School security - Flasher in school.

[spidermum]

A man got into the grounds of my children's school yesterday, dressed only in a towel and then dropped it in front of all the children playing in the playground. My dd 7 was absolutely hysterical when I picked her up and I feel so angry that this happened. Not sure of all the details but he was arrested on the site. It happened at about 2.45pm last play of the afternoon. The school gates are opened at about 2.30pm. What is security like at your children's school? I feel quite shaky as I write. DD is very sensitive and this has truly shocked her. Some of the older children thought it was very funny, tho it was only the infants who saw it. Dd keeps talking about it and my tack at the moment is that he was probably an ill man who should be in hospital. What would you do?

[Saturn74]

I know it must be really difficult, but I think I would try and play it down as much as possible.
I would find out how the school are going to address it, and go from there - although I suppose that is difficult unless there is any way of contacting the school Head before Monday.
What a horrible experience for the children.

[cazzybabs]

I imagine if someone wants to get in they can.

[DizzyBint]

i'm not sure how a school could be 100% secure in terms of the playground areas. of course it's awful that this has happened, but at least they guy was arrested. it could happen anywhere, i guess ideally kids would be protected from this sort of thing at school. it just comes down to how you handle it now, how you make your child feel better about it.

[cece]

It sounds a bit strange that hte gates were unlocked while the children were still in the playground. Doesn't sound very secure to me. Usually they are opened 5 mins before kick out time.

[spidermum]

I don't think security is brilliant at this school. In fact friend and I talking about it only last week. Hopefully this will cause some action to be taken. Trying to play it down with dd. She keeps bringing it up. She wakes most nights with bad dreams and I think that will escalate now.

[Ladymuck]

Our agtes are locked until 3 when Recpetion and Year 1 are out, but they are then open until end of school for the older ones. I don't think that there are any scheduled breaktimes after that, but pupils could be moving from one classroom to another.

[snorkle]

Message withdrawn

[Themis]

A member of staff should have been on the gate that leads into the playgroud so that children couldn't just walk out.

It would be very difficult to 'lock' school gates as parenst are back & forth and intercom sceuirty sustems for the main gate costs money which state school do not have.

He could have easily should outside the playgroup and flashed through the fence, but I would question why a memebr of staff was n't standing at the gate not only to keep people out but to keep the children in !

[foxybrown]

Why was the gate unlocked? Was it pick up time? Only asking as our earliest pick up is 3.15 and I'd expect the gates to be locked until close to then.
I kinda think an intercom system is pretty important. It is about childrens safety after all.
I'd be asking questions at the school. I'd be livid. My kids are in their care, I expect to be able to trust them. No excuses.

Don't know how I'd comfort the child, to be honest. Its horrible when it happens as an adult. I went to an all girls secondary to there were undesirables hanging round all the time, it was pretty horrid then. Poor thing. Suppose don't make a big deal of it, and I think you are taking the right tack.

[CAMy]

snorkle

[edam]

I think you are probably on the right tack telling her the man was ill (and not able to think straight). Sorry she's so upset. I saw a flasher when I was not much older than your dd but luckily just thought 'how odd'. Maybe she's particularly upset because it was in the playground, a place where you feel safe?

I'm not sure I understand what the set up is at the school and why the gates are opened during playtime? At ds's school (nursery and primary) they only open the gates at pick up and drop off times. Although I suppose a determined flasher could always stand the other side of the fence.

[edam]

PS don't know if you are aware but there's a poster on here called Spidermama, people might confuse the two of you.

[spidermum]

I think she was in shock initially Snorkle. I think seeing a naked man leaping up and down in the playground would upset most seven year olds< wouldn@t it? I think she is quite innocent and I think those who found it funny were the older children. She's processing it in her own way. She's just told me that she now thinkds of it as a bit of a dream. What also scared her were what other children were saying "He had a knife" "He's killled a teacher before" all nonsense.

[tissy]

well my dd's school has no locked gates at all, but the school buildings are very secure (doors can only be opened from inside, and main reception door is always manned). At playtimes the exits are manned by staff.

I think my 5 year old would probably find a naked man waving his "winkie" about hilarious, I'm afraid, but I understand how your dd could be upset.

[snorkle]

Message withdrawn

[nikkie]

Dds school doesn't have locks on the gates (except for the back one) but has bolts into the floor (which are too heavy for majority of kids) and bolts at the top and a hook type thing over the top of the gates.Kids couldn't get out but people can get in.Also from the main gate (to get to school front door) it is possible to get to the playground .

[CAMy]

I think the message from the police nowadays Snorkle is that flashers are not harmless. Whilst they may start off flashing they tend to escalate their offences.

My dd would be very disturbed at something like this happening on school premises.

[snorkle]

Message withdrawn

[dinny]

God, how awful, Spidermama. Your poor dd, what a difficult thing to try and explain to her. IMO the school should be offering some sort of counselling maybe to the children AND reviewing their security prcedures pronto. Hope next week at school goes Ok for you and dd.

[foxybrown]

hi spidermum, just wondering how DD was going to school today? Was anything said?