Placing hands on a student

[Piggywaspushed]

This is more of a WWYD and I may have to get this thread taken down if it becomes at all outing but I am in a moral maze.

It is not OK to place your hand over a child's mouth-even in jest- and tell them to be quiet, is it? This is secondary and in a corridor before I get asked for context. Lots of students around. The child did not appear upset and was not angry either. In fact, the desired effect of shushing was achieved...

Would you report this, regardless of the jest involved and/or who the staff member was?

You're protected from whistleblowing, what's your main worry? Maybe speak to the students teacher and see if he or his parents wish to raise this with the school.

Sounds to me like you have a personal problem with this teacher and using this incident to get back at them...

I can’t identify my job but suffice it to say I am CP trained to the hilt - absolutely yes report it. Off course.

I'm stunned how much crap @Piggywaspushed is getting here!

I think they're right on the size thing. I think some staff do throw their weight aroud a bit or overstep boundaries with younger/smaller kids but wouldn't dare with taller, bigger, older kids.

I don't subscribe to 'no touch' policy & I think some contact in jest if people have a positive existing relationship is at teacher discretion, but I can't think of a situation where placing a hand over a child's mouth to get them to be quiet would be considered anything other than weird or unprofessional.

Wrong on every level.
At least discuss with another staff member whom you trust and take advice.
Would you like that done to you by a child or adult ??
Degrading and an abuse of power.
I bet there have been similar incidents involving that teacher too.

Ok lurkness seriously, how dare you. The safety of children is my paramount concern.

If I was sputeful I eouldnt be agonising over repirtin the teacher now, would I ?

I am a teacher and absolutely would report it.

I hope those saying do not report it do not work with children.

Spiteful ! I may well be sputeful,who knows!

I give up on typing!! Not drunk!!

@trotesio that's what I was thinking. It seems a bit like safeguarding basics: don't place your hands over a child's mouth.

This is a really difficult one OP - I would never place a hand on a pupil for any reason. I teach secondary and have had a few pupils hug me on results day etc and even that has made me a little uneasy, even though safeguarding training has always said that this type of contact is usually fine (and I guess in a primary setting it's much more common).

However, I think I would have to have seen the scenario you've described with my own eyes to know if it needed escalation - the pupil's reaction, the overall body language of the staff member, reaction of other pupils etc.

If your professional judgment is that there was a safeguarding issue then obviously you have to report it. Only you can make the call. But I don't think, from what you've described, that there is a screamingly obvious issue that MUST be reported.

Thank you for your balanced response. These are my concerns. But I don't want to be the person who doesn't report something out if some misguided loyalty. I feel sure I would be bollocked for this

I would add that I am also a bit concerned about the teacher's stress levels if he reacted to minorly annoying noise in such a way. So I also want someone to make sure he is coping.

Put it on CPOMS (if your school has this?) and let the DSL decide...my friend has text me about something similar today...but slightly different...I've said the exact same.

Sorry if this has been said already not had time to read through the thread.

All the safeguarding training l have ever had routinely and absolutely says avoid touching a student. I never ever touch them(secondary teacher 24 years) ever.

That is crossing the libe

I don't know what CPOMS is?

@Piggywaspushed CPOMS is a system for reporting safeguarding concerns. Not all schools use it. Where do you report your safeguarding concerns?

CPOMS is a reporting system that has links to other organisations such as Social services, police, prevent etc only certain people have access to what you put usually the schools safeguarding team...otherwise speak/write a statement to your DSL (deputy safeguarding lead) if it's about the head...then that usually goes to the head of governors...regardless speak to dsl or senior safeguarding lead.

Directly to the DSL.

Yes I would speak directly to the DSL it will be kept confidential or on an need to know only basis be prepared to write a statement. Does your school have cctv on corridors if this is where it happened?

Speak to the DSL even if you phrase it as 'I saw this and I'm not sure, I'd like your advice please'.

FWIW, it's not ok, there's no ambiguity. You do not touch the children. In jest or not, it's irrelevant.

sparkly it was underneath a CCTV camera.on which they will see my gobsmacked face

I have messaged the Deputy DSL to ask to speak to her tomorrow. She is not SLT so might be best here, and she will know what to do. bobbie that's what I was intending to say, so thank you!

Ok hopefully they can review the cctv it's a lot easier when you can see something in addition to a statement, someone telling you something etc.

I really wouldn't worry when it comes to safeguarding/CP follow your gut...something doesn't sit right if it's nothing they will decide, but it's better you report and it turn it out to be nothing than it to be something and escalate and regret not reporting it.

Totally depends on context. On face value I'd say they shouldn't have done it, because it's open to interpretation, but I probably wouldn't report it.