Child safeguarding issue

[ilovebencooper]

My neighbour's daughter came for tea yesterday, she is 5. In the course of conversation she told us that she doesn't like her aunt who hits her and pushes her down.

She lives with her mum, who had a breakdown a few years ago, her aunt and her two brothers.

I don't know what to do with this information. Should I tell someone? Who should I tell?

Social services and her school first thing tomorrow morning

You can report it to the nspcc
www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/report/

You could phone the child’s school and tell them but it would be better if you looked on your LA website and phone the safeguarding children number on there. You can do this anonymously. You could also call the nspcc for advice. All of this is presuming you are in the U.K., if not, follow procedures where you are.

I would email the local social services too.

Thank you. I know her school but not her surname (her mum is Vietnamese and doesn't speak hardly any English and I don't speak Vietnamese otherwise we might've exchanged more information). I'll call the school as she's only in reception so they must know who she is. And social workers I can email I think.

You shouldn't email safeguarding concerns, you need to ring and speak to children social care first thing tomorrow. You can remain anonymous

Google child protection referral and the name of your local authority.
Some are telephone referrals only, some you email, some have a portal to submit information.
You share what you know and the facts as you know them.
The fact this little one has felt she can share this information with you shows she feels she can trust you and you must share her disclosure with the appropriate childrens social care.
You can also do it anonymously through the nspcc (telephone or online).
As long as you do something you have done all you can.

Thanks all - I knew mumsnet would know what to do

Call social services in your area, schools are currently so busy eduction children who have missed lots of eduction. Let so I'll services do their job instead of them passing everything onto other people like they usually do.

I know it sounds odd but is the Aunt an adult?

Not that it makes it any better if she's been pushed around but it would make a difference on reporting it.

Yes she is, I'd say she's in her 30s.

Oh, the poor little girl. Yes, I agree with phoning her school. In the meantime, you’re obviously an adult she feels safe with and that’s lovely.