Is this a child in need or a child in need of protection? (case study scenario)

[Sonak]

Y is nearly five years old and soon be leaving nursery in order to go to school.

She's attended nursery for three years. When she started, Y's mother told you that she had successfully completed a drug rehab programme.

Y had been a quiet, reserved that preferred to observe than play. Y has developed into an articulate child who enjoys taking the lead and in initiating group play. Your observations are that Y often takes on a responsible supervisory role but becomes very distressed when she feels children aren't listening to her.

Y loves stories being read to her and creates tales involving herself & her one year old brother.

In the last three months you have noted Y retreating from play and spending great amounts of time watching. Recently she has begun to burst into tears if any child approaches her to play & noticed that she appears anxious about time and constantly asks 'what time is it now?'

You have noticed that some of the girls refuse to sit next to her at circle time saying to her 'you smell of wee'. Yasmin's mum has said that Y has begun to wet herself on the way to nursery and that she can't afford to wash so many clothes.

You've noticed that Y is not eating her lunch and other children have complained that she puts some of her dinner in her pockets and that they are not allowed to do so. Yesterday you witnessed this and gently asked about it & she got upset.

The next morning another child's mother tells you that Y's mother is 'back on the game'. During circle time Y tells everyone her mummy is 'kind of a doctor', she adds 'my brother isn't really sick & my mummy says I'm a nurse'. I have to lick my finger & put brown on his tongue. It really works. He's goes quiet for ages'. But it makes mum very lazy.

What are your first actions as a nursery practitioner/manager? What do you think Social

[grandma41]

Anyone with an ounce of intelligence would contact the social services and also the police as this is clearly a case of child abuse.

[Sonak]

I have already given my response in this reflective task in my module and just wanted other views and thoughts.

The majority of people on here have been spot on and been similar to my reaction, I just went in more depth about my settings procedure, legislation and other agencies that work in cases with child protection.

Thanks for all for your input guys!

[kjlenz]

red flags are withdrawl, wetting self, hoarding food, licking figer with substance abuse

[kjlenz]

withdrawn, wetting self, hoarding food, nurse game with brother are red flags