School safeguarding!

[BBno4]

My daughter scratched her arm at the park yesterday and when the school asked her about it she said to one teacher what happened and then when another teacher asked she said she was chopping vegetables and cut herself?!

This has been raised as a safeguarding issue and my dh was phoned after school today to ask what happened, also my daughter suffers from acid reflux to the point that she is still under investigation and had a camera down her stomach in July, which the school were aware of.

The acid reflux was brought up along with the cut and they are saying it is a sign of anxiety and that the teacher says she is not being herself and is withdrawn. The teacher is brand new how would they know what she is like?

My dd has been saying to me for a week now that a teacher keeps saying to her what is acid reflux, I've never heard of it?

Her class has gone through 3 , yes three teachers already and we are not even in October.

I feel so pissed off, I know a lot about safeguarding as a nursery teacher and feel this one teacher has a bee in his bonnet and is asking leading questions.

I wish I was the one to have spoken the the safeguarding officer as my dh didn't even mention the surgery she had and all of the hospital appointments.

I don't know if the safeguarding lead has reported this to the council or what is going to happen next, I feel like I need talking down from going to the school tomorrow and saying what on earth are you talking about.

I would totally go into school and ask to speak to the DSL so they can record your concerns surrounding the teacher

The teacher's pre-occupation with the acid reflux and potential anxiety seems a bit of a red herring. But a child giving two different conflicting answers for how an injury occurred, while also normal kids and over-active imagination behaviour, is something that a professional should take note of as a potential safeguarding flag. It doesn't mean you're about to have a social worker knock on your door - anymore than a child turning up to school in a dirty un-washed jumper would, but again that is something teachers would be told to make a note of and if it repeatedly happens or there are then other concerns as well, a pattern can start to be noticed.

I would contact the school and try to clarify with them that you're unsure why the acid reflux/anxiety stuff is being raised, that she's under appropriate medical care, and that the teacher is new and so can't really judge if your daughter is not being her usual self, have that noted that you think the questioning has been strange. But enquiring about the different injury stories is valid. It's not personal, they have a job to do and hopefully just want to protect children.

They're doing what they think it right to protect the child. They've given different stories, the cuts could potentially be self inflicted if they feel they're anxious. They have a duty of care. You know what happened but they don't so they are looking into it. Surely you'd want this if it was another child in potential danger.

I think it is very frustrating for you because you know the full truthful story (and sound like you have been through a tough time with surgeries etc) so I understand your frustration but this teacher is just doing their job. There are family situations when all the teacher's worries would be pointing in the direction. It is also not that teachers fault that they are the third teacher!

Its very important to be over, rather than under, cautious when it comes to safeguarding.
It’s important to have all concerns recorded, small and large. The safeguarding lead then looks at the whole picture and refers if necessary. Then children’s services assess all the concerns to see how much support a family needs.
The school have done the right thing. Dont worry if it’s just one incident.

The reason I mention 3rd teacher is that he did not only mention the graze on her arm. He said that she wasn't herself and seems anxious whilst also mentioning the acid reflux. This was mentioned by the safeguarding lead so he must have wrote it in his report.

Being the 3rd teacher means that he has no clue what being herself is, my daughter also said that he doesn't do playground duties so doesn't see her running off with her friends and having fun. If she is displaying anxiety, which I don't think she is, then its probably from not having stability and wondering why all of her teachers are leaving.

I can understand the report for 2 different versions of event, but he has embellished it with the acid reflux and anxiety element which is nothing to do with the graze.

Its just making me on edge, I have done everything with her stomach issue so I'm not sure what he is insinuating.

I think they probably suspect self harm.

I think as above said that they may be worrying about self harm particularly with the acid reflux issue on top - more likely they suspect she is highly anxious and suffering with stomach aches because of the anxiety.
i would go in to speak to a DSL

I had to remove the gaviscon from my son against the Dr's wishes due to safeguarding getting out of control she was fixated on it HOW can a child be so STRESSED at age FIVE well his dad's been arrested he is seeing him under supervision we have a social worker who keeps wanting private conversations with him and makes a "big deal" out of his stutter (apparently a sign of lying actually no he just has a stutter) of course he is stressed "well I don't like it I think something is going on in his" (pause for drama) "home environment" the Dr explained he has had this issue since birth he is only on it temporarily "good he can come off it then" claps her hands like it's all sorted so I took him off but off the record continued to buy it otc (the dr knew) and administer it at home I have a history of acid reflux it could be mine

Amazing how much drama was put into a medical condition he had no control over but his dad the arrest and the effects on the child? Was barely discussed

I'm a DSL. Stop worrying, there is literally zero threshold for any referrals here.

The DSL will have read a history of safeguarding notes for your child, not just from this 3rd teacher. I'd imagine someone previously noted the reflux meds on file. Then separately someone noted child being withdrawn. DSL bought all these concerns together when phoning you.

DSL almost certainly is asking to gauge if your child would benefit from some mental health support. That's all. You can simply just decline.

That said, primary school mental health support like nurture groups and ELSA is lovely and gentle - not sure why anyone would decline. But of course, you can if you want.