How can I help a pupil?

Question

I have a pupil who I taught for two years up to GCSE science. I'm on maternity leave right now until next may. I saw her in manchester shopping yesterday. She was on her own and she seems to have lost so much weight since I saw her in june, her eyes are sunken, I can see her ribs and spine through her top. She had problems at home and she is on the at risk register. I used to mentor her but I thought she was getting a bit crushing on me so I stopped though I made sure I was nice to her. I regret it now as I have find out the whole story of her home life. Shes a great kid and I really like her. I really have to stop myself from regarding her as a daughter. She looked really sad and according to a colleague who came round to see me today she doesn't seem happy. I saw her on august 21st and she was okay, not as thin or as depressed as when I saw her. I saw scars and parallel cuts on her arm. She used to self harm. The school has called social services. How can I Help her? She seemed vacant and bored when i tried to talk to her when she was in town.

Answer 1

I would talk to some of her friends and ask them to speak with her.

You can't really get involved as it would be inappropriate but you could ask to speak to someone from social services to check they are following her case up.

If she is thin it is possible she is on drugs that would also account for the bored vacant look.

Speaking to her during school time is fine but stay away from outside school as you may lose your job.

Also ask one of the other teachers to speak with her every few days to make sure she has someone to tell things to when you are not there.