Is this normal in a school? Safeguarding

[FriedTomatoe]

I'm a TA and have been for 3 years now. Been in my current school 2 years and because the school before was the school I qualified in, you could say I'm a bit inexperienced with school policy. Anyway, I've recently had concerns about a child in my class as her behaviour has done a U-turn in the past few weeks. She was really happy and eager at the beginning of the year. Wanting to engage with everything but over the past 3 weeks she's stopped playing with the other kids, has become a bit wild and cries whenever I approach her. I mentioned it to the class teacher the other day and her view was "wait and see how things pan out." I thought it made sense but the more I think about it, the more I feel I just need to present the facts to the safeguarding officer. Not in a big deal kind of way but the school needs to know. Anyway, I read the school policy today and it turns out the child's parent is the safeguarding governor. Is this normal practice? There's something I'm finding really unsettling about the whole situation. It's a real community school and everyone knows each other. It feels like it would be a really easy place for an abuser to hide in plain sight.

If you have ANY concern about a child, then you MUST raise it with the DSL in school. What he / she then does with that information is his / her responsibility.

Re Governors, well, yes, Governing Bodies have parents sitting on them, and different governors have different responsibilities. However, that isn't for you to worry about. You need to do what your responsibility is.
Overwhelmingly, there will be other reasons for the change in behaviour, but it is a sign that might be a safeguarding issue, and therefore you must do what you must do, whoever the child is.

Definitely report it. There may be a completely innocent explanation but that is for the DSL to determine, not you.

I'm a teacher and regularly have to report things, it's a completely normal part of working in a school and the DSL won't think you're making a big deal out of it. It may be the last piece of the jigsaw needed to help keep a child safe, or the DSL may already know the reason for the child's unusual behaviour. Either way by reporting it you will be doing the right thing

If you have any concerns, you have a legal obligation to tell someone. It might not even be anything to do with the parents it could be she is being bullied or it could just be something going on at home like a divorce that mum doesn't want to make public. But regardless, tell the DSL!

Yes definitely tell the DSL. This is your responsibility.

The safeguarding governor has responsibility for ensuring safeguarding policies are appropriate and are followed appropriately. They won’t know any details of specific reports or cases.

If the DSL is the child’s parent is there a deputy? Is the Head next in line in your policy? You must tell!

You've worked as a TA at the school for 2 years and only just read the policy?? What sort of school is that?! Have you done safeguarding training at school? It is a yearly legal requirement. Surely there is more than one safeguarding lead, we have 3 at ours. It will usually be a head teacher and deputy head, depending on school. It can't just be a governor, as there needs to be a safeguarding presence in school. Go and speak to the head. Do you know the procedure in your school if a child discloses to you they are suffering abuse? If not, you need to request training.

Report it.

No-one except you and the DSL will know and you don't need your class teachers permission.

The governor won't get to know. They are just on the board of governors to e sure the policy is followed and make sure the DSL has everything in place. They don't get to look through the records. Normally it's the head or Senco who is DSL and they will just file your report (is it still a green form?) Which may or may not form part of a bigger picture.

Do you even know who the DSL is? You need to know this. If Ofsted arrive and ask you this and you don’t know, then that’ll be your school in special measures. The DSL will NOT be that governor.

Report it. End of.

You may not realise but behind the scenes there may be stuff going on or bits of info that the dsl may need to piece together other concerns.

The dsl will not share the information with the parent.

However the school may need to do some more digging with the child as to the change in behaviour as it may be something totally different

You've worked as a TA at the school for 2 years and only just read the policy?? What sort of school is that?!

Tbf, I read the policy every year and can't tell you the name of the governor responsible for overseeing safeguarding. It isn't necessary to keep that info in your brain at all times! Who the DSL and deputies are is important, but not the governor.