to teachers/other school staff how do you sleep at night?

[MrsMertle]

I can't sleep at the moment because I have a little girl in my class who is worrying me. Without going into details she is on the child protection register and so obviously Social Services have a lot of involvment with the family.

I know that the correct procedures are being followed but I find it so upsetting when she comes in every morning starving because she hasn't eaten breakfast, or when she comes in looking dirty, unwashed and a bit smelly(which is most days). The other day I ended up washing her face for her because she had that much sleep in her eyes all her eye lashes were stuck together.

These things are reported back to the headteacher every day who then speaks to the social worker but it is breaking my heart. I just want to take her home with me and look after her properly.

How do you switch off from these things when you go home? I find myself lying there at night thinking about her and hoping she is ok.

If you are a qualified teacher, I'm pretty sure that counselling is available through the GTC. If not, your LEA should be able to help you.

There are at 6 children in my class about whom there are child protection concerns. I haven't slept properly since I started working there in September.

I have a good friend who is the same age as me (mid forties) who had the life you describe. She spent time in a children's home and then was fostered.

We don't really talk about her upbringing, although it was clearly very grim. Two things though:

• she is a lovely, caring, sorted, normal adult. There is - or can be - a way out for these children and where your pupil is now does not (neccessarily) have to be a life sentence;

• every person who helped her along the way in any way whatsoever really made a difference. So any kindness and any care you show does matter - don't think it doesn't.

HTH

......and when you do finally fall asleep, you end up dreaming about them and their situation. It's unbelievable what some of these kids go through on a daily basis and we dont even know half of it!