

So long as you can justify your decision to Ofsted you'll be ok

[retha]

Thank you everyone for clearing all this up for me!
I had the parent sign the Accident book so everything sorted now.

Hehe...parent said that childminding involves so many documents to sign she might have to give me a stamp with her signature on it