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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Children in classroom early

56 replies

DogsAndGin · 03/05/2022 17:50

Teacher here! My class come in at 8:40am. However, two staff members have children at the school, and send them to my classroom at 8:15 (one is an office lady whose daughter is in my class, and the other is a TA in my classroom, and her child is not in my class or year group).

I really don’t want responsibility for other people’s children before my working hours begin, what if something happened? I feel like they’re taking me for some kind of free before school club.

The TA sometimes stays with her child, but other times says, ‘you stay here and Mrs Dogsandgin will give you a job’. Then I have to find a way to entertain her kid for 25 minutes before I actually start getting paid! She’s done this with previous teachers presumably, without a hitch.

But, even with her remaining in the room with him, having kids in the room changes how I can chat to my teacher pals before we start work. We need to have confidential, blunt, frank and funny conversations and get things off our chest, away from children! I’ve had teachers come in for a chat, see the kids, and turn and walk out. I’m desperate for my pals and my privacy back.

How can I politely request that no children come in before 8:40? Or should I ask the head to communicate it as a policy?

YABU - kids should be able to come into your classroom before you start work

YANBU - you shouldn’t be a free babysitter for your colleagues

OP posts:
AnotherDelphinium · 03/05/2022 17:52

YANBU. This wouldn’t happen in any other profession, so why should it happen in yours?

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/05/2022 17:52

Send them back to their mum. They can help her with jobs /setting up stuff

FridayBluezzzz · 03/05/2022 17:52

I’d go to the Head, i wouldn’t sort it yourself.

KaraVanPark · 03/05/2022 17:53

Keep your class door closed, if they open it tell them your busy and they need to go elsewhere… then carry on with whatever you’re doing. They’ll soon get the message

TerrifiedandWorried · 03/05/2022 17:53

Wouldn't be allowed at our school, they would get a free breakfast club place. Sorry that's not at all helpful but it sounds incredibly annoying. Speak to SLT and ask them to sort.

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 03/05/2022 17:54

Can you not be there some mornings? Or say "you'll need to stay with your mom today I'm off to meet Miss X today, or I've no jobs today maybe your mom has some that will keep you occupied till starting time etc. and after a few days they might get the idea.

nearlyspringyay · 03/05/2022 17:54

Just say no, they need to be in BC if there is one or the parents need to sort childcare. Like everyone else.

Stellaroses · 03/05/2022 17:54

There should be a blanket rule that no children can be in their class before a certain time, for me it’s 8:50. I teach a colleague’s child but she would never send them in early. Very cheeky but if they’ve done it before they may think it’s the norm. Ask the Head to make it clear to the entire staff.

RaraRachael · 03/05/2022 17:55

Absolutely not. I have a couple of colleagues whose children attend our school and they keep them in their own classroom till about 8.30 and send them out to the playground once other children start arriving.

With out previous HT, on a rainy day the seniors went to the hall where they were supervised by PSAs but the little ones went to their own classroom where the teachers were meant to look after them. As you say, what it something happens - we're not responsible till 8.55.

Thankfully we've got a new HT who has stopped this nonsense.

Abraxan · 03/05/2022 17:56

YANBU

Both parents should be looking after their own child for the time before school starts. They shouldn't be sending them to you or into your classroom (incase of the TA unless she is present and supervising the child.)

If you need to speak to another teacher/staff in your room, ask the TA to leave with the child whilst the conversation happens.

If they are unable to supervise their child during this time then they should be using a childminder/before school care like everyone else who works has to.

How can I politely request that no children come in before 8:40?
This is what I could do first in that situation, if you have an otherwise normal working relationship with them. Just explain that you need to get on with work and can't be supervising their child. I'd make a point of keeping leaving the room to 'grab something' or do photocopying, or to go and see other staff in their room - just until they realise.

Or should I ask the head to communicate it as a policy?
If they aren't approachable to ignore your polite request, then definitely. The head could put it into the weekly memo/staff notices surely?

PixieAndProsecco · 03/05/2022 17:57

I teach in the school my children attend.
The eldest could go to breakfast club, it wouldn't be free, but the youngest (nursery age) couldn't.

I make the decision to get I'm very late in the morning to ensure that my children aren't hanging about for ages - they have about 10 minutes at most in the morning.
They will stay in my room and not go to their class until it is time.

It does mean I need to stay later at the other side to ensure I am properly prepared for the morning but it is the only manageable way.

