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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think by Yr2 children should be able to walk into school by themselves

41 replies

PinkPoncho · 12/10/2011 14:26

At our school most of the parents still accompany them to the classroom, don't you think they should be a bit more independent by this age? I dropped mine off today and watched him go in but got a couple of looks and a mum then waved at me and pointed at mine as if to say 'ok-'- as she took hers in.

I wouldn't mind but then they (mums) all gather near the kids coats chatting on and it's a bit tricky with my toddler too, there's not much space. And surely they don't need mum to hang their coat up at this age!

OP posts:
BatsUpMeNightie · 12/10/2011 14:27

And this is the sum extent of your worries for today is it?

ChocolateBiscuitCake · 12/10/2011 14:28

I thought you were going to say from home, in which case YABU!!!!

YANBU but in the school where I worked, that independence as expected at Year3. The children found it easier than the parents! The 'lower school' classrooms looked like Starbucks every morning.

HeadlessForHocusPocus · 12/10/2011 14:29

YANBU. At our school they try and phase out parents coming in with their dc by first half term in reception year, ideally sooner. It just adds to the general morning chaos having all the extra parents around, and the kids are old enough to go in and hang their stuff up/go into class.

TheBestWitch · 12/10/2011 14:29

I thought you meant from home at first so was going to say YABU. But I'm sure they'd be fine to walk into the classroom by themselves. DD hangs her own coat up in nursery and I only go in cos I have to sign the register. I doubt the mums who want to go in with their kids are doing any harm either though.

Original poster
PinkPoncho · 12/10/2011 14:30

Bats- well if it's every day and makes it stressy with the toddler then it does effect my day a bit. Sorry if it seems trivial to you.

OP posts:
Hulababy · 12/10/2011 14:30

I work at an infant school and parents are encouraged to come into the classroom at the start of the day with their children. Not really to avoid the independence bit but more so that there is the chance to see the teacher/TA if needed, to see the child's classroom and what they may be up to, etc.
Parents can run and drop if they wish. Noone thinks worse of them. But most do come in.
When they go up to the juniors there is far more independence encouraged.

Scholes34 · 12/10/2011 14:30

It was a no-no at our school from Reception age, accompanying the children into the classroom, and as ChocolateBiscuitCake says, it's the parents who find the independence more difficult to cope with than the children.

So, YANBU.

Groovee · 12/10/2011 14:30

At our school we're not allowed in once they start school. That is what learning assistants are for ;-)

Hulababy · 12/10/2011 14:32

Groove - not what our school uses learning assistants for tbh. Most of our LSA are busy doing other stuff.

Ragwort · 12/10/2011 14:33

Never heard of this in any of the three schools my DS has attended - parents were firmly discouraged from even going in with reception children.

As my DS went to school on a bus from age 4 there was not much chance of 'settling him in' anyway Grin.

NorfolkBroad · 12/10/2011 14:34

Bats why belittle people like that? If you don't find it interesting move on.

Original poster
PinkPoncho · 12/10/2011 14:34

Yes we get asked by the TA to take the children's books out for changing then also sometimes help them get ready for PE...all of which is tricky with a toddler..which is why I've started sending him in!

OP posts:
Pippinintherain · 12/10/2011 14:36

We weren't allowed in the classroom from day 1 of reception.

They line up at the door and go in. Saves faffing about if you ask me.

If a just 4 year old can manage it I'm sure Y2 can. YANBU.

CristinadellaPizza · 12/10/2011 14:36

I've been dropping DS at the door since he started reception. He puts stuff in his locker all on his own too.

Old Victorian schools don't have wide enough corridors for all the parents to accompany their children to the classroom door.

Rivenwithoutabingle · 12/10/2011 14:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

2BoysTooLoud · 12/10/2011 14:38

Teachers chat to parents as kids queue outside before going into class but unless child crying about something no parent goes in to class/school building. Think would be strongly discouraged after Reception age.

Insomnia11 · 12/10/2011 14:39

DD1 (Y2) goes in by herself if she's missed the line, but from Y1 they have to line up on the playground when the bell/whistle goes and same again at collection time. Much better than going round to classrooms.

Actually I'm sure DD1 would be sensible enough to walk to school by herself or with a friend as it isn't very far and there are no roads to cross, and on some walks to school I hardly see her :( as she has gone ahead with a friend we've met up with en route, but DD2 certainly can't and wouldn't want to walk herself to the nursery and it would be too much to ask DD1 to look after her, and in any event I quite enjoy it.

cece · 12/10/2011 14:39

Most schools don't even let Reception children to be taken in after the initial settling in period, so OP is DNBU

Hulababy · 12/10/2011 14:39

One of the things our parents do with their child in a morning is to change reading books.

The children do the hanging of coats, signing of register, sorting out bags themselves.

Our parents like the fact that they are welcome ont he classroom and it does work well for us, despite being a pretty big infant school with three class intakes.

For us it works as a good time for parents to have some communication with staff. At the end of the day there isn't the same opportunutity.

But we are a fairly open school and welcome parents in a lot anyway.

caughtinanet · 12/10/2011 14:40

Some mums at my DCs school take pushchairs into the school which clogs up the cloakroom totally. Parents are free to go into the school and most seem to, I do on some days, drop and run on others depending on what I'm doing.

nulgirl · 12/10/2011 14:40

My DD started school this year and we were allowed to take them in during the first 3 days. Now we are not even allowed into the playground in the morning. The kids seem to cope just fine.

thecatatemygymsuit · 12/10/2011 14:41

I don't escort my 4 year old into reception - I (well DP) waves her off in the playground. It's positively discouraged to escort them in.

WilsonFrickett · 12/10/2011 14:41

We were allowed to accompany DS in on day one of school and that was it. They are expected to get themselves in, coats off, etc. In P1 that was all outside the classroom and the teacher and TA helped, in P2 they have to go to the cloakroom first and do it themselves with the 'help' of a prefect.

ilovedjasondonovan · 12/10/2011 14:42

I was not allowed in 2nd day of reception. Suited us both fine as I had a terrible 2 with me as well.

EssexGurl · 12/10/2011 14:45

By the end of first time in reception we were "banned" from going into the classroom and had to say goodbye at the gates to their own playground. By end of spring term, we were taking them into the playground to their own line and leaving them. By end of reception we left them at main gates. Quite why a school would want parents of year 2 going into school with them defies belief!!!

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