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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

EssexGurl · 12/10/2011 14:45

Should say first "term" not "time". Apologies

Hulababy · 12/10/2011 14:49

Essexgurl - I have already posted on the reasons why my school (where I work, not where DD goes) encourages parents int he classroom. It really does fit in well with our school's ethos and it works very well throughout the infant classes. Parents are not forced to enter the classroom, the child can be just dropped off. But we do encourage parents to come in and see the room. We have a 10 minute session at the start of the school day between 8:40 and 8:50am where parents are welcome. Some parents use it as a good time to sit at a desk and read with their child, or to look through some of their work with them, or do a quiet activitiy together. Some parents use it as a chance to ask the teacher or ta a question. Others use it as time to change reading books. Once 8:50am hits it is time for parents to leave and school to start proper. It does work well at our school. Maybe not for every school. but yes for ours.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 12/10/2011 14:50

Oh bugger off, BatsUpMeNightie.

YANBU, OP. We had this at ds's school - it drove me nuts. And actually it was an issue as the classroom was really quite chaotic first thing. Ds went through a phase of being clingy - even in Y2. Having to fight through hoards of gassing parents really didn't help.

I love the open door policy the school had, but unless a parent needed to be in the class, they shouldn't have been there.

pigletmania · 12/10/2011 15:15

Yanbu but at our school parents are expected to accompany dc into their classroom and complete certain tasks before they go

zukiecat · 12/10/2011 15:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GoldenGreen · 12/10/2011 15:37

We are expected to take them in. If I didn't have to I wouldn't though, as there really isn't any need, so yanbu!

halcyondays · 12/10/2011 16:42

Yanbu, although does the school expect them to taken in to the classroom. At dd's school, you take them into the playground and the teacher comes out to the door, this is from when they first start at 4 or 5.

Original poster

PinkPoncho · 12/10/2011 17:40

It is a Victorian school with little corridors! And the classroom is up 2 flights of stairs. I think once they're in juniors it's different. It's the mums chatting in the corridors that irritate me. I guess now it's got a bit colder that's why they're inside.

OP posts:

sleepingsowell · 12/10/2011 17:49

Hula, my DS' infant school ran a similar system. It was a great idea - for some people whose children don't ever have issues and who run in without a backward glance, that's fine - but many infant kids (like my DS) need alot of support and reassurance to cope, due to special educational needs or just being generally anxious or slower to cope - also it is a chance to see the teacher to update with any concerns or worries or just see what they are doing - which I was interested in.

I can see it would be annoying with mums clogging up the corridors if they're just socialising. However rather than penalise the kids who need the support by saying "they should be independent" you need to approach the teachers, let them know that parents are hanging about, and they may write a letter explaining the annoyance factor and asking people to leave the corrirdors once they've dropped off kids. Simples :-)

Bonsoir · 12/10/2011 17:51

At our school only the petite section (three year olds) are allowed to be accompanied into the classroom, and only for the first fortnight of the year.

After that they are all on their own, and it is a big school (900 pupils).

tyler80 · 12/10/2011 17:51

Hula, do you not find that policy a bit divisive? It must be hard for children who get the bus to school, or have to be dropped off by the parents to see their friends with their parents every morning. Who changes the reading books for these children?

DrNortherner · 12/10/2011 17:52

Not allowed at my ds's school, even in reception. You wait outside the classroom and in they go.

DrNortherner · 12/10/2011 17:52

When I say classroom I mean outside, in the playground.

Hulababy · 12/10/2011 17:56

No tyler, not had any problems due to the system.

There is no school bus, so that is not an issue - and all children HAVE to be brought by an adult. Some come to breakfast club, so they are brought round by the ta in charge of that once classes are open and I know some are brought by childminders who don;t havvng around.

But our classrooms are always set out with lots of activitieis to do as soon as children come in - ones they can chose from. So even those where parents aren't there or who run and drop are instantly active and involved int he class, with the teacher or ta around too if they require supprt.

But no, never encountered a child who has found the system difficult at all. I am in Y1 so they are all very used to the system by then.

Bonsoir · 12/10/2011 17:57

My DD would be in Y2 were she at school in England, and she is going to the US without her parents next summer, for three weeks. So, yes, I think Y2s ought systematically be able to make their own way to the classroom...

Stinax · 12/10/2011 17:58

YANBU - I find that system bizzarre, I find the school yard stressful enough most mornings without a trip into school as well. DS is in year 2 and they line up in the yard and the teacher collects them. It has been the same since day 2 of reception. I bet that's stressful for working parents as well as parents with babies/toddlers.

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