Are there any Safeguarding Leads here?

Thismummyrunstheshow · 2025-08-23T13:47:31+00:00

I have a question about an incident with my child earlier in the year on a school trip. My child mentioned some additional information to me a few weeks ago whilst we were abroad. This was new information to me in regards to a whole investigation that had taken place and I’m so angry with the school. My child has since left this school so unsure whether to follow through with any communication and would like some advice. If there is anyone, I will give further detail of my concern. Thanks in advance

Trinck · 23/08/2025 14:50

I'm Senior DSL at a big secondary.

If you have any safeguarding info, no matter how small, share it with school. Might be nothing and they might just note it on file and do nothing. But the point is, it's for the DSL to decide the relevance, not the laymen.

Trinck · 23/08/2025 14:53

I note "I’m so angry with the school" - is your aim to complain then?

That's different than having the aim of safeguarding children.

For a complaint - follow the complaints process, which will be on the school's website.

Original poster

Thismummyrunstheshow · 23/08/2025 15:23

I feel the info my child disclosed to me may possibly come under a safeguarding failure on their part on the trip (year 6) but not sure where to go with it or whether I’m barking up the wrong tree for being so angry with them

OP posts:

mugglewump · 23/08/2025 15:30

Who is responsible for the safe-guarding breach? A teacher? A TA? An employee of the site? Or another child? It might be worth mentioning it to the DSL for future monitoring and perhaps the chair of governors.

WhenYouSayNothingAtAll · 23/08/2025 16:05

Thismummyrunstheshow · 23/08/2025 15:23

I feel the info my child disclosed to me may possibly come under a safeguarding failure on their part on the trip (year 6) but not sure where to go with it or whether I’m barking up the wrong tree for being so angry with them

It really depends on what happened. However, if you think this was a safeguarding failure that could possibly happen again and it can be prevented, or any ongoing concern about the safety of a child, email the DSL. If you have an actual complaint about a member of staff and their behaviour email the head.

Mumofyellows · 23/08/2025 16:15

I am a DSL at a SEN school…

mamaduckbone · 23/08/2025 16:57

I'm a DSL, and would advise that you send an email to the head / safeguarding lead to share the information that your dc has disclosed.
If there was a safeguarding issue it's important that the school knows so that they can take the appropriate action and ensure it doesn't happen again.

Without any further info about the incident and/or whether you have previously or intend to make a complaint, it's hard to say more than that.

Original poster

Thismummyrunstheshow · 23/08/2025 17:30

Without oversharing too much information, there was an incident on the trip that resulted in some children having their belongings removed for one night (my child was one of those but I wasnt aware her stuff was removed until recently) whilst an investigation took place in conjunction with the school back home.
My daughter told me this along with that she was made to sleep in the clothes she had been wearing that day. Why she didn’t let me know all of this at the time… anyway, being an 11 year old, in a foreign country and very scared because of the incident that was being looked into (through association of friends and not for her doing something wrong there) and also being on her period at the time, I’m so cross that happened to her. I don’t want to be ‘that’ parent even though she’s now left, it’s just not sitting well with me. AIBU?

OP posts:

anotherfinemess1 · 23/08/2025 18:43

That doesn’t sound like safeguarding to me - depending on the incident, it might have been a safeguarding precaution to take the belongings away while they were investigated (eg if they wondered if somebody had brought drugs, or a knife).
It could well be a breach of the school’s behaviour policy, which should include why and for how long they would confiscate pupils’ belongings. To avoid conflict, why don’t you arrange a meeting or a phone call with the person in charge of the trip when the school goes back in September, to hear their reasoning? After that if you’re still unhappy, you could make a complaint. But it doesn’t sound like anyone was made unsafe.

