Are social service records passed onto a new school?

[user1474145159]

Does anyone know if social service records are passed onto a new school? DS's previous school made a referral (it was a private school), and coincidentally, after we filed several complaints about it, mostly concerning the lack of any education. Actually had to resort to home education as the only way for DS to catch up. We never heard from social services and only found out about the referral from the LA after they started asking odd questions. Now, I'm wondering if any new school he'd attend would be aware of the referral?

No, there and even if so it would have no consequence

Yes it’s called CPOMS and generally used by all schools to transfer safeguarding information

Don’t see the issue.

Schools see all sorts of referrals and it’s not unusual.

If you engaged and they closed the case, then there’s nothing to worry about.

SS are interested in severe neglect.

All records from your son’s previous school will be passed on to his new school so yes it will be. It has to be because otherwise children slip through the net. I wouldn’t worry though - unless you’ve left out something huge it doesn’t sound like anything they’d be concerned about.

So even if it's been four years and I don't mention that school, would it still be passed onto them? I know perhaps it wouldn't matter, but people still judge, and I'd hate to be getting funny looks for something that was done out of spite.

Records are passed on but the only person to have access to those referrals would be the safeguarding team, who if there is no other issues you are unlikely to ever meet. General staff don't get access to them.

Yes, everything is passed on to the new school. The intake school should receive any children's service referrals and the outcome. Many schools use CPOMS, which is an automatic transfer. Some dont and will send either electronic copies or paper copies, depending on their system. A final secondary then has to keep the records until the pupil is 25 ( I think, I don't do file retention!) However, I don't think they are passed on to any further education setting.

You can always ask the new school to add a document to the records with your version of events.

What? CPOMS is internal.

I mean… we use internally. We don’t transfer directly from CPOMs.

I'm not really answering your question but when dd took her D's out of a secondary academy after they said everybody was sick of him. When she said she was taking him out to home ed the school reported her to SS. this resulted in the police turning up 6pm Sunday evening and had a look round the house and in the fridge found 3 kids bathed and ready for bed.
SS didn't follow up.
Sounds a similar scenario to yours but doesn't answer your question.
But it wouldn't be a reflection on you if this was passed on to another school it's a non event really isn't it. I'm assuming is your son wanting to start a new school?

CPOMS can be an internal recording mechanism but it can also transfer files automatically using the child's UPN number. Once the schools information management system records the outgoing child has started at the incoming school, it sends all the recorded information through.

It will be passed on but it’s likely it will only be someone in the office that flicks through all the new starter information and then files it away. It’s not going to be communicated to every member of staff you come across and even to the person who does see it, it won’t be a big deal. Little reports like this are a lot more common than you probably realise.

You can’t do anything about it and you don’t need to because it really won’t affect you, so try not to worry.

Luddite, he has a health condition which they used as an excuse to claim we're deliberately severely restricting his diet or neglecting his medical care. In reality, he was tested for allergies when he was young, and we saw no reason to subject him to additional tests when we already know what he reacts to. I believe they also made another referral because we chose to homeschool him. As I mentioned, the quality of education was abysmal; they focused only on academically gifted students or those who could keep pace, leaving him falling behind to the point where we felt we had no choice but to homeschool him. If I had known, I would have simply withdrawn him from school rather than engaging in futile battles and complaints, which only resulted in social services referrals.

It would be transferred but very few people would see it. Only the safeguarding and senior pastoral staff who deal with that cohort. Office staff and most of the teaching staff would not see it.

I presume the head would obviously be aware, and the procedure is the same for both state and private schools? I suppose there's nothing I can do about it, other than perhaps adding my version of events.

I’m a DSL at a school so I would have access to these files but they’re not shared widely with staff unless directly appropriate (EG; a child has a particular need in class). Safeguarding files are heavily, well, safeguarded. It will not have any impact on how you or your child is treated at the school.

Schools will receive information BUT they're only interested in cases that are open to social services and where there is active involvement. Schools struggle to keep on top of the work generated by active cases as it is so the fact that it's been four years and they never even met you suggests you have nothing to worry about.

Since a referral was made in relation to diet/allergies, I wonder if they will tell everyone. I never thought I'd ever be referred to social services, but there you go.

I'm sorry that sounds like a horrendous experience. I can understand you must feel very bruised after going through the rounds with school. I hope you have had chance to recover. I feel you will be very conscious of what people are thinking after your horrible experience. I would hope that this sort of thing wouldn't be common knowledge as others who know have already said. I would bet more people would have sympathy and understanding for what you have had to go through. I hope things go well for you and your son on your new path.

Thank you Luddite, that's really kind of you

💐

But if this was still an open case with the social workers ? Will the child’s teacher get alerted of the situation and start observing your child more closely ?

If a case is open to Children's Services, the class teacher may be aware of some details but it is on a strictly " need to know basis" So, they may be asked to keep an extra eye on a child but not the reason why. They may be asked to provide a " pen picture" for any meetings held but not the details discussed at the meeting.