To think this is a strange set up/policy?

[Newtothesystem]

So I moved to Ireland late last year with my dh (Irish but grew up in uk) and two DD’s age 12 and 9
DD12 is in 6th class (final year of primary school) and informed me yesterday after starting back from the holidays that her 6th class are the “minders” this term. When I asked what that meant she informed me that they are split into twos and they go to mind the younger classes whilst they eat their break and lunch! I asked where the teacher was and she said oh she goes on break but there is a teacher in the corridor who “sticks her head in every so often” now I asked around and this seems to be the done thing! AIBU to think that they shouldn’t be leaving a class of 4yr olds being minded by an 11/12 yr old whilst they eat!!??

My English school did this. My kid's schools did too.

Top year minded rainy day play etc.

The staff room was seconds away.

I'm irish, if it was raining and the yard couldn't be used we always did this, there would usually be a teacher doing the rounds. It's no different to yard duty really, how else do the teachers get their lunch break?

This happened when I was at school and I'm 30 this year. I loved it.

Sounds like a recipe for poor supervision and bullying to me. I’d definitely query the safeguarding aspects around this.

And teachers get their break via lunchtime supervisors. Adult and paid.

We supervised wet plays and lunches when I was top year primary (so two 10-11year olds in charge of 30 younger kids in a classroom) when I was at school in England and I'm over 50. It's good to give them some responsibility.

Our school does this too. Though in my daughters case she had to mind the class just below hers so found that tough going! She was there at the start of the day before registration and during break time.
My son minded much younger kids and they loved him.

It happened when I was at school, I'm 30 now and both my kids go to the same school I did, it still happens now. I've never really thought it was a great idea, seems to be the only thing they can come up with though

I wouldn't be happy about this! 10/11 year olds need a break too!

They do eat, they just supervise at the same time. It’s a 15 min morning break and a half an hour lunch break so I’m guessing it would be hard to get a supervisor for that. (They don’t seem to have midday supervisors here! )I don’t know...

I did this when i was final year at primary school and loved it!

Yep. Totally normal prefect duties at my dd school. It's good for them, helps them grow in confidence for being trusted with younger ones before they move on. Big fish in a small pond type thing.

My DD is 24 but this used to happen when she was at primary. I don't think it was the whole of lunch time but they would have a class of younger children assigned to them and at the end of a break they would go to that class room and keep an eye on them until the teacher arrived. I think on wet playtimes they were supposed to spend the whole break with them.

This was certainly something she did in Y6 and maybe even Y5. DD never minded and I just viewed it as getting them to take on some responsibilities.

Quite amused once when we were out shopping and some random 5 year old who we had never seen before rushed up to DD and gave her a big hug! The little girl's mother was a bit taken aback too.

Not in ireland but our year 6's do this, they love it. they are 'guardians'. Helps instill responsibility and they facilitate fair play. Can't see the problem. Our school is tiny though.

Totally normal here in Ireland. My three dds were all minders and loved the responsibility of the position and they will still mention 'minders' they were particularly fond of. It's a lovely way of developing a sense of responsibility in children as they get a little bit older.

I can see the good points about it I suppose. I guess it’s just because in the uk school they had a midday supervisor and the teachers did small break.

Not for lunch itself but when DD was in Y6 two years ago they went to the Infants and supervised during break and lunch playtime. They were split in groups so did it once a week but could go more often when one of the scheduled children wasn’t in.

DD loved it, especially for wet play, they read to the younger ones, played games, helped them with school work as well like practicing spelling or finishing a craft. The head was very keen on this and I think it promoted quite a lot of independence in the older ones. There were always teacher not far away.

As the parent if a 4 year old, I would not be happy with this. What if one of the younger kids started choking or something?

It was done in NZ too, my eldest absolutely loved it. Born blackboard monitor that she is.

I think giving the older kids responsibility is a good idea but I'd worry a bit about maintaining control of a load of four year olds eating. At that age there might be some who need help cutting things up, or shove too much in their mouth in one go, or get distracted and eat nothing.

When do the older kids get their break then? I think it’s a cheek personally. What I’d something happens to one of the younger ones. Surely this is a safeguarding issue.

My DS’s school does this too. He is a “buddy” for one of the younger classes. It’s only when it’s too wet for them to go outside.

I’m Scottish and the p7s were “monitors” as we called them. They looked after the younger ones when it was wet and they had to stay indoors at playtime and lunchtime.

It was a real privilege to be asked!

The last year at our primary school used to do this on wet break days. We thought that it was great fun. It would have been impossible to round up volunteers from the parents for a 15 minute gap.

Yeah we dont have mid day supervisors over here.

If you aren't happy for your kid to so it, tell the teacher but I'm 38 and remember doing it, they aren't doing anything other than sitting in the class and if there is an issue, getting the teacher who is in the corridor.