Should I report this to school

[inmyslippers]

Hello, hoping someone can clarify this for me. Neighbour has three children. Older girl is 7/8 boy 5/6 and toddler 2/3 not 100% sure of ages but there about. They often play outside unsupervised for hours on end. Soon as school finishes, first thing in the morning ect. With the older girl pushing around the toddler in a pram or trike up until 9pm at night at weekends. Just walked past their house and the mother is shouting at the girl to take the toddler out for a while. It's semi rural where we live but there are three large ponds. Watching a toddler of that age just seems a big responsibility. I know which school the kids go to. Is this something I should mention or pass on?

Report this directly to someone who can act, like the police or social services.

That's all you'd be asking the school to do on your behalf, despite them not having all the details of the concern, and it not being within their power to deal with.

Ok thanks, my first thought was their school thinking they must have an understanding of the family and probably picked up on any issues with the kids.

I called Nspcc phone number and they said it doesn't meet the threshold of concerns

@inmyslippers

Hello, hoping someone can clarify this for me. Neighbour has three children. Older girl is 7/8 boy 5/6 and toddler 2/3 not 100% sure of ages but there about. They often play outside unsupervised for hours on end. Soon as school finishes, first thing in the morning ect. With the older girl pushing around the toddler in a pram or trike up until 9pm at night at weekends. Just walked past their house and the mother is shouting at the girl to take the toddler out for a while. It's semi rural where we live but there are three large ponds. Watching a toddler of that age just seems a big responsibility. I know which school the kids go to. Is this something I should mention or pass on?

That's okay if it doesn't meet the threshold, unfortunately the threshold is far too high in my opinion. I'd mention it to the school and they will have to make a log of it. This could be helpful information for them and I'm sure it would put you at ease knowing you've told a professional.

I'll try the school tomorrow morning. hopefully I'll have better luck with them. I felt really pedantic explaining it but it just seems off to me. I'm a really laid back parent as well.

@inmyslippers

I'll try the school tomorrow morning. hopefully I'll have better luck with them. I felt really pedantic explaining it but it just seems off to me. I'm a really laid back parent as well.

Honestly, don't worry. I work in a school and have previously been deputy designated safeguarding lead in school and these are things we regularly deal with. The school will likely say "thank you for passing on your concerns, we will look into it" and nothing more, as they are unable to comment on the situation with the family. Information from parents like yourselves can be really useful sometimes as it can help us to build a picture of a child's life outside of school and may add to any current concerns surrounding the family.

Don't ever feel silly for being concerned

Definitely tell the school. Safe guarding is literally everybody’s responsibility. Your reporting what you’ve observed could be the final puzzle piece that creates the whole picture. It could also lead to the parents receiving support to be better parents. Well done for caring so much