To ask what happens if you report something to school (safeguarding)?

[Cuntforthebutter]

Long time user but NC'ed for this post.

Feeling a bit guilty about this and wondered what may happen as a result?

On the school run this morning I witnessed an incident between a parent and child and I called the school (different school to my DC but could tell from the uniform) to tell them.

I don't want to go into details about what the incident was but nothing abusive, just indicative (imo) that the mum might need a bit of support.

I phrased it in that vein to the school, that it could be an isolated incident and we all have those stressful mornings sometimes but the mum might want a chat and to see if she needs some help.

My intentions were nothing bit good but I'm now feeling incredibly guilty. Does anyone know what school will do with this information?

How will they know which child it is, if you only recognise the uniform and don't know his name or class year.

Interested in how you were able to identify Mum/child to the school in sufficient detail for them to know who to approach?

Family I know, I used to be an FE SO. I was trying to reassure the OP that the relevant organisations aren't bad guys.

I'll be more accurate, and long winded next time

X post

Seen your update. Shouting really shouting at a child is abusive, you were right to report OP.

Sorry I xposted and saw the really shouting bit after. My post still stands. If this is not a one off it will add to an existing picture of concern.

We all have our moments but school will know if this is more than that.

FamilyOfAliens, they Staff certainly aren't in the schools I've had dealings with, as a CP SW

That’s awful. I deliver the training myself so I know the staff know what to do. I accept that in the heat of the moment some might forget their training, which is why I do regular ad hoc updates at staff meetings in between the full training.

Yes you are right Ice; I think I was.

Sorry, should have said, I heard her shout the child's name (It's not a common name; very small village school). They seemed to know who I meant

OP that is pretty much what I have been seeing. It would be strange if it was the same DC and same school.

Constant verbal criticism is very damaging and should be taken more seriously

You may well be able to look up the school's safeguarding policy on their website. Then you can see what the options available to them are and what action they should take when an incident is reported.

Our safeguarding policy doesn’t specify what action we take with specific issues. Just how we keep the children safe, who the DSLs are etc.

The school will notify the DSL (designated safeguarding lead) who will probably do some careful information gathering from other staff, perhaps the child themselves and probably the parent. There is something called the Continuum of Need which staff can use to judge what (if any) level of support the family could benefit from e. g. family support right up to social service or police involvement. You will probably never know what happens but it is likely to be logged so if anything else comes to light, a picture begins to build.

DoneLikeAKipper, the OP might mean abusive, as in physical.

They just said it wasn’t abusive (until the second post just now). If someone says ‘it wasn’t abusive’ then obviously I’d take the poster at their word and wonder what else would require a call to that pupil’s school.

OP, you’re jumping around a bit with whether it was abusive or indicative of a ‘one off’. Obviously, we weren’t there to gage if the ‘shouting’ was worth a report but you evidently did. I would have thought if there was aggression (swearing, in the child’s face, name calling, threats), it was right to report.

Best outcome would be that it is a one off, hopefully the parent will have better self control in future, and there won’t be weeks of worry and stress for the family over this. Of course, if there are already issues flagged, hopefully they will get the support needed.

They'll keep an eye out, but that's if they can identify which child it is.

I do know of a case where a member of the public witnessed an incident. It wasn't physical harm, but she called the school and the child ended up in care.

The things the parent was saying to the child were abusive in nature.

They take it seriously. Well done...because safeguarding is everybody's responsibility.

I witnessed an incident once...perhaps similar to what you describe...but it was the summer holidays...no uniform and I couldn't take it further.

I felt so sad for the child.