4 year old starved to death by his parents

[SquidgyMummy]

Horrendous Story

What i can't understand is why all the people who could have helped him: Teachers, school nurse, doctors etc could not see he was being mistreated. My 2 1/ year old weighs more than that poor child when he died.
I am just sickened by his needless death and the hand wringing "if only's" by the other adults who should have protected him

Did in the case of the child beaten with a metal dog lead - police referred back to Social Care

sorry I'm talking about this specific case, if a 4 yr old child presented in my classroom with bruises around his or her neck. No brainer. I'm sure Feenie your'e not referring to a case like this one - surely you wouldn't have given up if you had a stituation like this? And you keep on and on and on. I've done this. They threw it back a couple of times as didn't meet the threshold but in the end did a Section 47.
There is also a bruising flowchart you can refer to - should be on your local safeguarding children website.

I see what you mean, Feenie, about the dog lead...
but at least the child was now on the radar

I wouldn't give up, no - and we should wait for the case review. But my guess from what's been said already (watching the poor mite foraging for food from the staffroom, for example) is that this school didn't either.

I know it's common for teachers to feed children who clearly don't get enough to eat, sadly.

oh I know you wouldn/t give up Feenie.

Lobotomy and work down the sewers. Cheaper than prison and contributes more to society. Same for that bastard who killed the police officers (and 2 others, and tried to kill 3 more).

Retributive justice, in these hard economic times?

I agree nigellasguest. The school should have contacted the police immediately they suspected that this child could have been at risk. In fact I think this is expected of teacher's in Northern Ireland . Teachers are in an unrivalled position to spot signs of abuse and are trained to deal with this. It is absolutely clear that they failed this child having witnessed his condition and allowing him to return home day after day given their reservations. I see no ref whatsoever to the school having contacted the local authority or the police.in fact the teachers there seem to have believed the mothers excuses about this child having an eating disorder for gods sake. What four year old has an eating disorder. The school need to be accountable and accept some of the blame for what happened. It is inconceivable that i would not get up and scream and shout in those circumstances if I felt I wasn't being heard. This child deserved to be protected and he wasn't. They failed him

atounded by how everyone seems to blame his teachers, social workers etc, these are the prevalant comments

Yes the system failed - but his bitch mother and bastard stepfather abused, and then killed him

blame them

RIP

and heres hoping they get charged, and she gets put in with some vengeful, violent nasty people who fuck her over, time and time again

argh, so upsetting

Because Paris, they are the ones whos job it is to protect children in that position.

That is why they get the blame. Because he wasn't protected.

Yes, his parents failed him, but so did the system set up to protect him.

*haven't caught up with the reporting of this, so I know no more about what social services involvement was apart from what I knew at my last post days ago.

Did the CPO at school refer to SS?

lets wait until this is all finished in court, seems tastless to disagree when (a) we dont know facts and (b) a child died

my main suprise was the anger/reaction were directed more at SS than his parents

I think we all agree that the so called mother and stepfather are evil scum who deserve to suffer agonising deaths. I would like to see the death penalty brought back. Sadly they will never comprehend the callousness and cruelty of what they've done and will never shed a tear for this child. We should use this opportunity to write to our mps to seek a change in how schools react to such situations and the powers individual teachers have to report. I have a friend who has concerns about three children in her classes. Thet never have lunch and are dirty and unwashed. One misses alot of time from school. She reported her concerns but the head said they cannot pursue the parents as they have to be seen to be respecting cultural differences. She is resigning as the school in her view are not safeguarding these children. In most people's minds the school here were utterly deficient in protecting little Daniel.

I'm in a situation at the moment - and believe me it isn't the first and won't be the last - where I am literally screaming about a child in my class and the local children's services keep throwing it back at us. They haven't engaged at all. Behind every tragic tale is a teacher who saw the signs right from the beginning and was failed by the agencies who are supposed to deal with the information and concerns.:(

That's certainly my experience

In most people's minds the school here were utterly deficient in protecting little Daniel.

And I'd support them wholeheartedly if that's what the facts show in the future.
Otherwise, 'most people' are a little premature.

How tragic for that poor little boy that all the people who should have protected and kept him safe failed to do so.

I am not surprised the school were ineffective, in my experience schools completely fail the children who need help whilst harassing and threatening those who don't - I was for example threatened with SS involvement because my DS was picked up late from school and they were unable to contact me. I was told in future I had to be immediately contactable by phone at all times otherwise I would be reported.

Yet in other areas teachers are basically watching a child starve to death.

But we don't know that - yet.

lets wait until this is all finished in court, seems tastless to disagree when (a) we dont know facts and (b) a child died

Totally agree, Fromparistoberlin - tasteless and ignorant. Wait.

Lara, is there no other avenue to get someone to sit up and do something for this child? Police? It sounds incredibly heart-breaking for you and for him or her.

Lara. I have several friends who work as local authority solicitors in child protection. Im going to ask if they can suggest anything which might help....you might know more but its worth asking....

Lara2 which local authority is that?

Before I get a response it look s sensible to refer to the complaints manager at the local authority to see if it can be urgently resolved. If not you should contact the local government ombudsman on an urgent basis. Nspcc and police will refer back to the local authority I imagine. What are the concerns ( if you can say). Don't give up xx

Ok. I've had one response. Apparently you can also report that matter to the nspcc. Other than the local authority they can also bring matters to court if there are sufficient grounds for concern. Try doing the above in conjunction.

Im a sw and frequently try to escalate cases which I believe to be CP but am constantly told "it doesn't meet the threshold"
I have been made to look like a fool for referring a family who then wrapped the cp social worker around her finger ending up with them complaining about me!
The trouble as I see it is that there is no uniform approach to what is or isn't child abuse/neglect. It comes down to peoples opinions and if they are higher than you your hands are tied.

Dear lara2. This is my response She: should be able to confirm the complaints procedure for the LA on their website (everyone's a bit different and so this is the next way to find out). Then if that's not sufficient she can go through the Ombudsman. Get her to make a re referral and see what happens. But she shouldn't delay in reporting to NSPCC.

Please let me know what happens.

Very interesting to see what you say ledkr. It seems there are problems from ever angle. At least there are other options if one route fails xxx