On 22nd May our son was injured very badly in an incident at Nursery whereby after being given a ceramic plate he went to return it to the sink, tripped and fell. The plate smashed and his hand smashed into the plate cutting it very badly in 2 places. Nursery staff had to call an ambulance for him, one staff member said she thought she seen his bone. The consultants took over 3 hours to control the bleeding enough to be able to assess the damage. He was stitched and glued back together which of course was extremely painful. Two days later he was back in casualty because the wound kept opening. They are now trying a different course of action and to go back for weekly dressing changes and checks as his skin round the wound is blanching and dying. He is 4 years old. He didn’t ask for a ceramic plate, apparently this helps develop their sense of empowerment and responsibility, but to this cost? Show me what advantage this has to a child that a plastic plate wouldn’t? This is an unnecessary risk, why take the chance with our children? If this had been his artery or face or if he smashed it into another child’s face on the way down, again is it worth it??

The nursery are refusing to take away the ceramic plates even until the guidelines are looked at again. We checked the risk assessments and they are as basic as you get and do not even mention ceramic plates. We have also found out they do not have to use these plates it is only suggested by the care commission, there are other nurseries within fife that do not use them.

Please sign this petition so we can get this practise changed, why take risks with our children’s safety for something so unnecessary. Darragh is 4 and now injured to his permanent disfigurement, we do not know if he will have full use of his finger and he has a long road of check ups and pain still to come. Dont let this be your child. Thank you x