I am not Mary Poppins, and I don't like being put in this position!

[Peleus]

When I take DC to school, we are usually in the playground 10 minutes before the bell goes so as to get a parking space. We are usually the first there, and the playground is unsupervised until the bell goes. Another parent in DC's class arrives the same time as us, bringing with them another child, which obviously they have assumed duty of care for. They then also join the line (school discourages chasing around before lessons.) As soon as we appear, the parent shoots off, and doesn't even ask me if I mind looking out for their child and the one they are supposed to bee looking after. This morning, yet another parent left his DC, but he doesn't do it every day and I didn't mind because he asked! I was the only parent there. All the children (my own DC included) got overexcited while in the line and there was some horseplay. I could see that there was potential for someone to get hurt and so made a judgement call to speak to the children about this. But I don't like being put in this position. I am there to make sure my own DC goes into school safely, not to oversee other people's DCs.

I foresee being placed in this position most days, especially as most parents arrive with their DCs just as the bell goes.
We could arrive later, but then parking would be harder with the potential to actually arrive late.

Should I tell school about this? I don't relish a confrontation with the parent.

You need to raise this with the school I think. The person who has left their children without a word to you (as in asking if it’s ok) are leaving them unsupervised and I know my children’s school have swiftly dealt with parents like this before.

Either stay in the car or arrive later a couple of times.

YANBU. Speak to the class teacher so they or another staff member can speak to the parent.

I can't see where in this process this person is putting you in charge?

They are just walking away and leaving their kids....yes this is against the policy, but that doesn't mean you should assume responsibility.

Maybe I am just hard nosed, but other people's kids are not randomly my responsibility just because I am in the vicinity.

Yabu.
The parent hasn't asked you to look after their child, you have decided for yourself to take the responsibility. That's up to you. Many parents make the active choice to start encouraging independence, and once they're in the right place, simply waiting a few minutes seems a good place to start. That's up to them.

*in the right place in the school line

You could walk off with your kids when the other kids arrive. Back to your car. Making it very clear by your actions. If she leaves them anyway stay in your car. Tell the teacher these kids were unsupervised.
You could have a discreet word with the teacher and tell them which children.
You could wait in the car.

I imagine if you approach the school at most they'll send an email out reminding parents to stay with their child until their handed over to the teacher at X o clock. I would just wait in the car or go for a 5 minute walk. You'll break the habit of the person doing it every day.

@anyway encourage independence? At age 5 by leaving them totally unsupervised with no adult outside? That is illegal for a very good reason. And totally slack parenting. Basically neglectful.

Stay in the car. Make it a time for playing a special game of I Spy or something.

This thread has made me remember a thread a while ago, where a parent couldn't get a parking space outside a school, and lambasted all those parents who parked up early, and then hung around the playground, thus hogging the space, rather than dropping and going quickly. Iirc, many agreed with her, most didn't.

would both raise it with the teacher, and wait I need the car , and then have a nose to see what CF parent does when nobody else is in tthe yard.

Tell the school. When dd was in year 1 one of the mum's dropped her child outside the gates and drove off every day. I told school and after that they sent several reminders that only year 5 and 6 children could come to school by themselves. I don't know of they spoke to her directly or the general emails worked, bit it did stop.

At age 5 by leaving them totally unsupervised with no adult outside? That is illegal for a very good reason.

Illegal? Which law?

When you're in line, are you in enclosed school grounds? Or could the other child/ren run out on to the road?

If it's enclosed, and there's no danger of the child running off, then you don't have to assume responsibility for them at all.

If they are being left by their parent(s) and they could run out of the school grounds, then you need to either speak to the parent about it - 'oi, come back here'! type of thing - or the school.

But don't assume the role if there is no need to.

I’ll occasionally take a child off a parent who needs to dash on our way to the gates but for one, I’m asked and two, I agree to it! Anything otherwise is ridiculous. And you shouldn’t have to sit in your car either; a bit of fresh air before school all day is a good thing.

As others, I would have a word with the teacher and if necessary the head. If you’re up for a bit of confrontation maybe say to the parent that you’re okay watching little Tommy in an emergency or as a one-off but can not be responsible for him every day.

I think you are making a bigger deal about this than is warranted. Simply do not join the line and watch from your car if they drop and leave when you are not there.

Presumably if it is raining, you are happy to stay in your car despite your child's desire to be first in the queue?

You were right to raise it with the school, as it is the school who needs to be clear about who has responsibility for children left on their premises. I'm fairly sure, you will find that it isn't you!

Have they actually left the children with you or have they left them as they're ready to go in as that is two different things.

At my DDs school (she's also reception) we can just drop them off in the playground from reception and leave them. They have a member of staff on the gate. It sounds like that's what's going on.

Stay in your car.

WTF leaves their 5 year old child and someone else's in a crowded play ground with a total stranger. Supposing the child was to walk out the playground. It'd be easy to miss them if you turned away for even a second. Its massively unfair to put that Onus on you
What are these idiots thinking. That's no slur on you BTW, op, but They don't you. I doubt the other child's mother would be pleased about that.

Another thing I will say though, and This is about the school
I think they with the greatest respect need to start getting a bit real. If theyre honestly expecting 4 and 5 year olds to stand bolt right like Regimental Soldiers, erm News Flash
Kids play!!!

Only one way to handle. School. Tell them kids are unsupervised, people delegating parental responsibility to you without asking. We had this at our school. You have to wait for line to go in. Teacher took to asking the children of persistent offenders who was with them.

Complain to school (express your concern) about the other children left unsupervised. do not take on the responsibility , you are not paid and insured for this.

I'd stay in the car and often do for different reasons but I'd perhaps say either

We're not allowed to leave our children unsupervised - if they try to bat it to you have a response like 'oh sorry I didn't realise I was your lackie / assistant / child minder etc - had you asked I'd have said no it's your responsibility

Or

Hi - you're probably not aware but your child plays up after you've gone and it's dangerous as they may get hurt/follow you off premises etc ... just so you know as nobody is minding them

They're being CF for assuming!