to think an 8 year old shouldn't be left?

[Isthisoneleft]

My 8 year old dd was at a tennis holiday club today. A friend of mine took her who checked what time it finished with the coach - the coach said 5pm. Friend turns up at 5pm to find dd sat by herself, the coach left at 4.10 after asking if someone was collecting her and she said yes.

No phone calls were made (coach has my mobile and friend's mobile) and there was noone taking care of my dd.

AIBU to think this is not acceptable by the coach for any reason?

So Coach tells your friend 5pm and then buggers off at 4.10? Was there an emergency? Otherwise I'd be asking for an explanation as to why
And possibly a refund on the extra hour not covered (I'm assuming tennis club isn't cheap)

This is not acceptable - I'd be tempted to not go and get a refund if their policies allow this sort of thing.

Why did the coach leave 50 mins before the end of the session?

Not acceptable at all. I would ask to see their child protection policy before making a decision about sending her again.

I would also complain to the centre where it was being held.

blardy hell fire, no way in the world is that OK - what if the person collecting had been in an RTA - unbelievable (was it a young coach, inexperienced, I wonder?)

Yep coach said 5, finishes it all up at 4, another mum who is watching(plus heard the coach say 5 to my friend (she had queried it with the coach as she thought it was 4 finish and he confirmed to her and my friend 5), takes her kids home. Coach asks dd if someone is collecting her she says yes (but doesn't add "at 5 like you said"), he leaves.

Even if the coach had to leave early surely there must have been other adults present helping the the club anyway?

No other adults helping - and my friend says no adults there when she arrives.

YANBU!

Where was it? Was there anyone else around at all?

If not, I'd be calling for the coach to be sacked.

I wouldn't be sending her again then. It sounds like a rather shoddy set up and child protection wise quite dangerous.

What would he have done if a child had been injured and needed escorting to hospital?

Did he have no breaks all day or where the children left unsupervised?

YANBU. That's awful!! He needs the sack.

Formal complaint, IMO. Gross negligence on part of coach. They have a duty of care towards your DD for the agreed times. Do you have it in writing anywhere? 8 is far far too young to leave a child on their own.

Noway not acceptable, i would make cformal complaint to the holiday club. Even if he had to dash off to an emergency, he should have called you up, not make a young Child wait all that time alone. He failed in his duty of care. What if you had been in an accident, or we're delayed. Not acceptable

No I definitely wouldn't be happy with that. What if there was a fire and your daughter was alone? What if she hurt herself and needed help? Personally I think this was a disgrace and would be enquiring about it ASAP!

Absolutely not acceptable.

That sounds terrible and I'd be complaining to the coach and the club. My DS was at a holiday sports thing last week and there were 3 people with the kids, one overseeing plus older kids helping out. And everyone had to be signed in and out.

Definitely not acceptable. A child should not be left alone. The coach was irresponsible, and should have contacted you. Definitely complain.

I'd go ape shit and tell everyone i know not to take their child there.

Yanbu at all. Surely coach is in loco parentis and has to wait until primary aged are collected?

Completely unacceptable. You need to report this to the management.

Absolutely unacceptable. Even if the coach had some dire emergency, contact should have been made rather than leaving her alone for fifty minutes.

has to wait until primary aged are collected? I am a youth leader and wouldn't leave any under 16 year old to wait alone to be collected!

As above, secondary school teacher and someone always has to wait til the last one has been collected, regardless of their age!