Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School 'Social Justice manager' knocking on my door. Confused. Why ??

404 replies

clapshot · 19/08/2020 16:42

I'm in Scotland. So this is the second week of schools being back.

We (me and DC and P) stay with MIL, DC Grandmother. She had part of a lung removed in early March for lung cancer. Multidisciplinary team are considering radiotherapy. She also has heart problems. Still in her 60s.

I'm extremely wary of sending DC back to school, so I didn't. I emailed their schools, which was received as I got a reply from both, the high school one saying they'll be in contact.

I've had a couple of phone calls from a withheld number yesterday and today but I'm WFH so was busy.

Door knocked earlier, was working so didn't answer. Again just now. I don't usually answer unless I'm expecting someone (door faces onto street and get a lot of sellers and religion people).

Looked out the window as they were leaving and my eldest DC recognised them as the Social Justice manager of their school.

What is this all about ??

Am I in some kind of trouble ??

Why would a school do this ??

I'm going to phone them up tomorrow but just wondered why they would be knocking my door ??

OP posts:
Waveysnail · 19/08/2020 17:35

They have rang you for two days. You haven't answered the door. They said they were going to be in touch. Isnt social justice like welfare officer. School has to check your child is ok and getting an education.

FelicityPike · 19/08/2020 17:35

They came to your door because like others have said, your children should either be at school or de-registered & home schooled.
The school has to check up on anyone missing from education.
Your lengthy email means diddly squat if it didn’t lead to you de-regging your children!
Answer the door or phone ffs!

AiryFairyArtyFarty · 19/08/2020 17:38

They have a duty to make sure your children are OK & get your children into school ASAP
They are not the enemy. Can you deregister them?

midsomermurderess · 19/08/2020 17:38

lljkk it was legislation around every child being nominated a 'responsible' person, not implemented. Nothing to do with this, and if you don't know about it, just some vague mumble, why even raise it?

backaftera2yearbreak · 19/08/2020 17:38

I believe in Scotland you can’t just de register I think you permission to do so. Could be wrong though www.mygov.scot/home-schooling/

Beautiful3 · 19/08/2020 17:39

They're checking that your children are safe as they haven't seen them since march. Next time answer the door and show them that your children are fine.

Saucy99 · 19/08/2020 17:40

If you peeked through the curtain and recognised them why didn't you just answer the door? That's weird.

ilovesooty · 19/08/2020 17:40

They're doing their job. If they missed a potential safeguarding concern they'd be regarded as negligent.
Since shielding has now ended there is an expectation that all pupils and teachers return to school.

angelfishrock · 19/08/2020 17:41

I just wanted to know why they would come to my door, and what a 'social justice manager' does ??

Maybe, maybe simple because you couldn't be arsed to pick up the phone? A long email does not sort it. Also, what do you think it is different in 4 weeks? Covid gone?

If you really do not want them to attend school, deregister and homeschool formally! Sorted.

WorraLiberty · 19/08/2020 17:41

I do suffer from anxiety from domestic abuse years ago, that's another reason why I don't answer the door.

And your 15 year old's reason?

Piggywaspushed · 19/08/2020 17:41

Is it possible because of the past DV that you are on a list of vulnerable families? I don't meant that unkindly.

I feel sorry for you OP , you are getting a harsh reception because lots of people want all kids back at school, regardless of genuine fears, anxieties , concerns or shielding. But I do think you should answer your phone and your door. Just make sure you ring them back/ email them asap. I imagine they came round because you didn't answer the phone. I am not sure what they will do for you because the guidelines care not one shit for the vulnerable health states of the actual school pupils and employees, let alone their families. But (re)opening a dialogue would help.

All that said, I am not a fan of putting other women's job titles in speech marks.

Hercwasonaroll · 19/08/2020 17:41

Why could no one answer the door?

Nicknacky · 19/08/2020 17:42

I don’t understand your logic of not sending them for four weeks. And in the meantime they are missing six weeks of education, social interaction and getting back into a routine.

Things won’t be different infection wise in 4 weeks time.

WorraLiberty · 19/08/2020 17:42

Also, if people don't want to answer their phones and front doors that's up to them.

