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Original poster

Saw something concerning on the school run

19 replies

worriedUserName · 04/07/2022 14:47

I don't want to go into too much detail as I know some parents from the school are on Mumsnet.

I saw a young child in a moving car standing up and not in any car seat. The child had a visible injury.

That is all I am willing to say about what I saw and just wondering Who should I talk to about this? Police? School? Or should I just keep my nose out?

It's made me feel sick with worry.

OP posts:
dad11122 · 04/07/2022 14:48

What do you mean exactly by visible injury?

Valhalla17 · 04/07/2022 14:50

What injury? I would call the police and school to be honest. Was this in the morning?

TeapotTitties · 04/07/2022 14:52

You don't need MN to tell you this.

If you're concerned speak to the school, if you have the reg plate, report to 101 as well.

Let them decide if there's a problem.

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MissMarplesGoddaughter · 04/07/2022 14:54

Contact the school and ask to speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Don't keep this information to yourself. If there is cause for concern, a young child can't speak up, but you can speak for them, so do...........

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 04/07/2022 14:56

Unless you know that the child is connected with the school I would talk to the police and give the registration. Have done it myself in connection with someone local who would drive around with their toddler standing on the seats.

Buythebag40 · 04/07/2022 14:57

Your OP is very vague - I had situations now and then when mine were little where they unbuckled their belts and stood up in the car, I would obvs pull over when safe to do so, tell them off and strap them back in! Could it have been something like that happening? And what do you mean about an injury? An injury caused at that particular moment by being unstrapped in the car or an injury that could've been from anything and occurred at any time?

You obviously feel you have reason to be concerned about this child, are there other factors at play?

takeitandleaveit · 04/07/2022 15:03

If you know who the parent is and they have a dc at the school, then contact the school and tell them what you saw.

riotlady · 04/07/2022 15:05

I don’t understand why these sorts of things are questions. If you report it to the police, the best case scenario is that they help a child who is in serious distress or trouble. The worst is what… it all turns out to be a misunderstanding and nothing happens? What is the downside of reporting something concerning?

Squiff70 · 04/07/2022 15:08

If your gut instinct is telling you something is wrong, then it probably is. I understand you can only give limited information on MN but there's not much for us to go off here. At the very least I'd mention it to the school if you know the child attends that school and you know the child's name and/or the name(s) of their parent(s). If there's more information which is concerning you that you can't mention here, then I think you already know you need to speak to the police and tell them everything you know.

Irishfarmer · 04/07/2022 15:13

What do you mean by injury? And the child should never be standing in the car.

Do you know the person who was driving? I'm not sure who you would report that too.

Thethreecs · 04/07/2022 15:15

Mine all went through the phase of standing up in the back. I obviously had to wait till I was at a safe part to pull over and strap them in. This was before all the gadgets came onto the market for seat belt openers. It could be something like this. I would die if someone had reported me.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 04/07/2022 15:23

Do you mean you saw the injury occur (eg: the car stop suddenly and the child bang his head) or that the child had a pre-existing injury, such as a visible plastercast on his arm?

Either way I think reasonable to report, but if you saw the injury occur I would be reporting to police as well as to school. If you only saw them standing in car are injury was pre-existing and possibly pre-existing I would report to the school but probably wouldn’t involve anybody else at this stage.

PipeScatter · 04/07/2022 15:41

I agree with @riotlady - I wouldn't have any qualms about reporting this to the police. If you don't want to call 101 to report (which can take an absolute age to get through!) you should be able to report it online.

I would also try and have a quiet word at the school too as, unless it's obviously a child who's managed to escape their own child seat, it's a clear safeguarding issue and gives a wider impression of the parents' attitude towards their children.

Provenceinthesummer · 04/07/2022 15:51

You know you need to do something immediately op. Start with school and consider calling local police station for advice if the injury is serious. Please don’t leave it.

Provenceinthesummer · 04/07/2022 15:53

The injury is obviously the important factor here, any child can escape a car seat temporarily but a visible injury that made you feel sick to see must be reported immediately

Thumbelina111 · 04/07/2022 16:25

Report to police, school now , hopefully you got the licence plate. Awful, hope the child is ok. Upsetting for you to see. Definitely report it

cdba88 · 04/07/2022 17:11

Why are you asking mumsnet? And what's the point when your OP is so vague?

If you're concerned then obviously report your concerns!

mathanxiety · 04/07/2022 17:19

Bleeding head injury?
Arm in a sling?
Black eye?

Regardless, report to school and social services.

Original poster
worriedUserName · 04/07/2022 18:59

Thank you all. I know it needs reporting just wasn't sure of the best way to go about it.

OP posts:
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