I don’t know what to do.

I’m a long time HT and DSL.
This post nails it.

Absolutely a LADO issue and why I spend my time writing whistleblowing policies. There should be a safeguarding governor too.

Is it an academy or LA school? That could make a difference.

1 - join a union! They won’t be able to help you with this issue, but it’s absolutely bonkers to work in a school and not be a member.

2 - look for the school whistleblowing policy. It probably involves speaking to the chair of governors.

3 - LADO for advice. It’s not for any of us to decide if this is a safeguarding concern, but it is the LADO’s actual role.

Yes, join a union today.

Seriously you should not risk your job over this

The SLT are aware and it is on them to take action

You wanting to take action based on a theory that something may happen to these children in the future is a bit strange

Children do this type of thing - and you said there’s no suspicion they were doing anything inappropriate so what might end up happening is the school would simply stop these trips moving forward

Simply because a few kids left their tent - surely the parents would be raising this kid f they felt it was an issue

I work in a school and no DSL or H/T should be saying that an incident is 'too late to report'. We are all repeatedly told that 'safeguarding is everyone's responsibility'. Which is absolutely true, it is.

My guess is that you are spot on with your thought process. The DSL was the person in charge on the trip, and the responsibility would fall squarely on his shoulders. He doesn't want a fuss caused because, he would get into trouble. The H/T doesn't want a fuss caused either, because questions would be asked, and they could equally be in trouble.

Do you have a Whistleblowing policy? If you are in a Union, then I'd ask for advice. If not, look at the schools Whistleblowing policy.

OP I’m so shocked at some of the awful responses you’re getting, totally missing the point and minimising the situation.

You are absolutely right to take this further,

Especially if the DSL has previous form for lying/spiteful behaviour: they should not be the DSL!

Thank goodness for decent people like you doing the right thing

OP I’m so shocked at some of the awful responses you’re getting, totally missing the point and minimising the situation.

You are absolutely right to take this further,

Especially if the DSL has previous form for lying/spiteful behaviour: they should not be the DSL!

Thank goodness for decent people like you doing the right thing

I agree. The OP is only a TA and wasn't even on the trip. As long as her reporting to the Head is recorded. How can this be prevented. It cant be. Stop any trips of this kind in case a child decides to visit friends in another tent?

You cannot expect a staff member to stay up all night on a residential. I've done many myself and kids get out of bed to go to the toilet during night etc. The kids are responsible for their own actions. They are right that there is very little that can be done about that now. The trip is over it was silly behaviour, there literally is nothing to be done about it as the trip is over. They didn't do anything kids haven't done on pretty much every residential.

Your issue is now with the teachers conduct and speculating about something that has not happened.

You have misunderstood my post.

Then you should join one immediately and get union support for this.

Of course they’re trying to cover their backs to keep their jobs. Happens all over the place.

How much do you want to keep your job would be my question to you?

I don't work in safeguarding so perhaps the nuances are passing me by. But it seems completely mad to me, to risk your job because there was a situation where no one was hurt, but it was dealt with in such a way that, if a completely different situation should arise in future, it might be dealt with in a way that wasn't ideal.

Surely you should be appalled at your own child's behaviour if they did this, and anyway, is it really that big a deal? Sneaking in to friends tents on a camping trip if a contained field of other kids and teachers? Heck of a lot of drama on this thread

As someone with a Y6 Gdd who is currently on such a school trip in Wales, I must say I’m appalled that this was ever allowed, and is now being swept under the carpet.

Yes, because the only outcome is they get in to trouble for leaving the tent but it is now after the fact, nobody to injured or came to any harm and they school can take this situation on board for next year's trip

Why would leaving their tent during the night be a safeguarding issue? Presumably they were also allowed to leave them to go to the toilet?
As long as no-one left the campsite entirely, can't really see what the issue was in the first place, or why anything needed reporting.

I agree his response to them saying don't throw other people under the bus is suboptimal given it could be seen by a child as a reason to never report anything more serious.

But I am struggling to get my head round why the child leaving a glamping pod to pop to another child's pod is considered so serious and what you think the staff should have done instead to prevent this

Do you think a teacher should be awake all night monitoring a field in case a child exits a pod? How would this work if they then need to supervise the children during the day as well or do you think there should be double the number of staff?

The safeguarding issue is that the girls are being told by the adult in charge to keep quiet about it.

Well there is your answer. If you want to be forced out of your job but be 'in the right' go ahead but make sure your union is behind you and record everything

You are comparing CSA to a group of girls being silly at a camping trip. One is illegal and a massive safeguarding issue, one is a behaviour issue. I presume they were told to keep quiet because the only outcome is they get in to trouble. For all you know, the HT and DSL have taken this on as learning for the next trip, but you wouldn't be privy to that as you are no way involved

Your school should have a whistle blowing policy which should protect you whilst you report, the DSL telling students to keep things to themselves is a serious issue. If this does blow up you could be investigated as you also knew and didn't act on information. It's a tricky place to be when colleagues are involved but children must come first. Hope it all gets sorted x

Call the lado because the girls moved around to their friends glamping pods? Doesn't sound like any unsavoury adults were involved and more like silliness from a group of young girls. I'm struggling to see the safeguarding issue here

Are there other jobs in the area? TA jobs here are quite common now. I've got 2 going at my school.

Like I said much earlier up the thread, your duty of care means you report to the LADO and chair of governors. SLT and DSL of several years speaking here.

And I'm sorry this has fallen on shoulders to report your colleagues for their poor practice. You know you're doing the right thing.

I don't know what you want to achieve from repeating the same points.
I have said twice record your own CPOMS so you have a written record of what was said (you are either ignoring my comment on this as you don't want to do this, or maybe you have already done it so could perhaps confirm that you have done so).
As you then say that the DSL is a concern, you need to do as others say and report higher up - LADO.
Others have also suggested that there should be more than one person in charge of safeguarding in the school so have you spoken to them?

You seem to be going round in circles. Either you are concerned enough to formally report it or not.