Should I mention this to school or mind my own business?

[GreasyChipButty]

I took my son and dog for a walk to the park yesterday evening and as we approached, a little girl said she knew my son and they are in the same class. My son is 4 and he is in reception.

The little girl was with an older girl around 7 for about 5 minutes before the older girl left, leaving the 4 year old completely on her own.

I let them play for a while, thinking someone would be along to get her but no one came.

I said we are leaving the park now, and would she like me to walk her home. She said no thank you.

The park sits completely opposite some houses, there is a road inbetween though. I assumed she lived in one of those but as I changed direction in order to ensure she got home safe, she lived some distance from the park.

Now, is it just me or is this batshit? Allowing your 4 year old to go to the park on their own and cross 2 roads to get there?

I watched her walk back into her house but couldn't help but think how easy it would have been for someone to just scoop her up and take her away. The world we live in nowadays is not safe for this to be happening. Or am I behind with the times, and it is actually fine to let a 4 year old walk a short distance to a park.

I mentioned it in work and people are telling me I should tell the school! I am not a busy body but at the same time, I do wonder if anything is going on at home for this to happen, seems like neglect to me but of course I could be wrong.

Just wondering what others think?

What distance are the distances?

Short distance, some distance. Can you be more specific please?

Google maps says 390ft.

2 corners to turn and 2 small roads

so, 130 yards

Regardless of distance, a 4 year old should not be out on her own!

That's awful. But not sure what school would do.

I would suggest mentioning it, in completely factual terms. Don't put any opinions on it 'it felt unsafe' 'it was neglect' etc. It's up to school what they do with that information. They may have some context around the family which makes what you saw more or less concerning.
Too many children have come to harm because people thought 'it's not my business', and safeguarding is not about 1 incident usually, it's lots of pieces of a jigsaw, you are just adding a piece.

Tell the DSL. There maybe also sort of stuff going on which you don’t know about. You have one piece of a jigsaw and they have the other pieces.

I’d mention it, yes.

I would mention it, then the school can keep on eye on her and it may or may not be a small part of a big picture

I'd not be comfortable with a four year old being out on her own regardless of distance to be honest. I probably watch too much true crime but I just think how absolutely effortless it would be to grab her and sling her in the back of a car and be gone.

I would mention it to the school, as a pp said completely factually and keeping emotional language out of it. It's not being a busybody, it's looking out for a nipper who might not have someone looking out for them.

I'd suggest it does no harm to mention it. And could save her life.

Id tell the school. My personal view is that this is neglect, I can't see any justifiable reason a 4 year old would be left in the park alone, just as you wouldn't leave a 4 year old home alone.

This is my thinking! She was on roller skates too!

DeliciousApples has it right.

It's neglect. Benign neglect acc to many, but neglect.

Please tell the school's safeguarding lead.

I would 100 per cent mention it to school.

I work in a school and I would 100% advise this be reported.

I’d put it in an email and make it for the attention of the designated safeguarding lead - the information for who this is and an email address is usually on the school website.

Say that it left you feeling very worried and uncomfortable and then leave the safeguarding lead to do their job - this will be logged and may raise further enquiries with other agencies.

Also I agree - BATSHIT - so unbelievably unsafe.

I'm a teacher.

Yes, tell the school.

It might form part of a bigger picture you're not aware of.

SS once got involved with the family of a child I taught because of something a passerby witnessed and reported to school. We didn't have enough to meet their threshold what the passerby saw did.

It's not being a busybody. It's safeguarding.

Folow their safeguarding procedures.

You just left a 4 year old alone and went home?

Why didn't you call the police / escort her home / stay with her?

I followed behind her and watched her go home. Don't paint me as the bad guy in this!

I assumed she lived in one of those but as I changed direction in order to ensure she got home safe, she lived some distance from the park

100% report this.

It is better for a welfare check to be done and everyone is safe and it gives the parents a fright than another news story about something awful happening to a kid.

It's highly unlikely she'll be kidnapped but quite likely she'll get run over of have an accident on the playground. I would tell the school.