The LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer/Social Worker) and their team only deal with allegations against professionals and volunteers that work with children. Therefore, do not contact the LADO.
This is clearly Neglect and this poor child is crying out for help. There may be more going on behind closed doors.
Please contact the MASH/Front Door Team, Children’s Services (Social Services) at your local Council. The Duty Social Worker that you will initially come into contact with, will have to act on this information regardless of resources.
You’re a kind person for washing this little girl’s clothing, but her parents also need to be supported to hopefully enable them to be able to keep their child in their care.
IME, a lot of school staff are still unfortunately not fully aware of the full extent of their safeguarding responsibilities, including the DSL’s (Designated Safeguarding Officers). School staff already have a lot on their plates, especially since the arrival of COVID-19 and the rise of MH and behavioural issues in children as a result. Record increases in requests for ADHD/Autism diagnosis, managing clothing and support for students and their families during this COL, etc.
School Staff are not Social Workers and school budgets have been decimated, hence the Teachers’ Strikes.
Children’s Services have a legal duty to allocate their budgets re. these concerns.
Report to the school, but please also report to the Front Door/MASH Team, so all agencies are made aware of this child’s unfortunate circumstances.
The School Receptionist will have been trained like all other school staff and should be discrete, so speak to the School Receptionist if need be.
You could also speak to the School Welfare Officer who will pass on concerns to the DSL.
Well done for posting on here for help. The World would be a much better place if everyone was as caring as you.