To report this mum to the school

[Owl97]

I see her everyday and she always looks drunk/high and smells of alcohol. I overheard her telling her mate at drop off the other day that she was ‘pissed whilst I packed his lunch box’. She always has her baby in a baby carrier and is swearing every time I see her. Shouting ‘fuck off’ and today I heard the C word multiple times and every time I see her on the school grounds she’s swearing in front of other children and parents. Would you report to school? It’s every single pick up and her language is awful and she’s also very loud. She uses the word ‘fucking’ in every sentence she says

I mean, surely the school staff can already see and hear her?

This will not be news to the staff.

What's your hesitation/ reason not to?

There is an awful mum at my son's school and I reported her the second I smelt trouble. There was no pondering over it or thinking, I just did it.

I wouldn't mention the language but I would discreetly raise the issue that she seems to be under the influence of substances while in charge of children, as a safeguarding issue. The school are most likely already aware but child protection is everyone's responsibility so you absolutely should report your concerns.

Report to ss.

There's no way the school won't be aware of this, but it wouldn't do any harm to raise your concerns regardless. You have to feel sorry for her if she has an obvious alcohol problem, and those poor kids 😔

Social services job I'm afraid. I'd you see it it's your responsibility to report. I can guarantee they'll already have had reports from school.

That's awful particularly with such a young baby. Yes definitely report to school and if you know her name I'd also report directly to Social Services to ensure they are aware. I also think the more separate reports given the more likely the mother will be supported/assessed ,

The school will be more than aware of a woman like this.

We reported a woman drunk taking her young son to school. She did it often. We called the school and they told us they need us to ring social services to form a bigger picture of their situation.

It should be social services not the school you speak to.

You seem more bothered about the swearing rather then the being drunk and in charge of young children ? Yes report her for the drinking comment and smelling of alcohol

Yes I would, although the school will likely be aware already.

My DDs friend had an alcoholic mum and the school were aware but couldn’t do much about it.

She was often very lovely but a bit embarrassing for the kids, however sometimes she was awful and would try and pick fights.
She died a couple of years later and I know SS were involved but it didn’t seem to help because their dad would do most things for them.

You need to report to social services as well as the school

To be fair, the loud swearing (aggressive behaviour or demeanour) is a more visible/audible issue due to other children being exposed to it. No child would recognise that she's drunk unless she's literally falling about slurring her words, and even then...not all.

The drunk bit is for safeguarding of her own children.

I know many on MN swear like no other (probably loudly too even if not on school grounds) so this part would be a touchy subject.

School won't have exactly missed her, and have probably reported her as part of their own duties for safeguarding, but it's not them who will deal with her, so I don't know why you'd want to try to go through them.

Make your own report (edit) to children's social care/local child protection team as you're responsible, as a reasonable adult, for safeguarding vulnerable children too.

Please report this woman. I hate to think what that child's home life is like.

The school might not do anything about it. My dad used to regularly forget to pick me up from school because he was in the pub or in bed at home. I'd be left waiting and waiting. Once the principal even drove me around the village looking for him 🫣
He came to parent/ teacher meetings clearly drunk, talking absolute bollocks. Nobody ever did anything whatsoever.

Doesn’t matter. They can do their reports. Parents noticing is also important safeguarding evidence. Contact the LADO by looking on your local authority website.

You need to report this to social services, but even if you do, I doubt if anything will happen. The bar for social services intervention is high, and they won't do anything about a mum swearing. If the children are fed, clothed and clean, SS won't interfere.

SS might intervene if you tell them about the alcohol though.

Contact SS. They can reach out and offer help to this mum. People seem to think that SS is there to take kids away from their parents. It's actually only used when all interventions have failed. Call them OP or tell school. What if she accidentally killed one of her children by negligence when being drunk. You would regret your inaction for the rest of your life. Start with school if it's easier for you, they would know who to contact.

If a mum is constantly under the influence if alcohol they will intervene no matter how well dressed the children are.

Fortunately things have changed. Safeguarding is a huge things for schools now. Sadly I have had a few children of alcoholics in my class over the years and the school certainly didn't turn a blind eye. I actually once saw a parent leave her 8 year old dd in a pub garden while she sat inside the pub getting drunk and arguing with people. I reported it to the school and social services paid a visit. As a school we kept a close eye on the child, making sure she had a decent packed lunch, clean uniform etc and checked on her emotional well being too. Eventually the mum went into rehab and we were there for the family as much as possible

I agree, it a SS report.

Some people need help, let's hope she get's some 🤞