Leaving children on their own - school

[CinderellaRockefeller]

My DD attends a ballet class at the weekend, for an hour and a half. Normally I drop off and pick up but yesterday I stayed and there were two occasions when the teacher went off, presumably to fetch something or to the toilet or something, and left the class unattended for a few minutes each time.

They're five and six year olds, and there are about 15 of them. I suppose my aibu is really, am I unreasonable thinking this isn't ideal? Yesterday I was in the corridor outside, so keeping an ear out but I'm not usually there - nor are other parents But it's only for two or three minutes, so am I being silly and it's totally normal? I haven't said anything to the teacher or the school and DD enjoys the class so don't want to make a fuss. Hopefully this is standard - they are all relatively sensible girls.

The issue is that you are responsible for your own kids and can decide the appropriate level of supervision for them.

When they are in a class with a teacher, that teacher has to act like a "very careful parent".

If anything happened to your own child while they were upstairs and you were downstairs (for example) then there would be understanding and sympathy. If anything happened to your child while a teacher was supposed to be supervising them, there would be an "off with her head!" outcry, letters to papers etc. There is a different expectation.

It is a safeguarding issue - speak to the ballet teacher and her superior if there is one. Do they have a safeguarding policy? They should.

I know children should be fine without an adult in the room for 5mins, but not legally when they are in a class/club.

"what protection does she have from any accusations herself?"
That's more of an issue with 1:1 supervision, not whole classes. I'm alone with a class of 30 every afternoon, as are thousands of teachers all over the UK. Sensible precautions should be taken to avoid being alone in a room with a child and the door closed, however.

In this case, I think the dance teacher is leaving herself wide open to problems if an accident or injury of some sort were to occur while she was out of the room. If she has a genuine need for the toilet on a regular basis (is she pregnant, for instance, and needing to throw up?!), then she really ought to consider a second adult on the premises. But, as I said up-thread, those costs will be passed on to you via the fees.

Not acceptable Imho. Dd has danced since 4 and would not have been left mid lesson at that age.

I think it is unusual for extra curricular classes to be run with one teacher and no helpers, any activities my kids have been to have had a helper in attendance.

I'm honestly not fussed about fees, I wouldn't complain/not complain on that basis.

I think a few people covered my conflicting thoughts, on the one hand if DD has a friend to play I prefer them to get lost and play upstairs and see as little of them as possible! But it felt odd in a teacher setting. There are other adults on the premises - baby ballet is down the hall and the parents hang around up there more.

I might mention it to the school manager next Saturday. In a very non-accusatory way!