Angry Mum vs School. Who is Being Unreasonable?

[strawberrisc]

9 year old sneaks onto school trip. Gets mild telling off at home then parents blast the school. Who IBU? www.facebook.com/922716137773390/posts/2145294778848847/

Are they really called leaver and remainer and fell out about the EU politics? The child is called L'evea but how you pronounce that is anyone's guess. Lee-vah? Levv-y-ah? Livvy-ah?

'Does she want a pitch on Philip and Holly sofa'. Ha ha.

£150 trip? They quibble here if it's more than £6!

No, the school is not totally at fault. Saying that absolves the child from any blame whatsoever. I cannot imagine even thinking about this at that age, because I knew it was totally wrong (and that my parents would lose the plot with me). She planned it - took the clothes into school. Her parents seem not to have spotted that so they are quick to shout about other people's failure to notice something, not so loud about their own oversight. Yes, there needs to be a look at exactly how the school does this - is it a policy failure or a failing on this one occasion? Clearly there was an issue somewhere - was she hiding under people's feet for example? Did they do a seatbelt check? But if you bay for blood from the school, all that will happen is teachers will say "I'm not doing another trip. Spend a week away from my own kids, not sleeping properly, and end up being hauled over the coals when a child does something they absolutely know they should not be doing? No thanks."

John Cleese has thee correct response in a Python film. "Dreadful people."

Well that’s going to look good when a future employer Googles the child in 10 years time.

I think people are missing the point. Yes, she shouldn't have been able to sneak onto the coach, yes the school should've done a headcount, and yes she was very cheeky to try it. But she was supposed to be in school. How long before it was noticed that she wasn't where she was supposed to be? Could she have snuck off into town without being missed? That's where the real failure was.

The real failure here is a failure of parenting in rearing such an entitled brat.

This is a 9year-old. It probably seemed like a big adventure and a cunning plan to her - it's the sort of thing naughty children do in books (and it never ends badly). Either her parents wouldn't send her, or couldn't afford to do so, and she decided that she would 'show everyone'. I think it shows some enterprise on her behalf.

This girls is going places Off topic, but recently been to a funeral of a guy who was remembered as "at 10 years of age he ran away from home, and found on the runway of an airport, trying to hitch a flight to Weston-Super-Mare"

I wonder if she attended her morning registration in the school first? Why wasn't she notes to be missing from school either before or after this? The school failing to notice she was both missing and an 'extra' is worrying. I do think the school should have to account for their actions. And I mean the school as a whole, not just that the accountability falls with individual teachers/support staff.

I remember having to bring a change of clothes for a drama exam, it was bulky as hell, her parents would definitely have noticed her bringing her own clothes.

I can see how this could have happened if they didn't count them on to the bus but registered them. There was no safeguarding risk and the child was in no danger at any time. At the first headcount (services) she was spotted. She's clearly a 'spirited child' but no harm done. Staff procedure will be changed to count them on to the bus at the start of the journey too. Going to the papers? Not sure how that is going to help anyone, least of all the child who didn't get to go on a trip she clearly wanted to.

How does one pronounce 'L'Evea' ?

Of course there was a safeguarding risk! Wjat if there has been an accident and they had told them “we have 27 children onboard” meaning one wasn’t rescued? What is one child hasn’t got on at the services so the headcojnt at that pint was right? What if that child had medical issues and no medication? It was a massive safe guarding risk!

If a child is being actively hidden on a coach under people's feet or under a seat they are going to be missed. how would they get on the bus in the first place unless the school isn’t counting people onto the bus? Which is a basic, straightforward safeguarding measure they should always be taking?

Schools don't expect such toxic behaviour from 9 year olds. Increasingly they are going to have to as parents fail to teach their children acceptable behaviour.

From the article it sounds like the school sounds like it has several procedures in place. They took a register which may well have involved a seatbelt check but not a check for hidden kids. It’s not always possible to do a headcount getting in the coach if it’s on a busy road full of parents wanting to tell you last pieces of information. The school did notice she was missing and worked out she was on the bus. I would assume they phoned staff on the bus and located her. She was picked up en route and returned. I’m sure that they will revise their policy or cancel further trips but I don’t think this story is a case for hysteria.

There is no way you can sneak on the bus if the school is doing its job. Unless all of your giggling mates hide you under a seat . . .

Seems to be quire a few failures on all sides-but mainly by the school. Perhaps they should stop doing trips??

Massive safeguarding fail. They should have realised. And done correct head counts even though this can take 3 or 4 attempt when 60 excited bodies wont bloody stand still Little madame should understand the seriousness of her actions. There is blame on both sides. Even my 7yr old understands the importance of the register/ head counting / being where you are supposed to be. The school should be made to answer why it took them so long to notice but the girl and her parents are not innocent in this

Schools don't expect such toxic behaviour from 9 year olds. Toxic? In children's books or films, kids sneak onto ships sailing across the ocean

"Unless all of your giggling mates hide you under a seat . . ." No, because you shouldn't be able to get on the bus in the first place.

Does anyone else remember the days when if you did something wrong at school you would get a rollicking from school and your parents? The days when there were consequences for your actions. In this case school blames the parents, parents blame the school and the kid gets off Scott free and becomes a local celebrity. Pathetic!

I wouldn't be surprised if the school stops all trips after this. The teachers should have counted though, the school trips I've been on the teachers are absolutely paranoid about it especially on the way home! They line them up and count before getting on the coach and then again when they are on board, and ask the children if anyone is missing. However - a determined stowaway with assistance is trickier to spot if no-one actually says 'X is here as well'!

Another example of people completely misunderstanding the whole point of safeguarding procedures. They have to be applied consistently and rigorously. It doesn't matter a jot what the circumstances of the issue are, the policy is there to act as a safety net. The fact that they didn't do a head count means that a child could have sneaked off the bus just as easily and not been missed. The teachers should be thanking their lucky stars that it wasn't a missing child being reported all over the news. The behaviour of the child and the attitude of the parent is an entirely separate issue.