Safety at the school gate when collection arrangements change

[Richard1971]

There is a web application that allows parents to upload pictures and descriptions of people authorised (and those that are not) for the school to be extra sure who can collect which child and on which days.
This application also allows adhoc/last minute changes to be made securely by parents, and gives schools confirmation of the new collection arrangements.
Its a small charge for this service by the school and free for the parents.
I think this is a good idea. Do you agree. Interested in what parents think

[justhe1]

Yes except that kids in my sons junior school are allowed to elave school under no supervision.

There is no teacher watching to see that children are going home with a known adult!

I find this odd personally.
So it wouldnt make any difference whatsoever in our school.

[hocuspontas]

Well how would you get a photo of the person who was going to pick up at the last minute? And you are assuming people have computers/internet etc. And you need to advertise/promote in the right section...

[RustyBear]

What's wrong with a parent simply emailing the school with a picture & description if someone else is picking up? Can't see the need for a separate web app.

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello there,

Just to let you know, we've moved this thread to 'Primary Education'.

[mrz]

As a teacher I'm not sure when you think I would have time to access the application ... sorry might work in a large school with lots of admin staff but not in a small or medium sized school with one part time secretary

[Richard1971]

The application is access via the web for the teachers. Either used on a wireless tablet so the teacher has access to the information anywhere with ease, or printed out and handed to them.
The applicatipon for a whole Class, is more effective with supply/relief teacher, who has no idea of the difference between "little Jonnie's" dad and the local weirdo.
Yes a parent could email a photo to the school, but 50 children makes admin an additional headache, where as a simple interface makes search and retreival of the information quite easy.
As for the adhoc changes, I would anticipate a last minute change to collection arrangements be a description of the new person, rather than a photo, unless of course it was someone who does on occasions have access to collect the child on certain days, but is intructed not to collect the child on other days.
What does a school do if "estranged dad" from a troubled family turns up at the gates to say that mum has asked him to collect little Jonnie today when we know its not his day to collect. Access to the child has been volatile over the past few weeks. Does the school just hope that the information is correct, or check a database for an authorised scure instruction.
I'm not trying to sell the application, just interested in peoples thoughts. So far its 3 to 1 against.....interesting.

[Richard1971]

Thats 4:1 against.
I just feel that I would like my child to attend school, knowing that I have provided the school with a suffucient information/detail of the 4 people I would be happy to collect my son from school. If I am running late (meeting over runs, bad traffic..etc) and I can't contact my 3 stand-by's, I would be pleased to know that I can inform the school securely to let them know what my new collection arrangements are.
I may have complications in my family, which results in certain people not being allowed to collect my son, where previously these people could have.
I would like my school to adopt this service, to give me the confidence that they are not relying on "hope" when they pass my child to someone at the school gates.
It would appear I am in the minority.

[hocuspontas]

Well no infant schools I know of rely on 'hope'. The teacher hands over each child to a resident parent, unless she/he has been informed otherwise. If a parent says that another child is going back with her for tea and we don't know about it, we phone the parent to get confirmation. Even though we know the parent we don't let the child go. If there is a background to a child e.g. non-resident parent trying to pick up, we rely on the resident parent to keep us informed. But, again, we wouldn't let the child go without explicit permission anyway. This applies to gps picking up as well. No permission, no child.

[vincentvangogh]

OP, are you the manufacturer of this app?

[Richard1971]

no, not supplier, just found what I thought was an easy and safe way of keeping my child safe, as I anticipate problems with regards to "who is and is not authorised" to collect my son from school. I appreciate the school has 150 children to transition from class to parent at 3:15, and if I can't make it, and someone who is known to my son is at the gate, but should not be collecting them on that day, will cause me and more importantly my son concern. Thanks for the input for those participating in this discussion. I thought I was not alone, and might have drummed up some support/interest from other parents and could use this to help my sons school convince those with the funds to adopt this service.

[Tommy]

it all sounds like a bit of a faff to me.

If I'm late or can't get to school, I'l text a friend and she will collect the DSs for me (tell the teacher at the beginning of the year who is likely to be collecting them - 3 or 4 other parents)
If I can't get hold of anyone, I know the school will look after them until I get there

[sunnyday123]

i've not read all the thread but i'm not a fan of computers being used for things child related. I work in a prison and so admit i am probably far too over cautious but having had years of experience with "unsavory" characters - there are no sites etc they cant access nor lengths they could go to to gain access to children- most can disable and access a private facebook in minutes - i wouldn't trust it.

[Panzee]

I don't really have time to check photos before the end of school. I'm supposed to be teaching. Sorry.

[mrz]

Richard we have 250 pupils and ONE part time secretary. I don't have a wireless tablet in class and if I did I don't have time to check it while I'm teaching 30 children. At the beginning of the year parents identify those people who have permission to collect their child (they can pop in or phone to add or remove people ) and a list of people not authorised (we can only prevent a parent from taking a child if there is a court order in place which we need to see) your idea just isn't practical sorry.

[mrz]

If a child is going to another child's house straight from school we require a note from the child's parent to inform us.

[cory]

This sounds like a logistic nightmare for teachers- and a perfect opportunity for little Johnnie to make a dash for the road while teacher is peering anxiously at the photograph of Kylie's gran to see if she matches the old woman in front of her.

[HoneyPablo]

What's wrong with just phoning the school and then the teacher talking to the person collecting. They could even have a secret password. A lot cheper than a tablet.

[ragged]

Sounds impractical, OP.
Also relies on facial recognition skills which personally I don't have (I accept I may be a weirdo in this respect, but I really have poor memory for briefly encountered faces, am bewildered by people who function differently, don't think they are as common as you think).
I don't have a problem with children in junior school being released without their adult being sighted, either. Am hopelessly old-fashioned that way.

[MmeLindor.]

How about the parents teach the children that they are only allowed to go with X, Y and Z. The parents tell the school that the children are only allowed to go with X, Y and Z.

If there is an issue with an estranged parent (and this is hardly the norm, but the exception) then the school should be made aware of this.

As an aside, I live in Switzerland and there is NO ONE on the school gate. We did have to hand in a list of people authorised to pick up the DC but it is not checked. The children go to the gate and look for their parent or carer.

It is sometimes a bit OTT, the extreme measures taken in UK schools.

[cory]

I'm also all for children in upper junior, at least, being released on their own if parents are happy with this. I think it's enormously helpful if they can practise independence before the big leap that is secondary school.

[mrz]

It also relies on the parent having access to a recent and identifiable photograph of the person who will be collecting the child ...
I personally hate my photograph taken so on the rare occasion I appear in a photograph I manage to be looking down or my hair is covering most of my face or I've ducked behind someone.
Sorry OP you haven't thought it through

[mrz]

I should add if in doubt schools don't release children until they contact the parent

[HoneyPablo]

If the 'estranged dad' turns up on a day that is not his collection day, then surely someone else will be there to collect the child anyway. That's not the school's problem. If 'estranged dad' has parental responsibility then he will be able to collect from school. It's not the teacher's job to enforce court orders.