to expect the staff at After School Club not to stand smoking outside the door

[mumtoone]

A significant number of the staff at ds's after school club are stood outside the door smoking when I pick ds up each night. This is the main door through which parents and children must pass. Am I being a bit unreasonable in thinking that this is not good practice? I couldn't imagine a school or nursery doing the same so why is it OK for an after school club? The staff ratios are not being compromised as far as I can see as they are usually smoking when a reasonable number of children have left so that isn't the issue. My concern is they are role models who are smoking in front of impressionable Primary aged children. The staff are only working 3-6pm so it does not seem unreasonable to expect them to go that long without a cigarette. What do you think?

Yanbu

I would hate that

I think YANBU and that you should have a word with the school about it. Is it a club linked with the school?

Yes, the club is linked to the school. I'm trying to work out how to tackle the issue as diplomatically as possible. Thankfully my son's only response so far has been to say "yuk"!

Your right...it doesn't llok very professional...but it is not actually illegal.

If I was the owner or manager I would look for an alternative place - just to presevre my image...but like I say it is not illegal so not anything that can actually be done about itl=.

I was expecting to come into this thread all gung ho and say you were being totally unreasonable.

But actually, you're not.

Having been a long term smoker in the past I have great sympathy for smokers nowadays, but three hours is not too long to go without a fag at work, and standing at the front door is completely unacceptable imo.

could you perhaps have a quiet word with the person who runs the club and ask if a designated smoking area could be set up somewhere out of sight of any children?

that's diplomatic

yanbu. have bought up with headteacher regards the TAs standing outside our school gates in school logo coats smoking away - but apparently there's nothing she can do.

The whole of our school grounds up to the gates are a no smoking area. I don't know whether this applies to all schools but if it does then they shouldn't be smoking in any part of the school grounds.

The slight tricky aspect is that the manager is one of the offenders.