Natasha is just four years old and her family came to England from Jamaica when her mother was still a child. Natasha lives with her mother and two aunts. Other relatives live within two streets of her home. You have become increasingly concerned because neither you nor Natasha ever knows who will pick her up from nursery class and some days it is up to half an hour after the end of nursery before anyone arrives. Natasha always recognises the person and seems content to go but has said to you, ‘I wish Mummy or Auntie Tess would pick me up.’ This week the arrangements for Natasha have become even less predictable. On two mornings you found her in the main school playground when you came to work, an hour before any child should arrive. You spoke with the aunt who arrived in the afternoon and she said, ‘I can’t help it. I have to get to work and you’re here anyway, aren’t you?’ In the middle of the week, the school caretaker strikes up a conversation with you about Natasha. He recounts, ‘They live three doors down from us. Poor little soul, nobody watches out for her. One evening she was wandering on the pavement in her nightie until one of them shouts out the window at her. A lot of weekends she knocks on the door to come in and play with our two and that’s fi ne by us. So, the wife phones up and half the time Natasha’s mum doesn’t even know she’s gone and the aunties think my wife’s odd for calling anyway. These people don’t know how to look after kids properly. Now my wife is home with ours … ’.
● What are the main issues in this situation?
● What do you think should be the next steps? You will fi nd a commentary on page 163.
