Returning to work after allegation of assault

[MamasAndPapas]

Has anyone done this? If so, how was it? The allegation, which was false, is known of by all staff and a fair few children.

It has brought me to my knees, even though school have been very supportive. I go back on Monday and am terrified.

Thank you all for your amazing support. It has really helped me through the past few days.

The head teacher and my line manager have been wonderful. Unfortunately, the head of year is not the most emotionally supportive person. I will be mentioning it in my return to work meeting and have already emailed my manager.

I will have my smiley face mask on on Monday and will do my best to hold it together. I have a two lessons with my class and a ppa.

My union are aware of the situation and I will request their support if need be but don't think I will need to. I hate confrontation of any kind.

I do agree with some level of the email. The child needs support to turn things around and I don't want special treatment, just some sensitivity.

Anyway, thank you again.

Good luck!

Can I respond as a CoG, firstly not everyone will know, despite what you think, it will just be a very tight group of teachers. For our primary, it would be HT, DHT and AHT and me as the CoG.

Sadly we had something similar a few years ago, male teacher accused of inappropriate touching by parents. He was arrested, spent the night in the cells but the n the morning when the child was as interviewed it was immediately apparent that nothing had happened and it was a religious and race issue. However, as a school we also had to suspend him whilst doing our own investigation which happened pretty swiftly but it affected him deeply but we made sure that he got strong Union support and counselling. he is no longer teaching with us, but in my opinion, it changed him and his teaching.

Please make sure that you too have Union support and have a witnessed meeting with your HT and the most important thing, please ask for support when you need it.

Thank you. Unfortunately, I work in a fairly gossipy school and believe me, everyone knows. Not helped by the fact that the child told another teacher her version of events, including that mum had gone to the police, when teasingly asked why they hadn't been in school.

I told only the teacher I work with and my manager.

Anyway, just had a good chat with my manager, told him I think HoY is insensitive, that I am not impressed and it's put me back.

Will be glad when I've got tomorrow over with .

Thanks again - I love this virtual staffroom.

Good luck for tomorrow OP

Thanks

Good luck for tomorrow mama

And just to say, you are handling this amazingly, l don't know if l could be so gracious and still have consideration towards someone in this situation.

Good luck tomorrow OP. Hope all goes well.

Good luck for this week OP, hope it goes well and that you are supported

Morning one done - phew!

Am exhausted, but feel relieved. Everyone was lovely. I had my return to work interview first thing and made my feelings known about the wording of the email. I am not the only one who is unimpressed and it will be raised. Support has been amazing.

Thank you all again. Will update later in the week if any change.

Oh good. Onwards and upwards. Well done

First day is bound to be the hardest, I'm glad you're ok and have been thinking about you today!

Glad you got through today OP. Head high :)

Well done for getting through the day was thinking about you

As an adoptive parent, this is a not-unknown occurrence for adopters, and sometimes can be that the child has been assaulted or abused by someone else. I'm sure you're aware of this possibility, and steps are being taken.

Glad it went well OP.

For what it's worth, staff will be being more wary of the child making false allegations than thinking anything negative of you. You've handles it well.

Thanks all.

Yep, drspouse, I raised the concen as to why this was occurring and am certain my DSL will be following up.

UPDATE (if anyone is interested)

Turns out @Waffles80 was right - I wasn't that supported at all. Long and short of it is I quit a few weeks before the end of year as I couldn't take watching the child treating my colleagues so badly. Luckily I found another job before the end of term and start in a few days. This episode has been parked at the old place.

Thank you all for the support at the time.

Gosh what an awful time that must have been. Having seen the impact false allegations can have on people, it’s no wonder some decide to leave. I know a colleague who left the profession for good because of this - it really floored her at the time, and the child’s feelings were always to paramount to hers. Wishing you well in your new placement

What an absolutely horrible thing for you to go through @MamasAndPapas ! I wish you well in your new school. You sound like a caring and thoughtful teacher and your new school is lucky to have you!

Thank you both so much for the lovely messages. I am actually moving to a higher grade post - L3 TA, so all is good.

OP or anyone else out there who has gone through this, when you start a new job, does the allegation, although unfounded, show up on your DBS check?
Last year I went through months of this hell. I wasn’t suspended but was signed off work with stress and anxiety. I was subject to a police investigation despite 3 colleagues being witness to no such incident ever having taken place.
I am destroyed. I went to hell and back.
I have recently gone back to work and find it all too triggering. I love my job but sadly know I must move on.

What was the outcome of the police investigation Mampam?

If you were not charged/cautioned then you have nothing really to worry about.