Unfair treatment at work

[Anonsie]

Hi everyone please I need some advice.
I work in school, today me and a colleague were pulled aside for talking in the playground when we should be watching the kids. Now although I dont remember what we were talking about it wasnt a deep conversation and most probably was something to do with the kids.
They saw us talking on Monday. By Tuesday they had drawn out a rota of where I should stand and where my colleague stands. So we are in two different parts of the playground. Today we get pulled by one of the class teachers saying we need to stop talking and they'll give us a break in the morning where the both of us can go and catch up. I think this is very patronising. Also there are other adults who are always talking in the playground but they haven't been pulled. So I feel I have been singled out. Its almost nitpicking. Obviously I feel very down as I give my job my 100%.
I dont know how to move forward I want to make a complaint and feel iv been singled out for something so trivial.
Any advice from anyone? I feel like they've treated me like a school kid.

It sounds like you were talking though?

Used to drive me mad when colleagues spent more time talking than engaging with the children. We all like a chat but not to the detriment of the children.

Just accept the feedback and move on.

We’re not allowed to stand together, talk or check our phones while on duty. We have to stay separate unless responding to an incident. I think it sounds like they’re trying to change your school’s culture to one of better supervision. After my year one son being regularly bullied in the playground by a year four boy last year at his old school, I am completely behind that and don’t know why anyone wouldn’t be. You definitely aren’t giving the kids your full attention while chatting even if you think you are, just like those people who think they can text and drive safely. And you have no idea if they’ve said anything to anyone else- or if they plan to do so.

But you are not giving 100% if you are distracted talking. They may be treating you as children but you need to behave like responsible adults paid to supervise the pupils. What if a child got hurt while you were talking?

Are you a student teacher? You sound very young.

Take the telling, stop talking when you’re meant to be supervising the children.

Your role is to supervise the children. You’re not doing that to the best of your ability if you’re also having convos with colleagues.

if a child is upset, is being bullied, has twisted an ankle etc, do you think they’d be worried about interrupting an adult conversation? Would you notice their upset without them having to tug your sleeve? Would you notice if anyone climbed where they shouldn’t, was lonely, wasn’t being kind, was looking for their friends?

I know that this rule is set in other schools too and staff have been pulled up for talking while they should be supervising the children.

I know you said other staff talk and have not been spoken to and I think that’s unfair, but I also do think you shouldn’t take this further as you will be told that you were talking when you should have been supervising the children, which you have already accepted that you were.

It takes a split second for a child to get injured in the playground and as you will know, parents need to be notified how the accident happened etc. if staff are distracted by talking then they won’t know and possibly missed the chance to prevent the accident if they aren’t fully paying attention.

It’s not trivial though if you’re chatting when you should be watching the kids. My DD is very literal thinking, if she saw you were talking to another adult she wouldn’t interrupt because she’s been told it’s rude to interrupt. You might not like the way they’ve done it but pulling you up for chatting is fair enough.