NAME:    Akeem Abubakar AGE: 9 years CASE: Akeem has trouble settling into school

NOTES

Akeem is a refugee. He's only been in the UK for a month. He's arrived from Sierra Leone where his family were all killed in the war. Now lives with his uncle who lives on his own.

Akeem's English is excellent and he's a bright lad. But he's inattentive at school and disruptive. He's very thin. Teachers have spoken about Akeem's behaviour with Akeem and his uncle. His uncle says that he isn't any trouble at home. So everyone concludes that Akeem's working through his 'culture shock.'

Akeem gets into a fight at school. Says other kids laugh at him. This is because he can't catch the ball in PE, nor kick it properly in football. A teacher observes this more closely; Akeem is clearly having trouble judging depth – 3D distances. A possible connection is made with a slight squint he has.

RELEVANT FACTORS:

• His uncle is asked to take Akeem to his GP for Akeem to have a check up – including on his squint. The GP refers Akeem on.
• Akeem has a squint. Who investigates this and realises Akeem's eye has been damaged in the wars. How might it be treated?
• Akeem has lived through a war – including bombing raids and attacks by terrorists. He won't talk about these experiences.
• What about his weight? Or is he just growing fast?