Infant school password

[pinkiepie1]

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

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.

When I taught Reception I didn't let a child leave until I saw their usual carer waiting. If someone I didn't recognise came to meet them I'd refer them to the headteacher.

It would be better if they did the line up at the window and point out 'their' adult.

In this school you tell whoever opens the door who you're there to collect and they shout your child's name.
Then you usually have to stand there waving like an idiot because they can't see you for all other adults getting closer to the door.

Unless there's a known issue, like a parent who tries to get more contact then they're allowed or who might attempt abduction, then I really can't see what's wrong with the child/adult just waving to each other.
Even the known risk scenario would have to have the actual person collecting being late.

I think it's an example of where the real risk is so small that it doesn't warrant all the extra procedures.

Maybe I've missed a scenario.

My children's previous school had a seven yr old in tears on the first day of school because they weren't being released to their own father (no disputes) because they didn't realise parents had to be on the contact form.

Current school is a wave and pick up situation. I'm absolutely fine with that.

I've not come across a password system at school, they rely on the kids to know who their parents are, and at ds' school they had a book in which they wrote down if someone else was collecting eg childminder, grandparent or going home with a friend.

I had the opposite - ds was quite old and doing a holiday scheme at our local leisure centre. They had a password system and he was about 10/11 at the time! I did wonder what would happen if he decided to pretend he didn't know me! Passwords should be for people who don't normally collect eg if you were delayed and had to send someone the child might not know that well.

Think it is most common for the child to say to adult - yes, that is Mummy / Grandad / Uncle Fred / Jane's Mummy, unless school have been informed of a safeguarding issue / no contact order type situation. You' d be there forever going through passwords for 30 dc all leaving at once, for what is n incredibly unlikely scenario.

Password

The child should recognise the person collecting, unless you've chosen some random person who your child has never met.

My boyfriend was asked to pick up his 10 year nephew. They obviously know each other well. He had never been to the school before, so the teacher asked nephew who was picking him up. Nephew stared straight at uncle, and with a deadpan face said "I have never seen this man before in my life."

We were very amused, and it took a good 15 minutes to get hold of his mum for confirmation.

When DC were in infants the teachers would release them to a parent or a known regular "pick up person" (e.g. a childminder). They only invoked the password system if someone else was picking up the child.

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.

This is the way it works in our school in p1 for the first couple of terms. After that, kids just get out and are trusted to come back if their adult isn't there.
From P2 they can arrive to and leave school without an adult.

never heard of password except in daycare. Our school they kneel down and ask each child quietly if they can spot the person who is collecting them and to name them.

My DC's infant school releases to parent when the child sees them &
waves to them(unless any known issues) or grandparent/carer/childminder etc if you write down that this is the situation eg mini-Confused will be picked up every Thursday by his nan. If there is a playdate, the parent of the child going home with the other child must tell the teacher on the door at drop-off that this is happening & the teacher makes a note in a daily notice book which goes to the office.

At Junior school, the kids are either released in the playground to an adult they wave to or the parent/carer can inform a member of staff, in person, that the DC will make their own way out of school. DS is 8 (Y4) & meets me at the gate as it's easier that way.

We're on a wave system but I suspect if someone arrived to pick them up early (eg I did this when one DC needed to go to A&E - I picked him up from next-door preschool then nipped into school to pick up the older ones half an hour early to avoid complications) then they'd want confirmation from the parents either by prior arrangement or the password.