Young child alone in park- safe for now but what next

[watchuswreckthemic]

Long one for context/
We have a local small play park which is on the road of a bus route.
Tonight there were a few small teenage groups behaving lovely (some who I recognise), some dog walkers around and a young child.
I assumed the young child was with the dog walkers until she came into the fenced off play equipment and started to engage with me and my youngest.
They asked me to push them in a swing etc and I asked 'do you live close' to which she replied 'I live there' and pointed at a house. I then asked 'are you allowed to play here alone' and they said 'yes my mum knows, she's in bed but I'm okay'.
We left soon after (7pm) but I said 'I think you should go home' etc repeatedly but she stayed.
When I got home my child indicated that they knew this child was about 5.
Via the teenagers I know parents and the teenager themselves etc we know she got home safe this time (as in a vague report from one of them, after a few of the girls trying to encourage her home it seems she did let herself in). Feedback from them is her mum is of the angry sort.

I'm genuinely worried. She had her uniform on so I know what school she attends (infants!) and I know the office staff and teachers from my kids going there.

AIBU for making a safeguarding type of call tomorrow to the school?

Well done for reporting. just wanted to say I get you as i live in a similar area where its normal for junior age kids to be at the play park alone and littler ones with older siblings, it can be hard to tell ages. My 4 year old was keen to play with 2 boys who I thought were about year 2 as very small, they turned out to be year 5 and too grownup to want to play with a preschooler of course.
Neglected kids who have had to shift for themseves a lot can often seem older too in a brief interaction.

Better being safe than sorry I would definitely ring.

You can’t just walk off from a park with a five year old child! Literally, that’s abducting them! What if mum was not in fact asleep but was watching through a window as you led her child away? You’d get arrested.

I would have rang 999 from the park

5 on their own in the park, No way. Even if mum can see park clearly from house is she sat/stood there the whole time, no because if shes literally going to stand or sit there looming out the window she would just be there at park with child wouldn't she, so even if the house is right there I honestly doubt she is watching whole time. Anything could happen, 5 they've not long started school, so young. Could be taken, wander off somewhere and get injured or older children/teenagers could hurt them. 7PM aswell that's when alot of teens gather smoking and drinking. What is wrong with the parents?!

So you left a little kid at the park alone instead of calling someone. And now you’re worried so you want to know what to do. I would have called someone before I left.

Not quite what you said in your OP

We left soon after (7pm) but I said 'I think you should go home' etc repeatedly but she stayed.
When I got home my child indicated that they knew this child was about 5.
Via the teenagers I know parents and the teenager themselves etc we know she got home safe this time (as in a vague report from one of them, after a few of the girls trying to encourage her home it seems she did let herself in).

I can't believe you left her there, thank God for those teenagers

Okay think we have some bored/goady people out there as this is from Thursday and I posted the update on Friday.
I can't say anymore about the situation to protect the child involved.
However-

I can't go back and change my actions.
I made a judgement call based on some incorrect assumptions about her age.
I have reported.
Have I learned from this- yes.
Will i do differently next time-yes.

Still in her uniform playing out
No one got her changed in to home clothes,no one probably fed her either.
Poor mite
Ss and school ,keep reporting until something is done

From how I read it, it sounded like you left the child there alone and then followed up later. Surely having kids of your own you can tell the difference between 5 and 7? It is quite a big gap.

You would be entirely unreasonable not to report it to the school, you already know that. And I too would be filing a police report. What if something happens to this little child? You have the power to prevent it doing so.

Yes the teenagers, who presumably aren’t mothers themselves have done the right thing and have better maternal instincts than OP. Can’t believe you left the child there!

If something happens to this child it will be because of the actions of the parents
Nobody else

Whata the legal age for letting a kid out to play? People's opinions arnt the law. You might all think its not okay....but as we know, every generation from the 90s and back all played outside....was is it from the year 2000 onwards that everyone is up in a panic. It's light nights....and only 7pm. And before people start going off on one about kidnappers...there were plenty in every generation, not more now, you just hear about it more now. But let's be real....how often do we ever actually read about it happening in the UK? Not often.

You all have far more faith n the police and social services than I do. Where I live lots of people send their five year olds to play on their own and no one does anything.

Totally missing the point… somebody else has the power to intervene which could help keep this child safe. Sounds like they are neglected and SS need to get involved.

I'm sorry but anyone who sees a 5 year old alone in a park and does not call the police and stay with them until police arrive, is NOT a responsible adult.

I wouldn't hesitate to inform the school of this

Can’t believe the op is getting a shit time. They’re the one person who DID do something. I’m sure they weren’t the only one in the park at that time.

Ignore the goaders OP. Well done for reporting.

Got her changed to home clothes? Does that make someone a negligent parent? I never change my kids from their uniforms I don't want to double the amount of dirty clothes I have to wash for the sake of a few hours.

I'm not sure any law is being broken though. ? Seems it does happen quite frequently 5 year olds out playing. Ironically I don't remember being allowed out to play at that age but was allowed to walk to school alone

Well done OP. In a similar situation, about 10 years ago, I made a similar call regarding a neighbour's child. Turns out his parents were working overlapping shifts and he was being sent to the park with a bag of crisps to entertain himself for a few hours waiting for a parent to finish work and pick him up.

Heartbreaking situation for all.

Absolutely I’d report it! The same happened to me except I was working at the local school and found a child alone in our local park on an early Saturday evening whilst with my own children. Managed to get hold of the mum through another mum and once home I rung the head. She absolutely agreed it needed reporting and the mum was brought in on the Monday for a meeting. Safeguarding is absolutely everyone’s business, whether you’re in education or not.

Thanks for those who have been supportive.
As per previous update posts I can't say anymore to protect the child and I would do differently if I was ever in a similar situation.

I used to allow my 6 year old to the park up the road and allow her to walk to school. However, we lived on an estate and there were always kids all about. Many parents reported me for allowing my child to walk to school and the teachers didn't think there was anything wrong with it. If anything the most dangerous part of the 4 minute journey was outside the school gates because there was so much traffic from mums dropping their kids off in their cars. She is now 22 and a teacher.
I would suggest mentioning it to the school however just because you don't agree with the way someone brings their child up doesn't make it wrong.