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AIBU?

To think my daughter's school headmaster is trying to hide something:

23 replies

Lizb19 · 24/06/2016 22:02

The headmaster from my daughter's primary school decided to close out an after school club just before the school half term(emailed us with the news 5pm on the Friday before)but looking through the Ofsted Report and although it isn't the greatest inspection report, the Ofsted decided it wasn't necessary to close the club by revoking their license and instead decided the best way forward was to provide them an improvement plan with scheduled reviews, which to be honest I would’ve agreed too if I have had the chance… reading on page 4, paragraph 1 it begs the question if this all happened because the SCHOOL let the child go and not the club – Please read: “There was a recent incident when a child failed to attend the club as expected, and was allowed to leave the premises with an unauthorised person. Reading this, and I don’t know if anyone else agrees, it seems that the child bypassed the club completely and was allowed to leave the school, through the school gate with an unauthorised person (not the club because remember he/she did not attend as expected). The report link: reports.ofsted.gov.uk/index.php?q=filedownloading/&id=2576555&type=1&refer=0

OP posts:
TheAnswerIsYes · 24/06/2016 22:09

Paragraphs are your friend. I can't understand what your AIBU is.

NarkyKnockers · 24/06/2016 22:21

Sounds like communication between the school and club was at fault. Maybe the club are supposed to check off a register of people attending and not having done that meant it was longer until it was realised the child was missing? Going with an unauthorised person would be on the class teacher though I imagine. I wouldn't be mourning the loss of the club personally having read the report. Could you use a childminder instead?

caroldecker · 24/06/2016 22:21

I would not want such a club associated with my school

GameOfGroans · 24/06/2016 22:22

The report is pretty damning, not sure I'd want this club at my school. I'd imagine your head will now start to look into alternative providers.

PatriciaHolm · 24/06/2016 22:33

Hide what? The club clearly had multiple problems, which were going to take time and money (and staff engagement) to solve.

user1466610292 · 24/06/2016 22:35

The way you have written this makes it very difficult to understand what you mean.

What is the head hiding? He can't hide anything, it's all there in black and white in the report. I would say both the school and club were at fault for the incident you refer to. The school obviously didn't have procedures in place to make sure that the children going to the club were monitored, and the club wasn't checking up on children that didn't arrive.

That is just one tiny problem in a massive horrible mess though, I don't think I would be sending my child to either the club or the school.

SENPARENT · 24/06/2016 23:01

Not surprised the head closed it down. There is nothing more important than keeping children safe and Ofsted has highlighted serious safeguarding issues here -

"The provider does not take all necessary steps to safeguard children."
"The provider does not have all the relevant documentation in relation to staff's suitability checks"
"There are still insufficient staff deployed at the start of sessions to meet the needs of children.
Staff are overly stretched admitting children to the club and then dealing with domestic tasks, rather than supervising children as they play."

Why are you even questioning it?

ThisisMajorTomtoGroundControl · 24/06/2016 23:11

I wish the head at my child's school would have the balls to do the same. The externally run after school club at my child's school is a shocker and on the same lines but gets away without being Ofsted registered.

Lizb19 · 24/06/2016 23:25

I agree the report isn't good but to me looks like the school is trying to hide the fact that this child decided not to attend the club and was allowed to simply walk out through the gate. The school normally has a member of staff by the gate but doesn't mean it's a fail proof way to ensure every child goes out with an authorised person. The headmaster realised this and is covering his back by closing the club down... I even asked someone from the Ofsted and they agree: since the child failed to attend the club it was the school's responsibility to ensure this child was safe. Imagine if the club didn't exist this kid would've been gone regardless(from what I know he left the school with an older sibling)

OP posts:
NarkyKnockers · 24/06/2016 23:43

Did the HM say the closing of the club was because of that incident? How old was the child? Have the school changed how pic ups are done since? In my dc's school in the infants children are handed to a named adult. If anyone else picks up they need a password. By juniors they are trusted to only go with who they are meant to.

Ditsy4 · 25/06/2016 00:06

Perhaps the leader of the club wants to resign under the circumstances.

Yes, a register will be taken at the club but if the child goes home unless the leader works in the school s /he may not know. The age of the child will important.

plimsolls · 25/06/2016 06:02

I don't get the impression the club was closed just because of that one incident. The report is very damning. I disagree with your statement that its just "not the greatest report". Do you have a vested interest in this club?

branofthemist · 25/06/2016 06:52

For all you know that child could be a year 6 who has permission to walk home on their own.

I don't get what the HT is hiding?

Do you except the Head Teacher to write a letter to all parents advising this happened? It's between the school and the parents.

It may be that the school is partly at fault. But it clearly isn't the only reason the club was shut.

SisterViktorine · 25/06/2016 07:08

Your posts read a bit like you run or work for the club?

Groovee · 25/06/2016 07:14

If I was a parent using the ASC, I would have grave reservations about sending my child there after that report.

The provider spends no time in the club.

There doesn't seem to be enough staff with appropriate pre employment checks.

The head had quite rightly shut down a club which was not adequate!

insancerre · 25/06/2016 07:16

But after reading the report it is obvious that the after school club is not run by the school
I don't see what the head teacher is hiding

The head has made a good decision. I wouldn't want that club in my school either

Sootica · 25/06/2016 07:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coolaschmoola · 25/06/2016 07:23

As a teacher and a parent that report is dreadful. The incident you are discussing may have been the trigger for the inspection, but the results are separate to that incident.

The provision has serious faults without taking into consideration the incident - it is right that it is shut. If you were anything to do with the club then you ought to get more training if you can't see why.

user1466610292 · 25/06/2016 07:29

He can't hide something that has been written in an ofsted report that is publicly available. He is closing the club down because it is shocking - that incident is bad, however everything else about the club is equally as terrible! Like other posters have said you don't know the full circumstances of how the child left, everyone agrees the school was at fault but the head isn't hiding anything because we can all read about it Confused.

Sounds a bit like you just want the club there for convenience regardless of how bad it is, so you're making a fuss about something else, which isn't even a thing ?!? Yes what the school did was bad, but no it isn't hidden.

lalalalyra · 25/06/2016 08:52

The Head was right to shut down any after school club that could have a negative impact on the school. People assume that q club run in the school building is run on similar standards to the school - or run by the school - every time. We have it with the after school care and playscheme, folks ask the school staff questions even though it's made very, very clear we just use the school building.

If a child had been injured or lost or anything else there would have been an assumption that the head had failed because people feel children should be safe on school grounds. Doesn't sound like the children were safe at that club so it's good that someone found a way to close it down.

AdrenalineFudge · 25/06/2016 09:19

Is this your club?

DonkeyOaty · 25/06/2016 09:19

HT is not hiding anything. The club was run by a franchise on school premises (inspection report for "Sherpa Kids" - a Google of Sherpa Kids brings up the franchise)
The report is awful and the HT imo took the right decision

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Ditsy4 · 26/06/2016 07:25

I imagine the OP was using it as after school care and is now inconvenienced. The Head did the right thing though.

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