13 year old helping out at local primary school

[pippiLS]

AIBU to think that this is something my DD could do. She has finished school for the Summer and the local primary school doesn't finish for another few weeks.

I don't want to put the Head in an awkward position by asking if it is actually considered U. I can't think why it would be really.

not under16s tho

ds volunteered in his old prep school for a few days and others have helped at sports day or with drama productions for example. It was arranged in advance though and not state school and not one to one. I doubt anyone would be happy to go through the risk assessment process this late in term or unless she was well known to them already.

Seems like one extra child in the classroom, so extra responsibility for the class teacher.

Something they could probably do without

DD1 is y10 and has volunteers at an ASC for her DofE.

Because they couldn't DBS/CRB check her as under 16 we had to provide them with 2 references, bank statement and passport, and it took 3 months to organise.

Seems like one extra child in the classroom, so extra responsibility for the class teacher

It's not just an extra child - it's an extra pair of hands and eyes, someone to do, fetch and carry for you, take a message to the teacher next door or the office. I can't tell you what a help it is when my 14yo DD comes and helps me at Rainbows!

Schools regularly use the Y6s at this time of year to help the little ones - listen to them read, help them swap their library books etc. Just the mass of end of term sorting out means an extra pair of hands to do something easy but time consuming can be invaluable.
Again, we have to assume that the OP would only ask if her DD is sensible, mature and capable, not requiring any special help herself and won't be complaining of being bored and wanting to go home after 10 minutes, or teaching the DC rude songs. I am also assuming the family and 13yo are know to and know the school and its staff - she may well get to work with one of her former teachers who knows her.

As I said, I would snap up any offer of help like this eagerly

stick one of these worksheets into the next clean page in each of these books,
sort the trays at the back of the room for lego/bricks/beads etc,
look through the book corner and tidy/sellotape any torn pages
^all dead simple tasks that a competent 13yo could easily do.

Blimey that's a bit much T&T, my DofE helpers at Rainbows have a simple form to complete (next of kin/contact no etc) and its signed by their teacher in charge of DofE - only need references for over 16s

I can't tell you what a help it is when my 14yo DD comes and helps me at Rainbows

Thank you so much for taking the time to run the Rainbows, my daughters are in GG's and I think the women who run these are absolute angels.

However, I stand by my point, any extra child in the classroom is an extra responsibility. I do not think it would be fair to put the onus of yes or no on the classroom teacher.

If they say no, and are familiar with the parents, this could lead to bad feelings.

I think I was a little Ott about the crb.

thanks partial
wish all my parents were appreciative!

I would have absolutely no problem with a 13-yr old helping out, if the teachers agree. CRB check not required. Many of our teenagers are under-estimated, and this would be a great learning experience for him/her.

My questions would be, why is a 13yr-old out of school yet (term doesn't finish until almost end of July). And the (seemingly) only educational professional on this thread is using terms such as "Lolololol" and "Fess-up". What is our education system coming to?

Obviously under 16s can't provide documents required for a DBS check. I don't think it's unreasonable to want some checks in place though. Plenty of under 16s have criminal records.

Of course we don't know whether the OP's daughter is known to the school already, or how familiar she is with it, or how potentially useful she's likely to be.

OK, so not the same environment, and maybe a classroom works better for this sort of thing... In the past, I worked in homeless services. Because there was a requirement where I lived for secondary school students to do some voluntary service, we had many requests (usually from the parents and not the students themselves) to provide opportunities for volunteering.
Most of the time, the sort of tasks that we actually needed help with were unsuitable (or deemed undesirable!) for the students. So if we did take them on, it became a matter of 'making work', and it was a drain on our time and resources. But the worst part, frankly, was that the students - with some wonderful exceptions - were not expected to take the responsibility - the parents called to set it up, the parents tried to schedule and liase with us, the parents wanted to be given feedback on the young people's experience...I stopped accepting any volunteers who couldn't at least make the request themselves! It was more work for us than it was worth, and the experience of the kids volunteering wasn't particularly meaningful, to be honest.

Evans since the OP says she has finished school for the summer, I assumed she wasn't in an English state school.

Evans, my DSS has been out of school for weeks now.

My questions would be, why is a 13yr-old out of school yet (term doesn't finish until almost end of July).

My answer would be that my 13 y/o has been off for over two weeks as we (and many others) don't happen to live/work/school in England.

I think scottish schools have broken up for summer?

X posts

Oh, sorry, sorry - forget sometimes this is a multinational forum and not UK only.

Ooh - not even England/Wales only. I also forget Scotland has its own rules too!

Lots of private schools in England broke up last week.

Sounds a fine idea. Why on earth shouldn't a 13 year old offer to help hear kids read, help in the classroom etc?

Bit jaded to automatically assume her mum is pushy or wants free childcare.

I bet the OP's child is at a private school. Come on, OP, admit it. You want your dd to do some charity work with the lower orders for her CV don't you.

Seriously, I think that 13 might be a bit young unless it's her old school- she wouldn't know her way round or anything. And two weeks before the end of term probably not the best time.

I would be surprised if they would allow it...
Trying to get my DD (13) to do something other than watch tv/play on computer I've got her down to volunteer at the local cat shelter (she likes cats)...
Their volunteers have to be 16 but they will take 14 yos - if they are 'sponsored' by Duke of Edinburgh Awards or Saltire award (a Scottish thing). They will allow her to help out at 13 but under my sponsorship - means I have to stay there while she is there.
It isn't working very well - I have to take my 7yo too, we sit in the staff room - I usually take all the clutter off my desk to sort out/DD2 a magazine/her DS etc.
DD1 is embarrassed I'm there in front of the other volunteers (14+) - she never speaks to me - and I haven't had to speak to her etc - she has behaved etc...
I think the biggest problem is someone who works there obviously disapproves (I asked if it was ok to pop down the road for 5 mins to get some sandwiches - DD1 wanted to stay longer and we hadn't taken lunch - and she said no then changed her mind as long as we weren't more than 10 mins!)
I find it frustrating and not really fair on DD2 - DD1 is quite sensible - if we could leave her for an hour or so we would go more often - I wouldn't go far away or be out of contact - just do something like a supermarket shop...10 mins away. And DD1 would enjoy it more...

Evans

Scotland schools have already broken up.

Lots of English independent schools break up end of next week, though some may break up earlier.

Irelands high schools broke up before the primary I start of juneam sure yes this isnt just an english forum tut op does ypur dd want to do this she has just finishec her own school why do you think she would want to go into another