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Advice please re: complaint @private school Part II Long Sorry

15 replies

lala21 · 23/11/2011 15:30

In my previous post I was unable to give details but asked for and got some invaluable advise from fellow MNs.

Basically we are following through a complaint and have requested a full explanation as to how my DS 2 1/2 managed to be missed by staff and walked out of school, along the main road and was found by another parent who just happened to be running late on the lunchtime pick up.

This has been an absolute nightmare compounded by their rather laisser faire attitude of the teacher and assistant who when asked if she had seen DS when I came to pick him up answered. ' Oh he's probably taken himself of to eat with the other children. He's very good like that he often takes himself off to the toilet.'
I ran outside and saw parent walking up with him. C/T said ' I am so sorry' walked back in and I was left shaking and other parent calmed me down. She then told me which road he was found on. In shock I got in the car( I was parked on double yellow ) and moved to a parking space.

I told the secretary who said she was speak to the principle straight away. That was two days ago, yesterday am DH and me went in to have a meeting that I asked for not suggested by the head off course we got the tears and we are so sorry which is off course genuine.

They then proceeded to talk through what they could do to secure the gates, health and safety etc amongst themselves oblivious to the fact that it needed to be thoroughly investigated on paper. No report, no details from other parent ( this was his 9th day there).

They told us the numbers that were being dismissed it appears that there were about 25-30 ( could not give direct amount) 3 years and under waiting to be dismissed. Another assistant had to deal with an emergency and so CT had to deal with them all. We've already looked on the EYFS and there is clearly ambiguity over ratios with a mixed age which we were unaware off.

Then when I thought back to the comment that he often takes himself to the toilet by himself I realised in horror that he has to come out of his class, walk down 6 concrete steps, walk across a courtyard and go into the other building where the toilet is. Hence why the friday before he came home with poo all over his leg, trousers, bottom of his top ( i complained about this too) because he'd tried to clean himself.

So it beggers belief as to how many times they let him and or others wander around.
While the principle was acting out the home time routine with the class teacher, the head teacher said ' As a mother of two small children myself you must think of your son'.

We are not going to let this go: BUT other MNS out there
They have just called to advise us that the CCTV footage has been retrieved:
How do I watch that CCTV footage? How can I even go back to the school? where does the strength come from to have another meeting with them?
PS: They don't know yet but I think they now do he will not be returning. What about the other little ones?
I feel so sick
Any words of wisdom, anything welcomed

OP posts:
littleomar · 23/11/2011 15:35

called ofsted yet? or is this not in the UK?

SantieMaggie · 23/11/2011 15:36

I don't have any advice to offer but didn't want th thread to go unnoticed. This is horrific!

Maybe ask advice from SS/OFSTED?

lala21 · 23/11/2011 15:37

Yes in UK , called ofsted this am, given details off addresses etc, we have just requested a full explanation and asked for complaints procedure, we need something in writing from them ofsted said otherwise legal stuff gets tricky

thank you

OP posts:
littleomar · 23/11/2011 15:42

and poor you btw.

the toilet thing would be grounds for complaint on its own. what do they do with 2.5 year olds who aren't toilet trained fgs?

MollieO · 23/11/2011 15:48

If I were you I would write to the school setting out what was discussed in your meeting with them. Then you will have written record, which they will receive. If they choose not to respond in writing then that is their problem and Ofsted will be very interested.

Is it a private school or just a private nursery? If it is a private school (ie goes beyond nursery age) I would also report it to the ISI or whichever governing body it is part of.

pimmsgalore · 23/11/2011 19:12

you could try SS as this is clearly a situation where a child has been put at risk, they are responsible for the children in their care and as such SS should be able to put the fear of God into them. If you ring the NSPCC they would be very interested, do it asking for advice and they will then ask you for the school name etc and take it upon themselves to inform the relevant authorities and then it will all be anonymous.

lala21 · 23/11/2011 19:16

Thank you
It is a pre prep school in uk that takes children from 2 1/2 to 7. Yes just waiting for DH to come home to sit down as we were up last night drafting writing down what happened etc.

Thank you I will keep you updated

OP posts:
Clayhead · 23/11/2011 19:18

What is the ambiguity over ratios? I thought

2 year olds - 1:4
3-4 year olds - 1:8

You can mix the ages but the ratio for younger children takes precedence.

Therefore, for example,
If you have 15 three year olds and one two year old you need 3 staff (1 for eight three year olds, one for the two year old and three others, one for the remaining four children).

fallenoverflowerpot · 23/11/2011 19:24

Clayhead, is that right?

"Therefore, for example,
If you have 15 three year olds and one two year old you need 3 staff (1 for eight three year olds, one for the two year old and three others, one for the remaining four children)."

I thought it would be
1 staff member for 8 x 3 yr old
1 staff member for 1 x 2 year old plus 6 x 3 yr old

(oh, but actually I agree with you that for 15 x 3 year olds and 1 x 2 year old you'd need 3 staff...)

ggirl · 23/11/2011 19:30

no advice I'm afraid but I am so shocked at both incidents!!

takeonboard · 23/11/2011 19:55

Jeez, its shocking!
I don't blame you for not taking him back there, but what about the other parents do they know about this?

Clayhead · 24/11/2011 06:43

The staff member with the two year old can only have another three children with them as the ratio for two year olds is 1:4, even if the others are 3 or 4.

Colleger · 24/11/2011 09:02

I'm shocked your child was allowed to sit in poo, and dirty clothing all day. Occassionally when DS has accidents he was given an immediate shower and spare clothes were put on him. We also had an indepth "what happened" even though I was relaxed about the whole thing. He's small to be walking down concrete steps.

lala21 · 24/11/2011 10:41

Clayhead I know we were looking at the statute for EYFS.
Takeonboard re: the other children: I am compiling a huge report with all the observations because ( I am a teacher myself although been off for a couple of years with kids and career break) So I am forwarding my letter of complaint and statement of events and concerns to head, governors, OFsted, DfE, SS and ISC. It's just getting worse and worse the more we seek advice and what advisory boards are telling us. We're in shock as a Mum I can't express the stress, but coming as a past teacher I also have a duty of care for the other children.

I'm going to have to try and approach the other parent as they have not even got her statement from her. But again we have been advised to wait until we have admittance of gross negligence but as its not a maintained school they could swallow everything. So waiting on the periphery is sickening.
I will keep you updated and thank you all
x x x

OP posts:
RosemaryandThyme · 24/11/2011 20:33

Am just wondering why you or other parents haven't quesioned the hike to the toilets before ?
surely parents look round before signing their child up for this school ?

Also though if it were me I'd be on the phone to our local newspaper - could you contact your local paper ? would do far more to warn parents than contacting Ofsted.

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