P1 discipline

[P1mum]

Hello so just wondering if this sounds about right compared to other schools or not? First time P1 mum so it's all new to me.

So kids start P1 here at age 4, we don't do reception class here.

A few mums been have pulled on more than one occasion by the teacher to say their child was 'being silly', not listening properly and just generally being a bit hyper and 'silly'.

A few of them today had a time out and had to sit on the bench at play time instead of playing- they did get some play time afterwards however.

A few of the mums have commented saying this seems very extreme on 4 year olds and they are very young to be called silly for being a 4 year old and that time out is too extreme.

I was of the opinion at first that they are there to learn and if they are naughty the teacher needs to step in and do something but now I'm not so sure.

Is this too extreme for the age? Or is this about right for the age of them? It would be reception class in England I'm guessing but here it's nursery then straight to P1 at age 4 or 5. So some are very young and not yet 4.5.

Is that Scotland or NI?
Although in Scotland they will be at least 4½years old when they start as age cut off is at the end of February

I’d say it’s too much, P1 is about learning school routines etc and 4/5 year olds are silly by nature. I’d have a chat to the school about expectations of P1 children.

A few of them today had a time out and had to sit on the bench at play time instead of playing- they did get some play time afterwards however.

That sounds wholly counter intuitive to me - they need playtime to burn off energy, teacher isn’t doing themselves any favours if she’s trying to manage silly, inattentive behaviour by not letting them play at play time.

I don't see the problem with this. However, I also teach first grade. (Mine are 6, first year at school, though.) When I tell parents that their children have been a bit "silly", it's mostly to stop them from worrying that their children have done something awful or are behaving in a way that's completely unacceptable. They generally aren't. Thru are behaving like first graders. My class know by now that if they are being silly and are stopping us from learning, there's a consequence. This might be a few minutes in time out. (My son's nursery uses time out, too.)
To be fair on my little people, while I had to speak to some parents quite frequently in the first few weeks, this has settled down. (I told parents this would probably happen when I had them all in for parents evening.) I haven't had to speak to anyone regarding behaviour in weeks now. My class are very well behaved and even my "silly" ones are managing to calm down after a warning.

Very much depends what they are classing as silly. Some ‘silly’ behaviour in p1 can be incredibly disruptive and unsafe. At what point would it be appropriate to have consequences for behaviours that are ‘silly’? Time out won’t have been the first port of call for the teacher. There will have been other interventions prior to this.

Depends what silly means. Silliness at playtime is usually fine but silliness while the teacher read a story wouldn't. In my experience there's lots of verbal warnings before they use measures like missing some play.

I'd assume that the teacher wanted the parent to know that the child missed some play because of this rather than something more serious like hitting another pupil.

@dementedpixie

Is that Scotland or NI? Although in Scotland they will be at least 4½years old when they start as age cut off is at the end of February

Cut off is end of June so some children are 4 years and 2 months when they start

@Dizzyhedgehog

I don't see the problem with this. However, I also teach first grade. (Mine are 6, first year at school, though.) When I tell parents that their children have been a bit "silly", it's mostly to stop them from worrying that their children have done something awful or are behaving in a way that's completely unacceptable. They generally aren't. Thru are behaving like first graders. My class know by now that if they are being silly and are stopping us from learning, there's a consequence. This might be a few minutes in time out. (My son's nursery uses time out, too.) To be fair on my little people, while I had to speak to some parents quite frequently in the first few weeks, this has settled down. (I told parents this would probably happen when I had them all in for parents evening.) I haven't had to speak to anyone regarding behaviour in weeks now. My class are very well behaved and even my "silly" ones are managing to calm down after a warning.

There is quite a difference in age between 4 and 6. None of us were aware they used time out as a discipline method - not saying I'm against was just surprised to hear it

If I is at playtime I imagine a time out is to help them calm down a bit so they are ready to listen. The trouble with silliness at playtime is that although it is often totally without malice by the child involved and done through high spirits and the need to let off steam, it can be dangerous to other quieter children who may get knocked down or buffeted about in the general melee. My DD had her chin split open by the silliness of other children being over rambunctious in the playground - she still has the scar 25 years later. No one set out to hurt her, but they had been told to stop rushing about wildly and failed t do as they were told (this was 5yr olds.)
Its a learning process, children are becoming members of the school society they need to start to become aware of others around them, they need to learn to be quiet or slow down when they are told to do so, so all the children can enjoy their time in class and in the playground.

I would guess that all of those mothers who are raising this as a concern have all called their child silly at some point. Or told them to look where they are going or stop waving that around or look before they do something. And have given a sanction if the warning is repeatedly ignored.

Its about learning class rules. Usually there are a couple of warnings then a consequence, might be 5 mins off playtime etc. Teacher is telling parents otherwise they come storming in demanding why wee Jimmy was on time out,