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Son Escaped From Playgroup For The 3Rd Time
My son goes to playgroup at the local hall. For an escaping child I would say its not very childproofed as theres many ways he can get out
He sneaked out a few weeks ago and was found in the kitchen. The next he just snuck out the room when all the parents were going in. I would say its very difficult for them to keep track of all the kids when the parents are going into the room to collect them because of the layout of the building.
Theres a fire exit, kitchen, main hall then doors out to the main road so if he was to sneak past and not be seen he could end up outside
My partner went to pick him up last week and he was in the main hall (playgroup is a room off the main hall with a small room dividing the two) everyone else was in the playgroup room and hadnt noticed he'd left. If he had gone a few minutes later my son could have been anywhere. My partner also just took him and came home and no one would have been aware of this
I'm going to have to speak to them, how would you approach this one?
He sneaked out a few weeks ago and was found in the kitchen. The next he just snuck out the room when all the parents were going in. I would say its very difficult for them to keep track of all the kids when the parents are going into the room to collect them because of the layout of the building.
Theres a fire exit, kitchen, main hall then doors out to the main road so if he was to sneak past and not be seen he could end up outside
My partner went to pick him up last week and he was in the main hall (playgroup is a room off the main hall with a small room dividing the two) everyone else was in the playgroup room and hadnt noticed he'd left. If he had gone a few minutes later my son could have been anywhere. My partner also just took him and came home and no one would have been aware of this
I'm going to have to speak to them, how would you approach this one?
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I'm gobsmacked you haven't spoken to them about this already. Why have you not? Your son's safety is at risk here!
If it were me, my child would not be going back there. This isn't a one-off incident, it's happened 3 times now.
Speak with the playgroup manager and explain your concerns. What ways is he getting out? Doors left open, gates not shut?
It shouldn't be "very difficult" for them to keep track of all the kids. Your child's safety should be their number one priority.
I'd be interested to see their Ofsted report.
If it were me, my child would not be going back there. This isn't a one-off incident, it's happened 3 times now.
Speak with the playgroup manager and explain your concerns. What ways is he getting out? Doors left open, gates not shut?
It shouldn't be "very difficult" for them to keep track of all the kids. Your child's safety should be their number one priority.
I'd be interested to see their Ofsted report.
This rings a bell with me as I had a daughter escape from a supposed safe area and take herself away to a nearby playgroup! How she got away from first place and into second I dont know. I just took her home and never went back. When she was a bit older I took her somewhere else. For me once you don't trust a place it is time to change.
I think that's totally unacceptable imo. No matter how many children are there, there should be enough staff to watch your child! If that happened at my work we would all be disciplined after the first occurrence. There's no way it would have been allowed to happen three times.
I would speak to the manager and be completely honest about your feelings on the matter.
I would speak to the manager and be completely honest about your feelings on the matter.
Not being funny, but if I went to pick my child up from playgroup and they were in a room on their own and no one had even noticed, I'd be fuming!
You've just said "if he'd had gone a few minutes later my son could have been anywhere". Exactly! He could have escaped outside, onto a road, into the hands of a complete stranger... who knows!
You've just said "if he'd had gone a few minutes later my son could have been anywhere". Exactly! He could have escaped outside, onto a road, into the hands of a complete stranger... who knows!
Start by praising the playgroup (so that you're not just seen as a 'moaning 'minnie') and then go onto express your concerns over the safety of all of the children (so that you're not just seen as an over-protective parent who is only interested in your own son).
e.g. "I think you're all doing such a great job here. My son really loves coming to playgroup and it gives me such a welcome break as well. Perhaps I might just suggest though that you could review your security arrangements . . ? "
Go on to empathise with their problems - (e.g. "I know how difficult it can be to keep an eye on just one child at a time; it must be a nightmare with so many!") - but then try to make POSITIVE suggestions, rather than just complaints, about what could be done. (e.g. "Perhaps it would be possible to fit a child-proof gate across that doorway?").
If you're seen as 'being on their side', you're far less likely to meet with the defensive responses which many people naturally exhibit if they feel that they're being criticised.
Chris
e.g. "I think you're all doing such a great job here. My son really loves coming to playgroup and it gives me such a welcome break as well. Perhaps I might just suggest though that you could review your security arrangements . . ? "
Go on to empathise with their problems - (e.g. "I know how difficult it can be to keep an eye on just one child at a time; it must be a nightmare with so many!") - but then try to make POSITIVE suggestions, rather than just complaints, about what could be done. (e.g. "Perhaps it would be possible to fit a child-proof gate across that doorway?").
If you're seen as 'being on their side', you're far less likely to meet with the defensive responses which many people naturally exhibit if they feel that they're being criticised.
Chris
Its a bit of an awkward one as we live in your typical small village where everyone knows everyone. Also, the first 2 escapes were caught pretty quick but the one the other day has had us more worried
He loves his playgroup its just the type of boy he is and we're just having to wait for all his phases to pass. Hes constantly climbing, escaping, interfeering the list goes on. My daughter was an escapee and when she was there I warned them and they had said they hadn't had an escaper for a while. I think I'm on constant watch for every danger
Like my partner said, there was a knife in the sink in the hallway and with him being an interfeerer if he'd have decided to go look around the sink he could have been running about with a knife.
The 2nd escape it was him seeing his opportunity to escape when the parents were coming in he ran out and can get out un-noticed as he can just sneak past their legs and out when the door opens
They have the right number of staff to kids but I just find when theres the parents standing waiting, then most of the parents might have an older child thats just come from nursery theres a lot of people going into the room and a lot going on.
He loves his playgroup its just the type of boy he is and we're just having to wait for all his phases to pass. Hes constantly climbing, escaping, interfeering the list goes on. My daughter was an escapee and when she was there I warned them and they had said they hadn't had an escaper for a while. I think I'm on constant watch for every danger
Like my partner said, there was a knife in the sink in the hallway and with him being an interfeerer if he'd have decided to go look around the sink he could have been running about with a knife.
The 2nd escape it was him seeing his opportunity to escape when the parents were coming in he ran out and can get out un-noticed as he can just sneak past their legs and out when the door opens
They have the right number of staff to kids but I just find when theres the parents standing waiting, then most of the parents might have an older child thats just come from nursery theres a lot of people going into the room and a lot going on.
I can understand a child being a bit of an escape artist, small people will always be inquisitive and want to know what else is going on around them.... BUT... it's their job to make sure he DOESN'T escape!!
What do you mean he is always one step ahead of them? How old is he, 2/3/4?
I think you are too afraid to say anything, in case you upset anyone in the village, which I kind of understand, but this is your child. Sod anyone else, his safety is paramount.
What do you mean he is always one step ahead of them? How old is he, 2/3/4?
I think you are too afraid to say anything, in case you upset anyone in the village, which I kind of understand, but this is your child. Sod anyone else, his safety is paramount.
He shouldn't have the opportunity to escape though! That's the point!
There might be a lot going on but they should be trained to deal with that! The kids always come first and the staff are clearly inadequate if they have allowed this to happen three times!
Sorry... This has really got my back up =s
There might be a lot going on but they should be trained to deal with that! The kids always come first and the staff are clearly inadequate if they have allowed this to happen three times!
Sorry... This has really got my back up =s
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