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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Infant school password

38 replies

pinkiepie1 · 17/09/2017 19:01

Hi I didn't actually know where to post this so sorry if it's in the wrong place.

Dd is 4 and has just started reception. Now when I went to pick her up after school wed and Thurs it's been two different teacher/TAs that have let them out.
Both times they have said I don't know parents so can you shout out who you're here for.

Now when i was picking my niece up I had to give a password and show my ID.
Now am I being paronoid that someone could just walk into office and say I'm here to collect Pinkiepie jr? And because they don't need a password would they just walk out?

Do other schools let anyone pick their 4yr olds up or do most have passwords.

If I am being unreasonable in worrying over this then do please say so. It's just when it's your child you do everything to protect them.
Thank you

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 17/09/2017 19:04

I would ask the school about their safety procedures. I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. This is your child and it's your right and your job to know how the school operates.

MothratheMighty · 17/09/2017 19:08

The schools I've taught in release the child to a named adult. If someone different is collecting, the parent/carer lets the school know by phone or email if not in person. If a random person shows up with no advance notification, I hold on to the child until I get confirmation from the office.

Sparklingbrook · 17/09/2017 19:09

If the children have just started Reception how can all the staff be expected to recognise all the childrens' parents straight away?

MothratheMighty · 17/09/2017 19:10

Most reception know their own adult. Special cases, I'd know about and be extra vigilant that a parent denied the privilege didn't collect.

MothratheMighty · 17/09/2017 19:11

I've not come across a password system before.

Sparklingbrook · 17/09/2017 19:12

IIRC a long time ago now, we stood in the playground. One at a time the children would come to the door, point out their parent (or whoever was picking them up)and be released.

ThisIsNotARealAvo · 17/09/2017 19:13

Usually there is no password in Reception, well I've never heard of it and I've taught Reception and year 1 for years. Usually the same person (or people) collects the child and the teacher gets to know them. If a random person comes to collect a child who we don't know, we hang onto the child and call the parents.

Someone coming into the school office and asking for your child would not just be given them. They would call you to check.

Rachie1973 · 17/09/2017 19:13

never known a password system in any of our schools to be honest

treaclesoda · 17/09/2017 19:16

I've never heard of a password system. We had to give the school a list of names of who was allowed to collect the child but obviously at the start of the school year he teachers would have no way of knowing what everyone's mum/dad/childminder looked like so they just supervised whilst the children picked out their own adult.

RainbowPastel · 17/09/2017 19:18

We had a password system at playgroup. For school we had various random teachers as the teacher was off for the majority of the reception year. They would ask the child to point out the parent/carer.

SheepyFun · 17/09/2017 19:20

We had a password system in nursery, but only if it wasn't the adults who would routinely be picking DD up (me/DH in our case). DD is now in reception, and no passwords now. We have told the school who will be picking her up, though I doubt the TAs can recognise us yet.

Abduction by strangers is vanishingly rare, and I don't recall ever reading of a case where a stranger had come to a school and asked to collect a specific child. Abduction by an estranged family member is a different story, but we were asked if there was anything like that the school should know about before DD started.

MrsHathaway · 17/09/2017 19:22

Ours won't release without prior notice even if you're on the list (which is for emergencies).

I'm on the list for a particular child and was once standing with his two siblings whom I'd already picked up from other classes, and they still wouldn't release him to me.

Nonetheless, when they're letting each child go they'll ask who they're looking for as a reminder. Easier to look for one known face than scan the crowd for anyone who might be likely.

MrsHathaway · 17/09/2017 19:24

Half a post Blush

At preschool they have a password but only tend to ask for it the first time someone picks up, and only even release the child then if that person is expected. When my friend and I take it in turns to do pickup, they know we are who we say we are (so no password authentication) but still ask us to pre warn who will be on pickup duty.

Ummmmgogo · 17/09/2017 19:25

reception age would notice if it wasn't someone they recognised collecting them.

Original poster
pinkiepie1 · 17/09/2017 19:54

Thanks for all your replies.

The password system must only be for some schools near me as I said my niece needed one and at another school where I had to pick a friend little boy up when she had an emergency l needed one.

I didn't expect them to know everyone as they're are a lot of children, and a lot of parents waiting, some impatiently.

I just wanted to see if it was normal or my brain was over reacting.
But thanks again for replies.

OP posts:
Bananamama1213 · 17/09/2017 19:58

My DS was in reception last year and I phoned up to say someone else was collecting him.. they said that as long as the child knows who the person is - then it's fine.

They don't have passwords.

Temporaryanonymity · 17/09/2017 19:59

At our school we have to supply the names and addresses of anyone picking up our child. Anyone else needs the password, and it is strictly enforced. Our school has 650 children and is very security focused. I suspect there is a reason why; I have been a parent at two other primaries who had a far more lax approach.

Jenijena · 17/09/2017 20:02

My parents picked my son up once - they were not known to the school and I'd forgotten to warn the teacher. The teacher asked for the password, which they knew, and it was fine. Similar system to his nursery.

SavoyCabbage · 17/09/2017 20:02

I'm a supply teacher and regularly have to release children to people who I haven't got a clue who they are. I say 'where is your grownup?' and they say 'there, in the yellow jumper' and I just have to say 'ok, bye!'.

Mind you, my dc went to school abroad where there was no handover at all. They just trooped out the door with no adult in sight.

MothratheMighty · 17/09/2017 20:04

Passwords make more sense with a younger child who might not be able to identify someone with confidence and clarity.

MothratheMighty · 17/09/2017 20:06

Me too Savoy, but the second line of defence, checking who if it isn't a parent has always been in place. Often a ta who knows the class pops in to help at handover time.

Crunchymum · 17/09/2017 20:06

I've just mentioned to TA that it as going to be daddy collecting DS (and have mentioned he'll have DD in a pram..for ease of identification) I'll do the same next week when we're both at work and MIL will be collecting him.

It's only ever going to be one of us three doing pick up though.

Liadain · 17/09/2017 20:09

I could understand a password system with very young children who wouldnt be able to identify the adult to staff. As a class teacher, mine line up, wait until they see their adult and tell me - then I send them over. If it's a case of particular people not being allowed to collect the child, then I would be informed of that (and that is rare ime - can think of one such case I had!)

CommanderShepard · 17/09/2017 20:10

Our nursery with DD1 had a password system because she was too young to say 'yes that's my granny'. School will only release to parents or those on her contact list; if someone else tries to get her I will be rung for confirmation and she won't be released until I have given permission. She's only in year 1 though so I don't know how it is further up the school.

I collect one of DD's friends from a different school; they have my photo and ID on file and I can be asked to present it at any time if they're unsure.

CommanderShepard · 17/09/2017 20:10

Our nursery with DD1 had a password system because she was too young to say 'yes that's my granny'. School will only release to parents or those on her contact list; if someone else tries to get her I will be rung for confirmation and she won't be released until I have given permission. She's only in year 1 though so I don't know how it is further up the school.

I collect one of DD's friends from a different school; they have my photo and ID on file and I can be asked to present it at any time if they're unsure.