To think my 5yr old and her friend shouldn't be able to wander out of the class room and go wandering for 10 mins without her teacher noticing ?

[ilooklikemrsploppy]

Background : I've took a bit of an instant dislike to DD's teacher but am trying my best not to be the psycho, over protective mother that teachers must come up against all the time. I find her very abrupt and stern for a P1 teacher. On the few occassions I've spoke with her she has also insisted on speaking to me as though I'm also 5 despite being 41. She's early 20's. I know DD can be a handful and is a mischevious wee minx given the opportunity.

Today DD met me at the school gates in floods of tears as her face had been moved down from the green zone (all is good in the world) into the red zone (you lose half your golden time on a Friday afternoon). She mumbled something about going to the toilet with her friend but I couldn't make sense of what she was saying. So I approached the teacher with DD hanging off one arm in floods of tears and DS hanging off the arm moaning about wanting to go home. I asked why her face had been moved and her teacher told me that DD and her friend had decided to leave the class room without asking and went for a wander. Her teacher said that she got a fright and was looking for them before they eventually appeared about 10 mins later. They'd gone to the loo. She said that it was obviously unacceptable for them to do this and she had to know where the pupils were at all times. In between two screaming/crying kids I couldn't think of everything I should have said but when I was driving I thought "how the fuck did they actually get out the class room without her noticing ?" I've been quizzing DS and he says sometimes the class room doors are open, sometimes closed depending on what the teacher is teaching at the time. DD was naughty but AIBU to think that two 5 yr olds shouldn't be able to sneak out a classroom. There was never any chance of them getting out of the building as there is a main door which is a security type door and the janitor sits there.

So, back to the childgate at the door and the teacher explaining to parents why it's necessary to safeguard one of the children? A door alarm?
Because a barrier is going to be the only way that one teacher can ensure 30 children are always in the room unless she makes them sit down the entire time. That is, unless they can keep the few rules that exist, such as asking permission to leave.
Is the other parent in such a froth and a fuss?

Lets assume DD had permission to go to the loo, and then escaped? Are you going to suggest every child is taken to the loo?

At my school there is a classroom door which leads to a messy play area, and the gates beyond the area are locked. So no child can 'Go for a wander'. I think your DD was in the wrong here but additional safeguards could be put in place by the school.

But Bulbasaur, what is it practically that you want the teacher to do? Locked door? All children either sitting in front of her on the carpet or at tables so no one is walking around? One child needs help/falls over - how does the teacher deal with them while also watching 20-something other children at all times?

Saying it is someone's job doesn't give them a set of magic eyes. Teachers are human and don't really get given a set of 'back of head' eyes during training.

AIBU to believe that Year 1 children shouldn't wander out of a classroom without telling their teacher they were going to the loo?

It's the perfect opportunity to buddy her up with another child who monitots her presence and reports the instant that said child leaves the room.
One teacher can't observe 20 children all the time. But 20 can monitor one.
'Now children, I need you all to do a special job for me, so that we can keep LittlePloppy safe and help her learn the rules...'
In any reception class there will be numerous examples of virtue just desperate to be given the chance...

This is hysterical and ridiculous. She did notice. She went looking for then - the minutes passed while she was looking. Yes the teacher needs to know where everyone is. She said she got a fright. It's the start of P1, she is in the process of training them. You need to support this training. If you write in demanding action you will be remembered as a dramatic and over the top parent. The child was in the toilet, without asking. While she was there she was being looked for. The teacher is responsible for her so got a fright. She explained this to you, and that your daughter is being disciplined so it won't happen again. She is also sure to keep a particular eye on her after this incident. Any further action is absolutely unnecessary unless it were to happen again.

I just know if it were my child, I would not just let it rest. I'd be writing a letter and letting them know I was documenting the incident and it had better not happen again or I'd be getting in touch with the higher ups to let them know that this school is not taking the children's safety seriously.

I cannot believe this attitude!

Just to clarify, Dd was not found in the toilet. She returned to the classroom by herself accompanied by her friend. As it was explained to me the teacher did not go looking for her.

"...I just know if it were my child, I would not just let it rest. I'd be writing a letter and letting them know I was documenting the incident and it had better not happen again or I'd be getting in touch with the higher ups to let them know that this school is not taking the children's safety seriously..."

Fair enough, Bulbasaur - as long as you included some realistic and practical advice on how one person can watch up to 30 small children, note where each and every one is at all times, and still manage to teach them!! How do you suggest they watch all 30 of them whilst explaining something to a child who is struggling to understand it, or picking up one who has tripped over, or dealing with a paint spillage or someone who is jabbing their neighbour with a pencil.

OP you said in your OP that the teacher said 'she got a fright and had been looking for them'. Now you say you were told she hadn't looked for them? Which is it? Although it doesn't matter, it's a school, they are surrounded by other children and teachers and support staff, they may have wandered away from the classroom but they wont have been able to get out of the building. What harm would they come to in the school?!

No one has managed to explain exactly how the teacher is supposed to simultaneously watch every child though ilook - what is it you would like her to do differently?

OP go into a large room, undertake several different tasks for a long period of time and try to keep your eye on the door at all times.

You will soon find that it's not possible.

For example, try cooking and looking at the door behind you at the same time.

Teachers cannot physically watch every child, every moment. It's just not possible.

Schools cannot lock children in the class, it's against fire regulations and probably many other guidelines.

So teachers have to teach, amongst all the other teaching, that children have to ask before leaving the room.

If they fail to do that, there is a consequence which will hopefully help to reinforce this simple but important safety rule.

Yes, the teacher is responsible for the child's safety whilst in her care which is why she saw this as a serious matter.

As a parent you absolutely should reinforce this at home so that your dd learns quickly how to help keep herself safe by following the very clearly stated, simple rules which are appropriate to her age.

OK, I'm going to say it: bulbasaur I'm afraid that it's attitudes like yours that have contributed towards the mass haemorrhage of teachers from the profession.
Ffs get a grip and let the teachers get on with their jobs.

.

OK bulbasaur obviously you're the expert here.

Please do tell us how you would prevent this from happening???

I haven't read the entire thread but my daughter at 5 along with a friend managed to escape her school and go for a walk to the nearest town be missing for almost 90 minutes and apparently the school didn't need to take any responsibility for that either!

Needs a sock-was this recently?

This is not about a child escaping from school, this is about a child going to the toilet without asking.

I'd get het up about the former, but not the latter

Buglife - she looked briefly in the corridor outside the classroom but couldn't go walkabout looking for them as it would have meant leaving the other kids. Dd made her own way back to the class.