But why on earth do so many then take to Mumsnet, to ask complete strangers what the person at the door wanted? Confused

TheFallenMadonna · 19/08/2020 17:43

I wasn't judging OP and I'm sorry it came across that way. Thing is, if we got an email saying we wouldn't see a child for 4 weeks, we would have to follow it up, that's all. We have made weekly contact with families during school closure.

SleepingStandingUp · 19/08/2020 17:43

Thing is op if you're too busy to answer a phone call or the door when school have said they'd been in touch, how much time have you got to educate your child for at least the next month? And you said a reply from both schools so you have a junior school child too who is likely to need even more guided learning? I can understand why the school are worried

angelfishrock · 19/08/2020 17:43

We (me and DC and P) stay with MIL, DC Grandmother.

there are quite a few people staying there. Is really non of them able to open the door?Confused

TheReynoldsPamphlet · 19/08/2020 17:44

"I just wanted to know why they would come to my door..."

Well, they came to your door because your DC hasn't been at school. They said they would be in contact - they likely were yesterday, but received no answer from you. So they came round to your house to check everything was fine. Except, they didn't get an answer again. Twice. From a safeguarding perspective, that would be a red flag.

I'm still not sure why your 15 year old couldn't have answered the door once they recognised who it was?

Original poster
clapshot · 19/08/2020 17:46

My DC are older and they are self motivated. I work whilst they do their school work. Do people think tweens and teens run around like toddlers??

I've bought the textbooks, considering online tutoring, also my sister is in teaching but on mat leave so she is helping out.

I'm not sure what I'm hoping for long term. I suppose just time to assess what happens with the complete reopening, as I've a feeling if closures happen then there will be a U turn on the opening full classes without distancing or masks.

I've since found out they've also called the emergency contact (my parents). A 15 year old. After a few days. And after I'd already emailed them explaining.

I'll need to phone them yes, but to be honest I do feel rather hounded. It's a big worry with my MIL and just the virus in general. I feel like my concerns aren't being taken into account.

In Scotland we can't just de register no. We have to apply to the local authority for permission.

OP posts:
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 19/08/2020 17:46

Yes, the school has a duty of care to make sure the OP's children are OK. Surely the school could have sent an email or a letter to ask her to confirm she could see the Social Justice Manager at a mutually convenient time? As it is, she sent a long detailed email, she got a brief reply saying they'd be in touch, then the SJM turns up unannounced in the middle of a working day, to a house where they have been told there is an older woman living with serious medical conditions that make her extremely vulnerable to infection.

In the house at the time there are:

MIL - shielding, should not answer door
OP - working, we don't know what kind of work she does, for all we know she might have been in the middle of a work call or meeting, but sitting in a place where she could see the street
Her partner - if he's there, he might have been out working
DC - who could answer the door

And yet all the answers are castigating the OP for not answering the door.

Gingerkittykat · 19/08/2020 17:47

@lljkk

Wasn't it in news a few yrs ago, about how Scottish govt gave selves to be very interfering in lives of school age people? I don't live there, but recall some news about that.
That was the named person scheme which has now been abolished. Every child had a named professional who were meant to keep tabs on them.
Teenangels · 19/08/2020 17:48

OP

Where is your partner? No mention of him and if he is working from home?

I bet he is at work.

Nicknacky · 19/08/2020 17:48

I’m glad they have phoned the emergency contact after getting no reply from the parents. That’s reassuring to know that they are following absence up.

Teenangels · 19/08/2020 17:49

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

Yes, the school has a duty of care to make sure the OP's children are OK. Surely the school could have sent an email or a letter to ask her to confirm she could see the Social Justice Manager at a mutually convenient time? As it is, she sent a long detailed email, she got a brief reply saying they'd be in touch, then the SJM turns up unannounced in the middle of a working day, to a house where they have been told there is an older woman living with serious medical conditions that make her extremely vulnerable to infection.

In the house at the time there are:

MIL - shielding, should not answer door
OP - working, we don't know what kind of work she does, for all we know she might have been in the middle of a work call or meeting, but sitting in a place where she could see the street
Her partner - if he's there, he might have been out working
DC - who could answer the door

And yet all the answers are castigating the OP for not answering the door.

If the partner is at working then the kids should be at school, the daughter is 15 so in the last year for exams!
Bluntness100 · 19/08/2020 17:49

We have to apply to the local authority for permission

Have you done this? You can’t just keep her off school. You know this. Her education is not an optional thing.