If they need to stay after school the eldest is able to stay in my room if I need to pop elsewhere, however the youngest comes with me - even to the toilet or printer - as he is my responsibility. I wouldn't offload him on another adult.

autumnboys · 03/05/2022 17:57

YANBU, this is annoying! I would talk to the Head.

ldontWanna · 03/05/2022 17:58

Is there a breakfast club at the school?

Go and talk to the head . Tell them you don't feel comfortable and are worried about safeguarding, especially if you need to leave the room and leave them alone. It interferes with your work and morning routine.

Overthebow · 03/05/2022 17:59

YANBU. Just tell the ta and other staff no when they come to your room to drop their DC off. Why are you putting up with it?

IsabelaMadrigal · 03/05/2022 18:00

You shouldn't have to have responsibility for other people's children before school starts. I'd expect the parents of the children to be with them, unless you have agreed otherwise.
The most wonderful ta I ever worked in had her daughter in the room with her until it was time to go to class. I think that is fine, it's her classroom/working space just as much as it was mine(teacher) and the girl was beautifully behaved and no problems. She sometimes did jobs for me, but again, her mum had responsibility for her. I didn't begrudge her a place to be: support staff can feel like they have no base so if I had to take adult conversations next door I would. She gave back as well and wouldn't complain if the child heard something silly or inappropriate.

Ultimately, it's the safeguarding aspect of it(you can't look after a child when you are preparing for lessons) that is the issue, not the child being in the space. You wouldn't be allowed to leave a child unsupervised in the working day, so the same should apply. It's different if the parent chooses to leave their child in the library etc. As they take on the responsibility themselves(although many schools wouldn't allow it)

Does your school have a breakfast club? That would be the obvious solution to me.

Personally, I'd talk to the head re policies as I wouldn't want to sour relationships with colleagues.

TerrifiedandWorried · 03/05/2022 18:01

We have to be available to do our jobs when in work so no looking after your own child in the morning either.

ScottishBeeswax · 03/05/2022 18:03

YANBU
That would annoy me.

Can you close your door and put a "Private, meeting in progress" notice on the door?
Make sure anyone who needs to knows just to come in as the "meeting " is actually with them!
If you are in on your own and a child opens the door just pretend to be on confidential phone call and ask the to return to their mummy as you are on the phone.

You could tell the offending staff that you will be having meetings in the classroom from 8.15 so could they please make sure little Lucy and Ben don't come in.
They'll soon get the message!
And tell your Head that's what your doing.

Good luck

Gilmorehill · 03/05/2022 18:09

I’m a TA and I find this very annoying too. This happened in the class I was in last year. Personally I think these children should wait in the reception area. Talk to your SLT.

Original poster
DogsAndGin · 03/05/2022 18:11

Thank you so much everyone. I’ll talk to the head.

OP posts:
Veryverycalmnow · 03/05/2022 18:16

YANBU
I find this annoying. I cover a class sometimes with the TA's kids hanging around. They are sometimes asking for jobs to do but I've had to ask them not to mess with things I've set up on occasion which is really irritating. We should be able to set up before the class arrives.

ButtockUp · 03/05/2022 18:16

You need to speak to your Head.

It's not acceptable and it's intrusive.

The children need to go to Breakfast Club or stay with parent until school properly opens.
If you're a teacher then supervise your own children.
It used to drive me mad. I'd have to stay in the classroom while teacher photocopied or attended an early morning meeting.
Meaning I couldn't prep for my small group work/SEN groups.

It's a silent problem as no one wants to offend colleagues or demanding parents... yes, some children were allowed in extra early as parents didn't want their children in the playground, in the morning, so the teachers would find 'early morning jobs ' for them.

Drove me bats.

LorenzoVonMatterhorn · 03/05/2022 18:18

Send them back.

‘sorry Im not available at the moment. See you when school starts.’

PeterPomegranate · 03/05/2022 18:18

YANBU. I find it surprising school staff can even have their own children with them while at their workplace.

InkyPinkyParlez · 03/05/2022 18:20

Our school has always had before school "helpers" - a handful of kids who come in early, often because they find the playground too difficult at the beginning of the day, or because they are children of staff, but it's sold as a job. They sort out chairs and books etc. However that would probably only be 10mins early, not 25. Before school "helping" got my son into school on many a difficult day.

With the staff members I always assumed it was a little swap for the fact they often start work slightly ahead of their official start time, or they had an awkward 10 mins to cover. 25 mins does seem a lot but I wonder if you'll just have your TA arriving later, if you insist?

Tryingnottocry22 · 03/05/2022 18:21

Not on. I agree they need to go to Breakfast club.