Trinck · 23/08/2025 21:25

Thismummyrunstheshow · 23/08/2025 17:30

Without oversharing too much information, there was an incident on the trip that resulted in some children having their belongings removed for one night (my child was one of those but I wasnt aware her stuff was removed until recently) whilst an investigation took place in conjunction with the school back home.
My daughter told me this along with that she was made to sleep in the clothes she had been wearing that day. Why she didn’t let me know all of this at the time… anyway, being an 11 year old, in a foreign country and very scared because of the incident that was being looked into (through association of friends and not for her doing something wrong there) and also being on her period at the time, I’m so cross that happened to her. I don’t want to be ‘that’ parent even though she’s now left, it’s just not sitting well with me. AIBU?

I don't know what in there you think is safeguarding, but nothing you mention there is suggesting anything other than a school safeguarding children on a trip.

Assuming she slept in clothes because she didn't have a sleeping wear? Are you suggesting sleeping naked would be better?
being on her period is nothing to do with anything. (And a huge bug-bear of mine when girls whine - it is a whine - "but my period..!" like this is a massive big deal)
That school did an investigation, on-the-hoof in probably difficult situation, shows a team that is dealing with safeguarding issues, not sweeping under the carpet.

CarlaLemarchant · 23/08/2025 21:29

Trinck · 23/08/2025 21:25

I don't know what in there you think is safeguarding, but nothing you mention there is suggesting anything other than a school safeguarding children on a trip.

Assuming she slept in clothes because she didn't have a sleeping wear? Are you suggesting sleeping naked would be better?
being on her period is nothing to do with anything. (And a huge bug-bear of mine when girls whine - it is a whine - "but my period..!" like this is a massive big deal)
That school did an investigation, on-the-hoof in probably difficult situation, shows a team that is dealing with safeguarding issues, not sweeping under the carpet.

Show quote history

I presume OP means that her daughter was unable to change her pad/tampon/underwear because her belongings had been removed which must have been awful and totally worth raising with the school.

CarlaLemarchant · 23/08/2025 21:30

And also periods are a big deal when you’re 11! FFS

ooherrmissus14 · 23/08/2025 21:37

I was a DSL for a long time before becoming a social worker. I agree that this wouldn’t fall under safeguarding, however, you have a right to complain about the schools response if you wish to as there may still be some learning to do from this. It doesn’t seem proportionate to me to take all of a child’s spare clothes away from them and, being on their period can be an issue for some girls, especially if they leak. It does depend on what the original incident was though. It may be that, as it was a while ago and your daughter is no longer at the school that you both just move on from it and put it behind you x

Trinck · 23/08/2025 21:43

CarlaLemarchant · 23/08/2025 21:29

I presume OP means that her daughter was unable to change her pad/tampon/underwear because her belongings had been removed which must have been awful and totally worth raising with the school.

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My daughter (aged 10) doesn't ever need to supply her own sanitary pads at school when she's on her period. They are freely available for all in the toilets.

My own school does this too. I think itscommon in most. If not freely available, they will have some if she asks.

(And no, periods in primary schools is not a big deal)

Gingercar · 23/08/2025 21:49

Trinck · 23/08/2025 21:43

My daughter (aged 10) doesn't ever need to supply her own sanitary pads at school when she's on her period. They are freely available for all in the toilets.

My own school does this too. I think itscommon in most. If not freely available, they will have some if she asks.

(And no, periods in primary schools is not a big deal)

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Wasn’t she on a school trip, not at school?

CarlaLemarchant · 23/08/2025 22:06

Trinck · 23/08/2025 21:43

My daughter (aged 10) doesn't ever need to supply her own sanitary pads at school when she's on her period. They are freely available for all in the toilets.

My own school does this too. I think itscommon in most. If not freely available, they will have some if she asks.

(And no, periods in primary schools is not a big deal)

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That’s great but she was on a residential.

Trinck · 23/08/2025 22:07

Gingercar · 23/08/2025 21:49

Wasn’t she on a school trip, not at school?

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Teachers will still have sanitary products available on request for any girl that needs it. Standard addition to trip first aid kit.

It's not just school. I've been taking sanitary products to Brownie Pack Holiday (max age = 10yo) with me for well over 20 years that I've been running them.

