Male School staff inappropriate behaviour towards DD

[heatherwithapee]

DD is 14 (year 10). It has come to light that over the last few weeks a support worker at school (who she has been having one-to-one sessions with) has started behaving ‘weirdly’ towards her (her words).
She’s disclosed that he’s asked for her phone number, suggested they meet outside of school, asked to see photos of her doing her hobby, told her she’s ’his favourite pupil’ etc.

It’s been reported to school but realistically what can I expect to happen next? I understand that it’s her word against his (of course I believe her but appreciate that the school need to look after their staff especially when evidence may be difficult to obtain) but what’s the deal with safeguarding? She’s very worried about seeing him around school now that she’s reported him.

AIBU to think that he should be suspended pending investigation?

They need to fully investigate. They can’t just take her word for it as that would mean any pupil could get any staff member suspended at will.

They will investigate.

they’ll probably move her to a new support worker immediately.

no they won’t suspend for this.

i understand that your daughter is upset and this behaviour is inappropriate but you might be surprised how many teenagers complain about the behaviour of adults in school - teachers would be being suspended left right and centre if this were the case.

Check with the school that they have also made a referral to the LADO - this is your local authority designated officer who oversees the investigation of the allegation, regardless of suspected outcome. The investigation should not just be an internal one conducted by school;

national-lado-network.co.uk/the-role-of-the-lado-local-authority-designated-officer/

Might be different in schools due to safeguarding policies but suspension is now not necessarily considered a neutral course of action so employers have to consider if there are other steps they can take first.

Hope your DD is OK. I believe her.

Thank you - this is helpful

Yes - I do understand that there is a duty of care to both parties.

Sorry to hear OP. How horrible for your dd. I hope things get sorted soon.

Recent former teacher here. At the very very least, he has behaved extremely stupidly and needs a bucketload of retraining. These are “child protection 101” matters - they are the things that everyone, from the guy who cuts the grass to the ladies in the admin office to the chair of governors should know not to do. I am appalled for your daughter.

The school must do everything by the book now, in case a predator managed to get off via a loophole because they didn’t follow procedure. Suspension is not neutral so they cannot do it immediately. It may yet come. Document ANY attempt by him to communicate with your DD and inform the school. Do not ask them to tell you what they’re doing or what he’s said. A lot of parents expect to be kept informed of “he said x” but the investigation must be confidential. Your DD should try not to discuss it at school either except within the family. If he escaped consequences because the whole picture got muddied by other kids gossiping (not your DD, just that teens cannot keep other people’s business to themselves!) then that would be awful. Your poor DD.

No. At the very least he has done nothing and OP’s daughter has made it up. Neither you nor I can rule that out, and the school certainly cannot assume guilt.

As others have said it will be investigated fully and all the facts established. They do however need to rule out that your dd is lying as this is a common thing with more pupils than you would think making malicious false accusations against members of staff for trivial reasons such as putting them on detention.

The amount of training regarding safeguarding in schools there is no way on earth he didn’t know. Whatever the reason she is with him alone needs to stop. Don’t know if it is just an extra curricular or obligatory she has to do but she needs to not be alone with him ever again. I think only very troubled people make false allegations.

As a teacher any accusations against members of staff require us to go straight to the headteacher. Is this who you went to? If not I would report again to them just so that there are no opportunities for the investigation to go wrong or be brushed under the carpet by someone else that isn’t used to dealing with this kind of thing.

In my school it would go to lado to be investigated and depending on evidence they would either be suspended while investigated or if they stayed in school it would be arranged that there was always another member of staff in the room with them during the investigation.

OP, well done to your dd to share this with you. Did she give this male teacher her phone number? Did she show him pictures of her doing her hobby? What did he say if she refused to share her number or photos?

What is the nature of 1-2-1 engagement here? Normally that happens only with Education Mental Health Practitioners or similar emotional support staff or peripatetic music lessons.

Obviously all contact 1-2-1 must be ceased between your dd and him.

Yes. DD spoke to a teacher about it who immediately took her to speak to the headteacher.

No she didn’t give her phone number or show him photos.
He’s a support worker (SEN with emotional needs). Not teaching.

It's even worse that this person is targeting children with SEN. It's great your dd felt able to report it.

Definitely check LADO referral has been made. If the concerns meet threshold they should do an independent investigation.

Glad she reported it. Definite no no asking for her phone number. The pictures could be innocent in that he is trying to connect with her and show an interest as a way to help the sessions he had with her (though many schools don't allow phones out, so this is also questionable if he is wanting her to break this rule).

Really sorry this has happened.
Absolutely appalling behaviour from him.

My daughter had a similar situation with staff member of after school club. The person was suspended immediately and then employment was terminated.

What happened to your child is actually worse (asking for phone number and to meet outside of school).

I hope your daughter is ok, please make sure she knows she didn’t cause this and the consequences are deserved by staff member.

He should be suspended on fully pay pending investigation.

No. Why?! They should fully investigate and cease further interactions but not get him immediately suspended. On what basis? In that case pupils could just get staff suspended at will.

This is what happened at my school. My colleague was suspended on fully pay pending investigation. The allegations were unfounded and he was reinstated. We had group training on safeguarding ourself and the students. The colleague quit shortly after.

If a staff member is under investigation for inappropriate behaviour or breaking safeguarding rules they should be suspended.

Can you imagine a teacher who was under investigation being allowed to continue being around children?

Apart from the potential intimidation or further grooming of the accuser, what if they targeted another child whilst being investigated?
How would you feel if your child was groomed by someone the school already knew was a potential problem?

What was the training ideas on how not to get falsely accused?

Start looking at KCSIE and make sure you contact the LADO and LA/Trust