To think a school can’t stop a parent from seeing their child

[MargoLovebutter]

Or is this a thing now?

My friend seems to think that a school has some jurisdiction or power to prevent a pupil from seeing a parent.

I think this is rubbish and think that if a school has safe guarding concerns about a pupil they have to report it to the local authority or the police but that a school can’t arbitrarily decide what parent sees what child.

Who is right here?

As many have commented, it's only in extreme circumstances that a school can prevent someone with parental responsibility entering the premises and collecting their child. I know this for a fact because I was hit by a parent on school grounds he then kicked off in the classroom and verbally assaulted the class teacher and threw chairs around the class had to be escorted off the premises by male staff. The school wrote to him to say he was banned from the premises and wife had to collect the children from them on.
But they admitted to me that they had no legal right to do that and if he challenged it they would have to give way.

I should add I was a member of staff at the time not a parent. It was a few years ago.

My friend was advised by her children's school that she could not attend school events etc... this was following the advice of a social worker. The father had residency so she would not have attempted to collect the children outside of what was directed in the court order, but the father didn't want her having any other contact e.g. sports days. She was sure this was not legally correct as she still had parental responsibility and the court order, NOT social services, is what the school should follow. Eventually the social worker admitted he was wrong but it took weeks and she missed several school events because, although she was sure she had the legal right to attend, she didn't want to risk a scene that could then be used against her in court.

But yes, as PPs state, the school should only prevent a parent with PR from seeing children if a court order indicates this or if there is an immediate concern for the child's wellbeing. But both schools and social workers can make mistakes, so the person concerned may believe he cannot visit the school.

A school can only stop a parent seeing a child or collecting them if there is already a court order In place, I believe they can also refuse to send a child home with a parent if they feel that the child will be in danger. Such as they are driving the child home but are clearly drunk when trying to collect. That’s it as far as I’m aware though :/

Been in a situation when separated from my ex (Dom Violence). Was in the process of moving house/school/job/ even my car ! The Headteacher at the 'old school' thought he had every right to tell my ex where we were moving to (despite having Injunctions, Residency Order & Social services advise). He turned up at the new school threatening staff & demanding to see my DS & DD. Was horrendous!!! Spent next 3 years in Court getting a Court Order so that he could not attend School/our new House (moved again since then) + my work place (also changed since then). The children were terrified and needed Safety Plans in place in case he turned up. New school were amazingly supportive. Head teacher from the 'old school ' was asked to take early retirement . He was on their Birth Certificate so he had parental responsibility . Until the Court Order was obtained he, in theory, had the right to visit the school. They could delay him until I turned up with Police. However as he had threatened staff, he was not allowed in unless 2 members of staff stayed with him. He has not seen them for 7 years now as he only wanted to see them as a way of controlling me. Awful position for any school as a place of education should be classed as a Safe Zone for children to be able to feel safe, relax & learn ! Not for parents to use it as a battlefield .

My kids school will not let my kids leave with their father even tho there is no court order or social services. They would advice the police the children come with me. Who would then enforce it. My children would have no idea this was happening. They would be taken to a safe room at the other side of the building away from everything that is happening. The head teacher will under no circumstances allow my children to leave with him and police would take that view point into considerations when diffusing a situation

The school definitely does not have any power itself to decide that.
If they have reported their safeguarding concern to the LADO and have failed to it respond within a a reasonable time then they should ring the police who will only intervene when there is a clear and imminent risk isn’t harm, danger, abuse or next or there has already been one of these.

However - the decision definitely does not get made by the school!!!

Sorry - awful typing!

I mean only if there is a clear and imminent risk of

If you witnessed abuse, then a school would hold that child on a code red until police or social services have arrived.