Posting for traffic: voicing concerns about a child’s welfare.

[PaddlingLikeADuck]

Are there any primary school teachers on here who could explain to me what would happen if a parent approached them and said they had safe guarding concerns about another child in their school?

Or has anyone been on the receiving end of this happening?

I know I have to speak out about my concerns but I’m worried about what will happen next

If I were the teacher you spoke to, I would go and get the school safeguarding lead. They would write down your concerns on a safeguarding form and probably contact SS to report them. It would be confidential and you wouldn't be informed of any ongoing action, or preexisting concerns.

I'm not a teacher but I work in safeguarding. Speak to school about your concerns and say you want to be kept anonymous. The school will be able to address the matter with social services or the police if needed. What are you worried about happening?

They would either pass it on to the safeguarding lead or ask you to speak to them directly.
After that, depending on what you said they may contact SS. I’ve been the safeguarding lead in school and often SS do ask you to do a bit of light investigating these days and come back to them.
If it meets the threshold they will they investigate themselves.
You won’t be told anything as it’s confidential. So you should be told whether it is noted in a file or SS are investigating or anything in between.

Should not be told that should say

Ask at the office to speak to the safeguarding lead.

Do you have to go through the school or can you call your local MASH team directly? The phone number will be on the council website.

I’m worried that I’m going to be wrong and cause a lot of distress to a family.

But I’m also worried that if I am right, in some way I may make things even worse for the child.

If you have concerns you need to speak to children services yourself OP. It’s EVERYONES duty to safeguard children not just teachers.
Whatever you have seen or heard you should report. Don’t just put it onto someone else’s shoulders.
What would the schools say? “Someone told us that they saw/heard…”
Contact Childrens services and tell them YOUR concerns yourself.

Contact Childrens services and tell them YOUR concerns yourself.

I don’t know the child’s name, his age, his class or anything about him.

What an I supposed to do? Tell SS my concerns but say I don’t actually know who the child is?

That’s why I’m going to the school, because they will know who he is.