Primary children having their periods may be A Big Deal for their Mum. It really isn't for professionals used to dealing with the age group.

WhenYouSayNothingAtAll · 23/08/2025 22:09

Thismummyrunstheshow · 23/08/2025 17:30

Without oversharing too much information, there was an incident on the trip that resulted in some children having their belongings removed for one night (my child was one of those but I wasnt aware her stuff was removed until recently) whilst an investigation took place in conjunction with the school back home.
My daughter told me this along with that she was made to sleep in the clothes she had been wearing that day. Why she didn’t let me know all of this at the time… anyway, being an 11 year old, in a foreign country and very scared because of the incident that was being looked into (through association of friends and not for her doing something wrong there) and also being on her period at the time, I’m so cross that happened to her. I don’t want to be ‘that’ parent even though she’s now left, it’s just not sitting well with me. AIBU?

I’ll be honest, I don’t quite see the safe guarding issue here. Sleeping in her clothes is a bit iffy , but not the end of the world , unless the clothes were wet, muddy etc. You mention her period, does that mean she didn’t have access to any supplies to change pad , or worse she was in period pant for a long time? That would definitely be something I’d be complaining about, even if she didn’t stain/leak, but definitely if she did. Did she ask for them?

KilkennyCats · 23/08/2025 22:16

I don’t know what the “incident being looked into” that made her so scared involved, but presumably it involved other children?
How exactly did it present a safeguarding issue for your daughter?

AnnaBalfour · 23/08/2025 22:18

@Trinck

I’d absolutely hate my daughter to be under the care of someone who is so unsympathetic to young girls on their periods. I suffered horrific painful periods as many do. Why it’s a bug bear of yours is bizarre.

ArmchairXpert · 23/08/2025 22:58

AnnaBalfour · 23/08/2025 22:18

@Trinck

I’d absolutely hate my daughter to be under the care of someone who is so unsympathetic to young girls on their periods. I suffered horrific painful periods as many do. Why it’s a bug bear of yours is bizarre.

My thoughts exactly. I can't understand how people who show so little empathy (for children, ffs) are working in these kinds of jobs.

ScrollingLeaves · 23/08/2025 23:08

Trinck · 23/08/2025 21:25

I don't know what in there you think is safeguarding, but nothing you mention there is suggesting anything other than a school safeguarding children on a trip.

Assuming she slept in clothes because she didn't have a sleeping wear? Are you suggesting sleeping naked would be better?
being on her period is nothing to do with anything. (And a huge bug-bear of mine when girls whine - it is a whine - "but my period..!" like this is a massive big deal)
That school did an investigation, on-the-hoof in probably difficult situation, shows a team that is dealing with safeguarding issues, not sweeping under the carpet.

Show quote history

being on her period is nothing to do with anything. (And a huge bug-bear of mine when girls whine - it is a whine - "but my period..!" like this is a massive big deal

What do you mean? Wouldn’t anyone be upset - an adult let alone a teenager - if she could not change a sanitary towel or bloody knickers because of her belongings having been removed without special arrangements being made to help her. (As it seems may have been what happened.)

Trinck · 23/08/2025 23:27

You appear to be reading a lot more into the narrative than I am @ScrollingLeaves

The Year 6 girl was on her period while on a residential. (Not unusual)

Because if a safeguarding incident she slept in day clothes. (Unusual, but likely necessary due to the 'incident').

That's the beginning and end of it. And no big deal (since staff will be well-versed in supporting with girls on their period without any drama).

Jibberjabba · 23/08/2025 23:36

Cant understand why they weren’t allowed their own clothes, v militiarian imo

Alwaysoneoddsock · 23/08/2025 23:54

It’s so sad to hear teachers negate this incident. If this had happened to an adult with a learning disability (for example) it would be classed as safeguarding. Unfortunately we live in a society where we allow institutional abuse of children e.g. locking of toilets which would never be tolerated in a workplace for adults.

BTW I’ve worked in senior safeguarding roles for children and adults.