Advise needed - unsupervised junior age children at pick-up

[fgr]

My DS goes to a Private school where the children are brought to an area by the carpark which is chaos at pick up with cars reversing scrambling for a space etc. The children are not supposed to enter the carpark until they are handed over by a teacher.

Tonight for about the 10th time this year I have turned up to find the children running riot as there is no teacher present. I have complained each time about this and the last excuse I got from the Head of Juniors was that she "Forgot" that she was on handover duty!
I have just written a really heavy email to the headmaster saying he is failing in his duty of care etc. However he is probably fed up with us parents moaning all the time so if you mumsnetters have any advice on the legal situation I wouldbe grateful xxx

I doubt there is a legal situation unless you've signed a contract there.
Our state juniors they can walk home from the first day in year 3, and a few do. The teachers release them from the classrooms and it's up to the parents whether they meet them at the classroom (very very few after the first week), at the gates (a few) down the road at a little park (a lot) or walk home in groups/by themselves (sizable number).

Running riot in the car park? Or in the play ground area?
Makes a difference.
Legally I would have thought they are responsible for them until officially off the premises. It would be in the schools own interest to supervise til picked up, if a child is injured it would be a compensation nightmare.

The junior playground doubles up as a car park and the kids have to wait in the quiet area which branches off and is open onto the carpark.

Absolutely, they shouldn't be running riot in a car park.

I think the Head needs to tell you what the school's policy is.

I can't get my head around this. Are they let out before end of school or are the parents late? If parents get there on time don't they just grab their child as they come out?

Car parking is limited and they are let out at 3.45 but often there is a queue on the drive so they are supposed to be supervised until 4.15 and thenif a parent is still late get taken to teatime club

I'd complain. He needs to sort it out.

DS private school was like this, right down to carpark/playground being same space (no choice). They had generally lax standards for Elf&Safety. I liked it, I hate safety first culture. If you want Anal standards for Risk Assessment then go to state schools.

YY- private school here too.

I turned up a number of times to pick up from sports club which finished at 4.30. I was always there a few minutes before and often passed the person running it leaving through the gates with the DCs all running riot, unsupervised, in the playground.

I believe school has a duty of care whilst the DCs are on school property within official school hours, which includes after school clubs. But your situation is slightly different. However I would be complaining, if they say they are supervised they should be supervised. Get them to clarify the situation then you have it in writing.

lljkk You are so right. Local primary now won't allow children to enter via the steps, they have to walk up the ramp. It's due to the many deaths and injuries incurred in the 200 years since the school was first built, by children using steps .

Secret I am the last person to be anal about health and safety. However, there should be a teacher supervising handover at the end of the day. Only last week we had a letter from school warning us that prowlers had been spotted hanging around the school and to be diligent. Yesterday a child could have easily been snatched by a stranger and the alarm would not have been raised for a good while. If you are happy with slack security that is up to you!

Secret sorry, I meant to reply to lijkk xx