DD's primary school - main gate left unlocked during day

[dinny]

Is this normal? Is your school gate locked? Feel concerned, what can I do or am (as dh reckons) being overly concerned...? tia, Dinny

I'd speak to the class teacher. They know the children much better than the head teacher and they are the one who will make sure they go in partners.

ooh, friend of mine is in that area, Crunchie (near Cambridge?)

Crunchie - I agree! We molly coddle children so much that when they get to secondary school and have to cross roads alone they get killed on the bloody road, because we have driven them everywhere. I had friends at primary school whose children had NEVER been out alone or walked anywhere or been left in their home on their own. Incredible, why are we wrapping them up in cotton wool and what are we afraid of? It is very unlikely that someone will walk into the school who constitutes a threat. The threat comes from children being unable to take care of themselves at a very basic level. Sounds harsh, but that is my opinion - I am sure the school locks the entrance door anyway.

Sorry, but I just feel that we are getting a bit silly in this country on the safety front and worrying about things that don't really constitute a realistic threat to our kids' safety.

dinny, think you definitely need to speak to the teacher about this. If you are not thoroughly satisfied with the response, I would write to/or go and see the principal.

Our school gates are neither shut nor locked - there is constant stream of legitimate visitors/parents/teachers all day. however junior age children play in fenced off areas of the grounds and even when in the playground R/Y1 children (and I think Y2) are escorted to the loo by an Y3-Y5 pupil.

Our school has buzzer sytem on the gates to get in.
Which is great. However theres a business next door, taxi drivers who have 2 portacabins on top of each other...and the windows over look the playground.
Always wondered how and why it was allowed...turns out they never got permission at all

DS2 and DS3's primary school gate is locked, with a buzzer and cameral entry system and I'm glad about that. I would normally be in the crunchie/Jennypog camp on such issues, but I do think schools need to be careful because having so many children in one place does attract the kind of people one does not want around children. There have been attempted attacks on children near the school in the past.

My secondary school had one of the flashers from the nearby park in the changing rooms once. The worst bit about the incident was the Headmistress's advice in assembly the next day. "If you see someone in the school that you do not know, ask whether you can help him".

I think if you are worried you need to voice the worry to make it go away. Talk to the head re your concerns or once when I was a bit unsure I spoke to a school governor that I knew and that was helpful as a little more indirect.

I hate the school gates being open as they go striaght into the playground and I know it is a low risk but a preventatble one.

Things can and do happen and forethought can prevent them. I would say something, even if you are making a fuss it is your opinion as a parent adn therefore valid.

We are in Surrey too. Our dd goes to nursery which is part of the lower school. It has two entrances - one into the park, which is locked during the day and one out onto the road which is open during the day. Both have cctv.

The junior school which ds attends is in the same park, with all gates opening onto park locked during the day. The children are also not allowed near the gate to wave to people walking in the park (which are mostly mums doing the lunchtime nursery/lower school pick up...)

School buildings are locked with buzzer entry system. All in all it feels very safe without looking like a prison iyswim.

Gates and buildings unlocked, and to be honest, although it's convenient for me and mine, i don't feel comfortable with it.

I am the least concerned about safety of anyone I know, let my 6yo cycle on his own, sometimes haven't used carseats, etc. So I am def. not a mollycoddler. Just think the school is too vulnerable without locks, given it's a concentrated place of children.

right, saw the headmistress today at drop-off and asked her what happens. she was v reassuring and said lunch is split into two sittings by age (this school is infant) and when one sitting is eating, the other is out playing on the field and playground. There are four lunchtime supervisors - 2 in dining hall, one in playground and one in field. so whoever is going to the loo is in view all the time. sooo, feel much reassured now. thanks, all, for your posts.

am a bit in now though as two of dd's friends (and my good friends) are considering moving to a school in next village as it has a split reception by age (15 in each class) as they feel ours is too big (30)... our school is about to turn into a primary (year by year) and has building works till Dec so everything a bit weird this term. tell me I shouldn't move dd, she does seem v settled, but one of the children in question is her best friend (it's an infant schoo they ae moving to, btw)

sorry, am ridiculously emotional lately!

if your child is settled I wouldn't move her. Split reception is reat, but it is only one year she will gain and you are already into the system in this school and she sounds happy.

Even if her bestfriedn leaves at this age friendships are quite trasissant - could be she will make friends very soon - my guess is she will.

Don't worry about being concerned - it is stressful when they start school - you should ask all you want and don't be swayed by what others are doing - go with what's best for you and yours.

for 'reat'
read 'great'

go and have a look at the other school and form an impression of it. If she moves with her best friend, I shouldn't think it would be a problem for her but it has to be an improvement on the present school, otherwise there is no point in it for you or dd obviously