8yo with a knife at school

[stressatschool]

Have name changed so as not to out myself.

So small village school so word gets round quickly - an 8yo was waving a knife around in the school playground.

Now the child in question is somewhat challenging at the best of times, and has 'previous' for stabbing another child with scissors two years ago.

The school took the knife off him but beyond that no further action as far as I'm aware.

It feels like they should have done something else, but I'm not sure what.

It is scary but how do you know that no other action has been taken? Surely the school would not tell other pupils parents about what sanctions will be taken but only this boys parents.

I'll bet there was plenty of action behind the scenes....
Perhaps the HT should get a letter out to parents.

They may have taken action, but kept everyone in the dark about it.

He sounds like a troubled child, there may be child protection and certainly confidentiality issues.

Why a letter to other parents?

Would you accept a letter to go out to other parents about what was done if he was your son?

Hmm... and you know this how? You were there and saw the lad waving it about? There was a reliable witness who you have spoken to directly (not a game of Chinese whispers)?

Something similar happened at DC school, it went viral on Facebook with some parents talking about it. I can't remember the whole story but it was definitely blown up all out of proportion. I think it was a cooking knife the lad had accidentally dropped in his bag when rushing out the door that morning, something like that.

Sorry, but your story sounds frightfully similar!

If this was true I think that the school would have almost certainly taken action like contact Social Services.
If it were true then social services and the school would try and answer questions like where he witnessed such behaviour, where he got the knife...
I hope it's not true or there's an innocent explanation like he nicked a knife after lunch and hid it in his sleeve.

Reliable witness is DD and her friend (both sensible - said they went and told a teacher)

The little boy was waving it round to show a group of children at playtime having brought it in from home.

From DDs description it sounds like a big pen knife as it had multiple blades that he was pulling out to show his friends.

Situation corroborated by another parent whose child told her on Friday and she rang school to tell them and they said they were aware and knife had been confiscated.

It appears that there has been no further action taken on the basis that child is still in school (some parents baying for suspension not me); although IMO suspension would seem OTT, but not sure what action I would expect - maybe hoping for some reassurance from school that the situation is under control rather than them making pointed remarks in the newsletter about people not contributing to the shoebox apeal.

They will be doing all sorts of things you won't be aware of.

For example they may have contacted the behaviour support therapist, who may be assesing him and then working with him on an ongoing basis.

He may already be under the BST. You wouldn't know....