School home time.

[daffidazey]

I have 2 children in the same school but they come out at different ends of the building. Last week my daughter class opened their door first, so I was waiting to collect her before going round the other side to get my son. I was just stood there with my daughter making sure we had all her bags and my son comes up behind me! I took him round to his teacher and told her that he'd come round to the other side of school by himself. She told my son off and told him he was supposed to wait for mummy. My son is 4, yes, he should take some of the responsibilty himself but she is his teacher and she should make sure he is collected by me. The following day, the same thing happened again! I went to see her again and this time she said 'some woman' waved at my son so she let him go. I asked who the woman was, she said she didn't know. I asked my son, he said he never saw anyone but his teacher told him to go so he came to find me.
Yesterday at school I collected my son ( I get him first now and my daughter waits with her teacher for me) and my friends daughter asked me if I had seen her mummy. I told her that Mummy was just collecting her sister and would be round in a minute. Just as I was walking through the gate, I saw the little girl wandering on her own. I went back and took her back to her teacher and then waited for my friend.
Sorry this is a long winded rant but I am fuming! I have an appointment with the Headmistress this afternoon.
daffi x

[Bohne]

I suppose it depends on where you live, and if the children can get off school ground.

But if the teacher does not seem to be bothered (as it seems from your post) I'd speak with the Headmistress, too.

[daffidazey]

They could walk straight out of the front gate and onto a very busy road! Or out of the back gate into the carpark. Also there is the fear of people lurking now, isn't there. Especially as his teacher saw 'someone' wave at him. It could have been a friend but it might not. x

[aka pixi]

hi daffi, this is a total lack of responsibility from the teachers in my opinion. There is no way they should let kids that old out of the door until they know someone is there to pick them up.

My granddaughter is 4 and in nursery. The door is kept locked at hometime and the teachers let the kids out in 2's, 3's 4's etc as they see the kids parents (or whoever is picking them up arrive) If someone is going to pick up a child and that person is unknown to the teachers then you have to inform the teacher and give them a description so they know who they are (a lot of people just show a mobile phone pic lol)

The school has (I believe) responsibility for the kids from the second they are dropped off until the second they are picked up at the normal end of class. But I have known teachers at my granddaughters school stay with children up to 20 minutes after hometime because no one has turned up for them ( usually the parents etc are stuck in traffic or have missed a bus)

I seriously cannot believe the attitude of the teachers at your kids school, for gods sake anything could happen to a child who is allowed to wander round looking for his/her parents.

I am not surprised you are fuming and please don't let the headmistress fob you off with ifs and buts. Something needs sorting out about this before a child has an accident or worse.

Loads of good luck this afternoon xx

[aka pixi]

oh and the teacher should be ashamed of herself for telling your son off. He is 4 years old fgs!!

[daffidazey]

Thanks pixi. x

[Mamjet]

You're over-reacting. 4 year olds can walk and talk you know.
If I was the headmaster I'd call the police on you for failing to collect your kids from the teacher.

[mumof3angels]

Mamjet I take it you have no kids! What an appalling thing to say. As pixi says the teachers do have responsibility for the kids from dropping off to picking up. I'd be horrified if my kids were just let out without me(or someone else that I'd asked to collect them) being there. At my kids schools it just wouldn't happen. Let us know how you get on daffi.

[tigwig]

ignore Mamjets answer he always says things that provoke a response and the best thing to do with naughty children like that is not to bother responding at all. Anyway, daffidazey I agree with you it is appalling that this has happened so many times. Let us know how you get on with the headmistress and inform her that all other schools do not allow this to happen with children who are so young. My daughters school has the nursery and reception in a seperate enclosed building and a teacher comes out before the children and stands at the gate to prevent any child going into the main playground without their parent/carer. If a parent is late then the children are taken back inside. I can appreciate with a big class of children and no seperate enclosed area this can be difficult but it is the schools responsibility to make sure the children are safe. Maybe they could be taught to line up and wait to be told to go only when the teacher has identified a parent and do this 1-2 kids at a time.

