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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Head of junior won't let infant school mums walk across his playground at home time

33 replies

fleurdorange · 16/09/2014 16:17

This is at 3.20 as apparently the juniors will get distracted by us as we pick up at 3.15 if they are doing PE - should't they be getting changed at this time.
I wonder if he will let any of the junior mums onto playground before 3.20
This is OK but a few of us are in the classroom round the back which has an open adjoining gate to infants - just have to walk the long way round I guess.
I have checked with the infants in exasperated state and they said it is a separate school etc etc - we are just feeding back from him etc etc
GRRRR

OP posts:
outer · 16/09/2014 16:18

He doesn't want parents traipsing across his playground. It's up to him really isn't it? Especially if you're not even the same school.

You'll have to walk the long way round. Not really a big deal is it?

ilovepowerhoop · 16/09/2014 16:19

we arent allowed into any of the playgrounds, the children come out the main gates to us instead

Original poster
fleurdorange · 16/09/2014 16:19

Just annoying as it is a lot further round and we have always been able to walk this way before but I take your point

OP posts:
DownByTheRiverside · 16/09/2014 16:20

Separate schools, I'm surprised the gate between the two isn't locked as that makes safeguarding easier. Plus it woould stop sneaky short cuts.
What time do the juniors finish?

Original poster
fleurdorange · 16/09/2014 16:20

I wish ours came out of a gate - large school

OP posts:
Original poster
fleurdorange · 16/09/2014 16:21

3.20

OP posts:
DownByTheRiverside · 16/09/2014 16:21

I used to work in a community school with an open playground policy, so you'd get members of the general public traipsing through your rounders match, or stopping to have a gawk. Grin

Nishky · 16/09/2014 16:22

But how far is the 'long' way? Not miles surely. I understand that it is all relative when you have had a shorter journey, but it can't be that bad

NellysKnickers · 16/09/2014 16:23

Of course he doesn't want you to. It's a distraction to the children who are still learning. Our junior school has just banned parents from waiting on the playground at pick up because of the disturbance to children still in class.

Original poster
fleurdorange · 16/09/2014 16:25

It is just all too serious - dictatorship etc.. not friendly anymore in the community so to speak iyswim - kids don't learn anything at this time - i know - ex teacher and if PE is not on we are a long way from any of the classrooms at the junior

OP posts:
DownByTheRiverside · 16/09/2014 16:33

You mean he's a new head teacher and you don't like his style?

ArabellaRockerfella · 16/09/2014 16:34

We're not allowed to either. Have to walk all the way around the outside to get from Infants to Juniors. Just follow the rules.

londonrach · 16/09/2014 16:36

I understand his reasons. Cant you go around. I know alot of schools locks the different playgrounds.

cailindana · 16/09/2014 16:42

When I was teaching it was extremely annoying if parents were gawking at PE sessions in the playground - the children immediately got distracted and in an open space distracted children = chaos. I think the head is totally right to ban parents traipsing across his playground. Would you wander through the library in the middle of a reading lesson?

PedlarsSpanner · 16/09/2014 16:44

I do understand your frustration and yes even annoyance but the (new?) HT has to keep the safety of the children at his school paramount, this will include ensuring the school is secure from intruders

Original poster
fleurdorange · 16/09/2014 16:46

I take your points thanks for that/emo/te/1.gif

OP posts:
Original poster
fleurdorange · 16/09/2014 16:46

I mean smiley face

OP posts:
Original poster
fleurdorange · 16/09/2014 16:48

I don't think it is a security issue at all - I don't understand it really as junior school parents have to arrive at 3.15 onto that playground

OP posts:
Original poster
fleurdorange · 16/09/2014 16:49

He isn't that new - maybe ofsted are coming

OP posts:
LarrytheCucumber · 16/09/2014 17:15

Our local Junior school do not allow any of their parents into the playground, let alone parents from the Infants. They aren't known for friendliness...

ilovesooty · 16/09/2014 17:23

dictatorship
Rather melodramatic.
And the HT has every right not to allow random parents to walk across the grounds of his school while the school day is still in progress.
And surely as a former teacher you would appreciate the importance of safeguarding and demonstrating compliance to Ofsted.

Vycount · 16/09/2014 18:14

They are two separate schools. It's like you saying that you should be allowed to walk across one person's front garden in order to get to the house you want to visit.

If you're really an ex-teacher I'm amazed that you don't understand the reasons why the HT has said that parents of children at another school can't have free access over the grounds of his.

DeWee · 16/09/2014 18:22

Sounds perfectly fair enough. Even my one who doesn't struggle with concentration would be distracted by this.

Nelly7890 · 16/09/2014 18:24

They are two separate schools. It's like you saying that you should be allowed to walk across one person's front garden in order to get to the house you want to visit.

If you're really an ex-teacher I'm amazed that you don't understand the reasons why the HT has said that parents of children at another school can't have free access over the grounds of his.

This.

Lonecatwithkitten · 16/09/2014 18:32

Ours is all one school it is shorter for EYFS ( goes down to 6months) across the junior playground, but they must go round the long way. When we are collecting we are asked to stay at the back of the playground well away from the school buildings.