Bay of Plenty children tripping, losing their balance or colliding with someone while at school are some of the common injuries resulting in ACC paying out more than $1.4million in treatment in 2014.

Last year saw 5316 Bay pupils and 477 staff injured for the 10 months to October 31, according to Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) figures.

The number of injured pupils and school teachers increased in 2014. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Treatment cost the Bay $1.94 million - part of the nation's $24.8 million going towards the 66,915 pupils and 5721 staff injuries.

A 'pupil” is categorised as being aged between five and 17, which is the current definition of primary and secondary students by Ministry of Education.

Staff are categorised as primary, secondary and special-school education.

For pupils, fingers and thumbs were the most frequently hurt body parts with 1193 closely followed by ankle, 1080 and hands or wrists with 1052.

Nationwide more than 17,000 finger or thumb injuries were lodged along with 16,811 ankle injuries.

For staff at Bay schools the top injuries were lower back or spine problems with 129, followed by knees, 63 and neck, 59.

These injuries were caused by the strain of lifting or carrying (161), tripping (77) and slipping and skidding (73).

Loss of balance, colliding or being struck by a person or animal were some of the major causes of injury for Bay pupils.

Some 3546 pupils suffered injury after losing balance, 1545 were injured in a collision and 1176 were struck by a person or animal - which could include being pushed over, or stung by a bee.

Tripping or stumbling also accounted for 937 claims.

Nationwide, 52,519 pupils were injured after losing their balance, a further 19,213 had a collision and 17,132 were struck by a person or animal.

And the numbers in the Bay are up on 2013 with 5214 pupil claims at a cost of $1,388,358 in 2013.

Bay staff also recorded an increase from $338,831 and 430 to $535,287 and 477.

ACC Monitoring Research media advisor Suzanne Muth says the data compiled is based on the accident scene – not specific to school hours, school terms or to school pupils and teachers.

She says these numbers are likely to include people using school grounds for weekend sport or other school facilities for unrelated activities.