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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Who to report? My brother or the school?

17 replies

PamelaD00ve · 29/06/2022 17:37

My brother is a single dad to his 9 year old son (Jack) since his partner (louise) died in a Road accident last year.

Basically, my brother is not a nice person and not parenting jack appropriately. Things weren't great even when his mum was alive. Obviously not wanting to speak ill of the dead, but it was a very tumultuous situation even before she died - both of them drinking too much, drink driving, take cocain, lots of rows and police being called etc they definitely always drank around Jack and would have parties where he was the only child in a room full of drunk random adults they've invited back from the pub. Jack wasn't a planned pregnancy and it is suspected he might have foetal alcohol syndrome (based on physical appearance and behaviour, but my brother and his partner refused to pursue a diagnosis or even acknowledge this).

There is a lot more but I would be typing all day. Social services have been involved on occasions, police have been round a lot due to DV (her against my brother, although I'm sure he isn't blameless). Nothing has ever happened to pursue things further, I don't know why or how as it doesn't seem right or plausible. I don't know if it's a lack of resources or my brother talking his way out of things - he can be very charming, well spoken, they have a nice home in a good area with a flash car, Jack always dressed smartly etc, so maybe because things look superficially alright... I don't know.

Anyway, to my problem: Jack goes to private school (largely because his state primary school kept reporting concerns about the family and giving them a hard time about how much school he misses). Now he is in private, he barely goes to school at all. The death of his mum has obviously genuinely hit them both hard but it has also given my brother free reign to keep Jack at home. School never challenge this as far as I can see. He keeps him home sometimes because he can't be bothered taking him, getting all his uniform and stuff ready, sometimes I think it is because he misses Louise and needs company but will treat him as an adult - take him to pubs with him for example. Jack has so much going against him, I really fear for his future as it is, but falling behind at school and growing apart from his friends is not helping

I think, given how shit things at home are, the more time at school Jack has the better. I guess because it is a private school they don't have to report excessive absence? I have contacted school and expressed my concerns. They won't talk to me about it, which I understand from a gdpr point of view. But what can I do? How can I get this flagged up? I'm angry at the school as I feel they are colluding with my brother - collecting his money each term and turning a blind eye to what is going on.

I don't know who or how to report this to be honest - can ofsted do anything? Or should I report my brother to SS?

OP posts:
SmileyPiuPiu · 29/06/2022 17:42

How do you know the school aren't doing anything. But yes if you're concerned tell social services.

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 29/06/2022 17:44

If you are concerned alway contact ss. Like the pp says the school maybe doing something.

RoseslnTheHospital · 29/06/2022 17:44

Yes report to social services. The school does have a duty to report if the child is absent but it would need to be a period of continued absence. I'm guessing the child is going in enough not to trigger that.

How on earth does your brother, with his chaotic sounding life, make enough money to pay for private school and then not even get the child attending??

bigbluebus · 29/06/2022 17:44

If Jack and Louise are their real names you may wish to report your post and have the names removed.

LIZS · 29/06/2022 17:46

You could speak to the Safeguarding Lead at the school. Private schools have as much duty of care to their pupils as state and can and should involve Children's Services where concerns are raised. I hope those are changed names/location though, otherwise you may have inadvertently outed them, a potential Safeguarding issue in itself.

Redlocks28 · 29/06/2022 17:47

Jack still manages to hold down a good enough to be able to pay private school fees?

How much time is he having off school? If you’re seriously concerned, you can make an anonymous call to social services.

Thehop · 29/06/2022 17:48

RoseslnTheHospital · 29/06/2022 17:44

Yes report to social services. The school does have a duty to report if the child is absent but it would need to be a period of continued absence. I'm guessing the child is going in enough not to trigger that.

How on earth does your brother, with his chaotic sounding life, make enough money to pay for private school and then not even get the child attending??

I know it’s not the point of the post but I thought this too!

Georgeskitchen · 29/06/2022 17:48

Don't all schools, state and private, have a duty of care to all pupils? Report your brother to SS

MrsGluck · 29/06/2022 17:49

If someone makes a report to social services, they will get in touch with the child's school. It's part of the standard checks they make.

If you don't feel comfortable making a report directly to social services, you can contact the NSPCC, talk it over with them and they can make the report www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/report/

MrsGluck · 29/06/2022 17:52

Everyone wondering how the brother gets enough money to send Jack to private school, I would assume he is selling drugs.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 29/06/2022 17:57

Take your concerns to ss. Its not reporting your brother, its flagging concern for the child.

Also have a look at Winston's Wish.

PamelaD00ve · 29/06/2022 18:00

OK thanks. Jack and Louise not real names, I'm not new to mumsnet!

I can't say what my brother does without it being outing as it is reasonably niche, but he is self employed and doesn't seem to work many hours. I wouldn't have clue how much his job should pay, but I wonder if there is something not totally legal going on as he is never short of cash and goes on holiday at the drop of a hat.

I suppose school could be doing something but it seems unlikely. This has been going on for a year. Id expect a child to miss school if a parent died, but I honestly don't recall him doing a full week in the past year.

OP posts:
BouncyBalls4U · 29/06/2022 18:08

Report them to Social Services and be there for Jack (text him, video call him often, see him).

Auntpodder · 29/06/2022 18:08

I don't think you can rely on a private school to report. Many are in dire financial straits (esp small prep schools) and wouldn't want to jeopardise the fees, sad to say...

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 29/06/2022 18:16

How old is your nephew?

PamelaD00ve · 29/06/2022 18:17

9, nearly 10. Why?

OP posts:
MajorCarolDanvers · 29/06/2022 18:20

Report to social services

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