Aibu No security at Daughters dance class

I didn't give you advice about all the ways your child could be hurt - it was used it as an analogy on approaching risk.

For the sake of any confusion ongoing - there are far higher risks for your child elsewhere, and people are trying to point that out. I'm not trying to put you down personally either - but this is AIBU and you need to expect that people may disagree.

It’s not me comparing them and it’s the risk being compared not the incidents.

"frankly the risks involved in offering a job for a man to watch a child’s dance lesson.@

Sorry?!?

I think you're getting a hard time on here OP.
We run a youth group on a Saturday morning, 1 class with kids aged from 7 to 18.

We are the only ones who hire the building that day. Gonna admit we were lax with our security, however after the Southport attack we re did our risk assessment forms and an adult is now on the door for 10 mins at the start of the session and 15 mins at the end for parents to come in and wait. And as a PP queried 'do you want the kids locked in?' Erm... yeah doors are locked between those times.

Chances of anything happening are extremely slim but pretty much guess the dance teacher at Southport thought the same. We are responsible for the safety of other people's kids . We can lock doors so we do.

Issues within an open community centre are more difficult but as you say the Brownies seem to have sorted something. All groups working with children should really have a risk assessment so maybe just have a chat /email with the teacher. Acknowledge the difficulties in improving security but wonder if they have a risk assessment and if so what it entails.

We told the parents what we were doing and they all agreed it was the sensible route to take. A couple came and thanked us as they had been worrying over it.

You’re comparing an intentional mass murder with an accident.

The OP has clarified a few times that she doesn’t mean actual security staff, she means security such as door locks and entry systems.

Not really. There is statutory regulations for clubs with children with no parents, often linked to the insurance.

This sounds really unsafe and outdated. My daughters go to a dance class in a little village hall and the teacher has sent home all the safeguarding policies and rules on when doors will close/ open etc and if parents stay we have to sign in.

Just because some still do it "like the old days" it doesn't mean it's cute or ok. It's just unsafe, plain and simple.

Why does it have to be a man? There are female security staff.

How would you deal with children getting tennis lessons in a group?

Genuinely interested because it’s outside. They can go in and out if they want to. Abd people come in and out during the lessons too.

And if that’s an ok situation (there wouldn’t be anyone playing tennis outdoors if it wasn’t), why is it not as soon as the activity is indoors?

The thing is that there is no security anywhere. None at soft play, none at school, none at sports clubs, drama groups. It’s dangerous everywhere

I run a kids after school club and I am also a safeguarding assistant in my other job and I totally think you are right and the children have every right to be as safe as the providers can manage which in this case would be locking the door and not having the fire exits open (which actually as hot as it gets shouldn't be happening anyway) they can bring fans if it gets too hot and have drink breaks. Yes you can't stop everything in the world happening but whilst children are in their care they should be minimising the risks in the room at the very least. I would bring it up. chances are it just hasn't crossed her mind but it is something that all clubs and childcare facilities should be doing as part of a risk assessment anyway!

I hope the dance schools (and other clubs) that lock the doors, have all done fire evacuation drills with their pupils. Otherwise, in an emergency, no one will know where to go and in a smoke filled room, that could spell disaster.

Most dance schools don't have one class a week. Some of the ones I know do 3.30 - 9pm Mon-Fri and all day Saturday.

If your not happy send her to a studio where you have to be buzzed in

This is one of the safest countries on the planet. People are afraid of their own shadow these days; it doesn’t mean the country has gone downhill or become more dangerous.

There's no security at any of my children's activities. I've never seen it as an issue. What happened in Sothport was very tragic. It was also a very rare event. I think you are being unreasonable to expect security. It could make people feel more uncomfortable and on edge, could drive up costs making activities unaffordable for some, it doesn't protect against every potential threat and it's very unlikely there would be any incident that required security.

Makes me so sad and angry at the state this country has gotten into when parents can’t even leave their children at a dance class without feeling scared 😞

There must have been 1,000,000 dance classes in the last decade and there was a terrible incident at one of them. I don't think we can change our way of life because of it, however sad it was. If he can get a gun he can get a battering ram like the police use if he wanted to.

Totally agree. Schools were not purpose built for the security systems there are in place now. Fences and gates to keep children on site were not universal, even in primary, until quite recently. A LOT of fencing has gone up round our infant, junior and secondary schools over the last 14 years or so.

Wildly unreasonable. Any time you are out in public with your child, there’s just as much risk of someone deliberately being out to cause harm: Sainsbury’s, the garden centre, a play park, the swimming pool, a cinema. It is impossible to mitigate the risk of other people’s ill-intent at any given moment.

I also think this is interesting, imagine a thread after an incident with an intruder at a kids activity, walking through an open door, op saying “the ballet teacher said they might as well leave all the doors and windows open as if someone wanted to come in and attack us, they’d just smash the windows anyway”

just because something might happen which you’ve got no control over, doesn’t mean you should put no safeguarding in place.

I know, and you’re right. I was just making the point that mentally (especially when it’s first child and just getting used to all these activities etc) it can take some getting used to. Nursery and school are all so secure, but activities aren’t. I think it can sometimes feel strange to get your head round that, especially if you’re only used to a secure nursery or school and then suddenly dropping off a v small child at a completely open place

My daughter goes to dance at two different venues. I wrote to both after the incidents of last year and the door are locked during session now unless parent remain in the waiting area. You are definitely not being unreasonable

If I was concerned, I would offer to stay and man the door. Having helped run Brownies and Guides groups for decades, I wish more parents would offer to help when they can see there is (might be) a need.

YANBU. My son started a dance class held at a community hall in the autumn and the teacher locks the door after all children are inside (there's a fire exit in case of emergencies). I assumed it was introduced after the Southport tragedy and I appreciate it. I like knowing my son and his friends are safe.
You can mention it in a way that you are concerned about potential safety issues, I can't see how anyone would have an issue with that. Don't let anyone think it's your problem or that you are over anxious. Safeguarding is high priority in schools and it should be the same anywhere children do activities.