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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

TEACHERS - please come and talk to me about school's child protection procedure :(

17 replies

veryconcerned · 08/12/2009 18:21

I am very concerned about a neighbour's child who goes to the same school as my son.

If I went in to school and told the headteacher my concerns would they then take my concerns to the relevant people i.e. social services? Will the child have to go home back to parent from school tomorrow or would he be safe?

Would this child be told that he could tell a grown up if he was scared and that he wouldn't get in trouble?

If a concern is raised in school what happens?? I would be very surprised if this child doesn't have some form of mark on him tomorrow.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

primarymum · 08/12/2009 18:25

Sorry, but if you are so concerned why are you not taking these worries to social services yourself?

FourArms · 08/12/2009 18:25

Yes, I'm sure if you tell the HT, then they have an obligation to follow it through and report it to the relevant authorities.

for the little boy.

Goblinchild · 08/12/2009 18:28

Ask to see the head in confidence and tell them what you think you know.
The school cannot act on hearsay, but if you've flagged up the child to them, he can be observed unobtrusively, given opportunities to speak, monitored informally.
We have a similar childwatch system in school for so-called' vulnerable children' It works for those who've had a bereavement, family bust-ups, loved relative in hospital that sort of thing. And for homes where abuse is suspected but as yet unevidenced.

mrz · 08/12/2009 18:37

I'm the Child Protection Officer in my school and I'm afraid you need to contact Social Service yourself. If you tell the school the most they can do legally is record your concern.

Original poster

veryconcerned · 08/12/2009 18:40

I don't want to go into too much detail but I and my own ds are very vulnerable right now and on edge with issues going on in our own personal situation. I have called the police before with worries about the child's mum, but I don't think anything came of it.

I am asking what the school can do because if they can't put the concern forward themselves I will ring social services myself, but as I say I am very vulnerable myself right now and to be quite frank I am scared.

If nothing will be done by school I will put my concerns to SS myself - please don't anyone think that I wouldn't.

The little boy is now in bed and will be up and out to school in the morning - I am monitoring the situation but for now, and while he is at school tomorrow he will be safe. Please don't think I am some callous person who couldn't care less, but after ringing the poice before with no effect other than me jumping all night at the sound of a pin drop scared for my own safety. I was abused myself as a child and am sat in tears thinking about this child.

OP posts:

Original poster

veryconcerned · 08/12/2009 18:41

xposted mrz - looks like I will be calling them myself then

OP posts:

mrz · 08/12/2009 18:45

You don't need to give your name when you call

mrz · 08/12/2009 18:47

Look up the number for your local Social Care Direct

Original poster

veryconcerned · 08/12/2009 18:56

What will they do, will they come out now or wait until the little boy has gone to school and then intervene??

OP posts:

mrz · 08/12/2009 19:01

It really depends on what you tell them which obviously you can't disclose here. If they feel the child is in danger they will act immediately if not they will probably contact the school tomorrow. In some cases it is only recorded

Original poster

veryconcerned · 08/12/2009 19:05

thank you mrz and everyone else for your advice

OP posts:

Buda · 08/12/2009 19:08

Can I just say well done. You sound scared to death and obv have your own issues and you are still prepared to help this little boy.

WELL DONE.

And there are lots of people on here prepared to listen and support you if we can.

MissMoopy · 08/12/2009 19:19

Please ring the NSPCC child protection phone line. Its confidential and all concerns taken seriously and referred on. The number is 0808 800 5000 I think, but number on their website x

hohohonotlongtogo · 08/12/2009 20:01

this sounds serious if you think socialservices will take him now and he will have marks on him well done for doing something about it and not just leaving it to someone else, i hope that socialservices help him and this little boy is ok x

AMerryScot · 08/12/2009 20:05

If you do make a report through the school, then please check up with them after a few days to see what they have done. And keep checking up.

One of the failures in some key child protection cases in recent years was that concerns were not passed on, and the initial informant did not follow up.

You are not entitled to know what has been done, but are entitled to know that something has been done.

MissMoopy · 08/12/2009 23:35

You can also phone the police - they have child abuse teams. If this child is being abused in some way he needs help now. Well done for wanting to help. There will be others choosing to ignore.

lisad123wantsherquoteinDM · 08/12/2009 23:48

just confriming what everyone else has said, school can record and maybe pass on but quite difficult with 3rd hand information. I know your scarced, but you are doing the right thing protecting this child. If its seemed he is danger then they may remove him straight froms chool especially if he is marked. If not it will be ongoing assessments ime. HTH and well done for being so brave

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