Returning to School
Your child's successful return to school requires the co-operation and skill of an informed teacher. Starship Children's Hospital Ward 23B Teacher Marian Nevin, offers advice to parents of children returning to school after a stay at Starship.
When your child returns to school, you will want him or her treated as normally as possible. A successful return to school requires the cooperation and skills of an informed teacher. We urge you to provide the teacher with as much information as you can about your child's condition and it's treatment. Teachers need this information so they can help your child continue to learn and provide the most appropriate programme.
The following hints can help you and the teacher get ready for your child's return to school:
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Have your physician give you specific guidelines for your child's activities. A letter from the hospital to school (with your consent) is always useful.
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Obtain a list of side effects of medications they are taking.
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Ask the doctors if there are any gym or sport limitations and for how long these are likely to be in place.
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Before your child begins classes make an appointment with their teacher. If there is a school nurse you may wish them to be present.
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Make a list of points that you want to cover with the teacher, including any special requests. Try not to be too over protective. While flexibility is necessary, try to find a balance between what your child can reasonably do and what they must do for their own development and self image, eg:
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Flexible bathroom privileges
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Playground or sport restrictions
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Special homework assignments if your child can't attend school full time due to illness or hospitalisation
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Extra tutoring in subjects missed
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Shortened school days to start with
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Procedures to take in the event of an emergency.
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You may wish to talk to the teacher a couple of weeks after your child's return. This provides a chance to discuss your child's response to school and to find out how they are behaving in school. Their behaviour might be quite different to what you see at home.
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Some children require special help at school. Physical, intellectual and psychological testing can assist teachers in determining how best to help your child. If testing results indicate that your child would benefit from related educational services, an Individualised Programme (IEP) can be developed. Your child's teacher, principal, school psychologist, yourself and any other relevant personnel can be involved.
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Obtain a copy of the publication "Educating Children with Cardiac Conditions - Information for Teachers", by Teresa Kedzlie and Mary Crosbie. This is available from Heart Children (NZ) Inc.
Contact: PO Box 108-034
Symonds Street
Auckland
heartchildren@heartchildren.org.nz
The cost is $3.00. Share this publication with the class teacher each year. It contains a Parent/Teacher Interview sheet, which may be useful.
Marian Nevin
Hospital Teacher
Ward 23B
Starship Children's Hospital
Auckland
Ph 09-309 7869 (voice mail available)
Fax 09-358 5209