[Hellyon]

I'm with you daffy - I'd create Merry Hell!

[Psychick]

Like others, at my daughters school, they will not allow a child out unless they see the parent/guardian and if someone else is to collect them, then the office and teacher have to be informed in advance. They also ask the child to identify that person.

Does that teacher not realise how easy she is making it for a child to be taken if she simply sends a child out the first person who waves?? I hope she is severly reprimanded over this so she understands her mistake fully!

[Doc2410]

Totally behind you Daffidazey.
My youngest is 4 & at her nursery which is inside the school, but via a different entrance, they do not allow any child to leave until a parent or guardian has come into the classroom to collect the child.
There is a buzzer & CCTV on the main door, the school has high security fencing all the way around it & a huge metal gate with a bolt on the top that I can't even reach to open it. (I'm only 4ft 11" lol)
If someone is collecting your child for you you have to inform them, give a description AND have a password!
My daughter's teacher wouldn't allow my childminder of 3 years pick her up as she hadn't met her before & contacted me at work. My childminder wasn't put out in the slightest, neither was I. We both thought how great it is to know your child is safe & been well cared for!
With all the things that are happening as they are at the moment it is better to be safe than sorry.
I am absolutely appalled at your Son's teachers behaviour, she is obviously in the wrong job if she thinks her responsibilities to the children end the moment the bell rings!
Give them hell, I know I would.
Please do let us know how you get on with the Headmistress, don't be fobbed off!!!!
Doc2410
xxx

[daffidazey]

Hi all! Thanks for your answers. I have seen the headteacher, she was very shocked to learn that this had happened, she said that there is a strict policy that the teachers follow with regard to releasing the children from school. I know the other teachers follow this policy. She said the matter will be dealt with as a matter of urgency and that the teacher in question will be dealt with. I remained calm although I got a bit tearful, I think it was the realisation of what could have happened to my son. The head was as angry when I left as I was when I went in! x

[leelapops]

Oh hun, glad your point got across and that she took it so seriously. Did she say she would get in touch when she had spoken to the teacher in question?
x

[daffidazey]

She said to leave things with her but if I have any concerns at all or feel the teacher isn't adhering to the policy then to go straight to her.

[Mamjet]

"what could have happened to your son?"

Yeah, he could have had to walk across a playground on his own. It would have emotionally scarred him for life.

[EngTeach]

This happens at my niece's school too. The babysitter picks up her daughter and my niece. They get out on opposite sides of the building. She has to collect one of them from the office each day as she can't make it to both sides before she is considered "late" to pick up. She gets nervous b/c she does not want us to be annoyed that she is picking up my niece "late". In our schools here they call the police after about 15 minutes and then you pick up the child from the station.

The teacher should not have let a 4 year old go alone. That's dangerous.

[aka pixi]

Great to hear the head took you seriously daffi :)

Now can you all move while I give mamjet a good old slapping? :D

[jd_here]

Get in touch with the Head Teacher immediately and if no satisfaction from there, then contact the LEA. This is a serious breach of responsibility by the teacher involved. JD

[mj8183]

I once sent my other half to collect my daughter from nursery, she ran up to him (past the teacher) shouting 'daddy daddy' but because he doesnt do the school run very often,and they didnt recognise him, they wouldnt let her go with him, he had to come and get me.
I was pleased with this at the time as it showed the school were taking resposibilities seriously.

However at their new school, my son often runs round to me at the other side of the school while im collecting my daughter. He is 7 and his classroom is right next to the main gate. Just the other day we had a letter home saying an unsupervised child had run into the road after a ball. How can these teachers let them do this? 7 years old isnt old enough to be let out of class on his own.

Daffi, Im pleased it went ok for you with the Headmistress, I am going to be making an appointment with ours too. Lets hope shes as helpful as yours.

[daffidazey]

JD, if you read my posts on this thread, you will see I have been to see the headteacher x

Hi mj8183! Hope you get your school sorted, too. Let us know how you get on x