Headteachers 'not taking child protection seriously' - Pelka expert
A judge appointed to help Coventry City Council avoid a repeat of the Daniel Pelka tragedy says some headteachers in the city still are not taking the issue seriously enough.
Donald Hamilton was brought in as special advisor to the city council leader in 2013 after Daniel's mother and stepfather were jailed for his murder.
The four-year-old died from head injuries at his home in Coventry in March 2012.
In a new report revealed at a council meeting, Judge Hamilton said it had been described to him that some headteachers still view child protection as “an unwelcome addition to their responsibilities for the academic progress of the children in their care”.
But he did praise other work aimed at improving child safety in the city, saying he was pleased at the decision to reduce the council’s reliance on agency social workers and that the new referral and assessment service and multi-agency safeguarding hub were bearing fruit.
However, city council cabinet member for education David Kershaw said his own experience in Coventry's schools was "absolutely contrary" to Judge Hamilton's information.
Cllr Kershaw said he now planned to write to Judge Hamilton concerning the issue.
Safeguarding expert Jonathan West, who scrutinised the city council’s response to Daniel Pelka’s death, said: “If it is true that some headteachers have this approach it is disgraceful, particularly when failure of child protection measures in a Coventry school contributed to the death of Daniel Pelka.
“It is also a short-sighted view, for the reasons the author stated.
“The effects of child abuse, especially child sexual abuse, can be devastating to the child’s prospects. The psychological effects can be severe and lifelong.”