Contextual safeguarding β a case study
Read the following case study about Paulina. After you have read it listen to the audio and consider the questions posed.
She has had very few discernible friends at school but recently told a TA she has found a new group of friends from the estate where she lives.Β She is quite proud they are friends with her as they are slightly older children.
School staff have noticed some behaviour changes in lessons.Β Paulina is answering back, some homework is not on time or incomplete (when it used to be to a good standard).Β Staff suspect she isnβt getting sufficient sleep and sheβs been heard saying to peers that she spends hours online at night to her new friends.
Her parents donβt speak English fluently but they have contacted school saying they are worried about Paulina coming home from the park late.Β School tries to get more information and finds out it was only 20 minutes late so they donβt take it any further.
Paulina was previously somewhat of a βtomboyβ but now seems to be developing an interest in make up and clothes, but her βuniqueβ taste means peers at school mock her β she says to a staff member she isnβt bothered because her new friends like her look.
In a PSHE lesson about Healthy Relationships Paulinaβs responses to a scenario situation suggest that she feels people should do what others want to βearnβ friendships.Β The teacher tries to gently challenge this but she is firm in her views that the character in the scenario is lucky to have friends and canβt expect friendships for nothing in return.
A teaching assistant from the school who lives locally reports to the Head of Year that he saw Paulina at the weekend outside of some local shops with older youths, and that Paulina was βdressed inappropriatelyβ for her age.Β This is recorded but no further action is taken as it was out of school hours and seen as just one personβs opinion.
In a Relationships and Sex Education lesson about sexting Paulina seems to be disengaged, behaviour is louder than usual and unfocussed.Β She refuses to participate and when other pupils demonstrate βvictim blamingβ language she shouts out that the other students are βjust little kids and donβt understand mature relationshipsβ.
Her only school friend later reports to a member of staff that Paulina has been showing naked pictures of an βolder ladβ on her phone and she says itβs her boyfriend.
School staff talk to Paulina and she says they are in love and sheβs sent naked pictures back.
School involve parents but mum says Paulina βconsentsβ and that all children experiment and urges school not to take things further with any authorities.
Referrals are made to social services and the police.