Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

Whole class detention for year 1

31 replies

MinnieMountain · 07/02/2020 21:14

DS told me that his whole class is being kept in for 2 lunchtimes next week for being silly. Part of his class was kept in this week for mucking around.

Isn't it a bit harsh to keep 5/6yos in like this? It sounds like the silly behaviour has been getting worse but surely there are better ways of dealing with it?

OP posts:
BottleOfJameson · 07/02/2020 22:29

That's a completely ridiculous punishment. In Y1 they need a way more immediate consequence and entire class punishments never work either. I would be very unhappy with any of the children missing out on their playtime even if they were being silly. Of they don't get to run around and relax their behaviour will be worse in the afternoon anyway.

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 07/02/2020 22:36

Exactly. It's nearly half term, so they're probably all a bit fed up of being told what to do.

I suppose there's nothing I can do about it though.

OP posts:
Babyfg · 07/02/2020 22:41

Agreed. I don't agree with taking away play time. Children aren't dealing in the class situation, they're kept in with no mental break, stay in the same room and are expected to mentally have a clean slate for the next session.

I'm a ks1 teacher and at most took a couple of minutes off play time (which the child would have a timer to be clear on how long they were In for). It benefits me and the classroom environment more that they're burn the excess energy, it helps me to have a breather if I'm not on play ground duty and it's a clear signal that we're starting a new session now.

The only time we don't let a child on the playground is if they are a danger to others/themselves/property but if the resources are available they will get outside time in a different capacity (one on one or in small groups).

There's so many proven methods/sanctions that would stop a class being silly that I don't think losing a large chunk of playtime is a go to method.

Even wet play is done in groups of ten at a time under the shelter so they all get a bit of fresh air

Notstrongandstable · 07/02/2020 22:46

Jeez they're in year 1? Really bad policy from the teacher/school.
Children should not be kept in at lunch, it doesn't work! It's barbaric

Notstrongandstable · 07/02/2020 22:48

I would definitely complain about this

Nonnymum · 07/02/2020 22:48

It's ridiculous. I think whole class punishments are unfair at the best of times but for such young children it makes no sense at all. 5 and 6 year olds are silly it's part of what they are. Is the teacher very inexperienced? What is she and the school generally like? I would be very unhappy and think I would go into the school to discuss it.

Mothersruin123 · 07/02/2020 23:05

Wow so to punish the class for unacceptable behaviour they're being stopped from doing the thing that helps them behave in a more acceptable manner? How very odd!

ThisIsBigMoon · 07/02/2020 23:08

Not only is that a harsh threat but no teacher in their right mind would keep them in unless they were handing over to another teacher they hated for the afternoon! Children are a nightmare if they don’t get out to run around - even Y6 tbh.

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 08/02/2020 02:32

sigh I'm going to have to speak to her on Monday after school.

She's not inexperienced. And we've been happy with the school so far. It's reassuring that I'm not overreacting in thinking it's stupid, even with my limited experience of only having one DC.

I recently became a school governor and was actually talking to the head teacher about her last week. She lacks leadership skills apparently.

OP posts:
Quadrangle · 08/02/2020 06:19

Check your son hasn't got the wrong end of the stick. The Head sounds a bit unprofessional

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 08/02/2020 07:24

I doubt DS has got the wrong end of the stick.

The head was talking to us as governors. We had just had a meeting with DS's teacher to talk about what she does in her role as head of phonics.

OP posts:
SanjiNami · 08/02/2020 14:44

I agree that the punishment is inappropriate for 5/6 years olds. But I sill don't agree that head telling a parent governor that one of his member lacks leadership. That's wrong, and totally unprofessional.

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 08/02/2020 15:32

Fair enough. It seems the HT has some learning to do too (this is her third school year as a HT).

OP posts:
parrotonmyshoulder · 08/02/2020 15:41

Lazy and ineffective way to manage behaviour.
Head teacher sounds dangerously unprofessional. Perhaps is also unsupportive of classroom management.

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 08/02/2020 16:35

Maybe she is. She told us she doesn't want to pay for leadership training for this teacher as there will no leadership roles available in the school in the foreseeable future.

How does "I understand that the whole class was kept in at lunchtime. Can you explain what this is meant to achieve please as it feels disproportionate?" sound?

I'm suffering from anxiety at the moment and this is the first time I've had to raise anything with the school.

OP posts:
Ciwirocks · 08/02/2020 16:39

Well I don’t agree with whole class punishments at any age really, it’s really unusual for the entire class to all misbehave to such a degree that they deserve detention. I have had problems with this in my ds’s class in year 3 and think that’s bad enough (punishing the well behaved children along with the poorly behaved children) in year 1 it’s just ridiculous and likely to cause worse behaviour later on in the afternoon when they have been cooped up all day

SanjiNami · 08/02/2020 16:41

No, it's not just HT has some learning to do, you too. As a parent governor, you needs to have open minded view. Rather than believing and posting what inexperienced HT's view( you said it yourself, she/he needs more learning, but how patronizing!)
If you cannot trust school, HT, teachers, that is really sad situation.

Knittedfairies · 08/02/2020 16:41

She told us she doesn't want to pay for leadership training for this teacher as there will no leadership roles available in the school in the foreseeable future.

So she doesn't believe in continuing professional development for the staff either?
I think what you propose saying is fair enough, but don't confuse your role as a parent governor with that of being first and foremost a parent.

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 08/02/2020 16:56

I'm not confusing my roles. I mentioned being a governor in a sleep-deprived state (note the time that I posted) and PPs comments after that have derailed my original question.

Where did I say I can't trust them SanjiNami? This is the first decision I've questioned in the 2.5 years that DS has been there (he went to nursery school there). And everyone needs to learn more, so I don't consider that patronising. I have compulsory CPD for my job.

OP posts:
SanjiNami · 08/02/2020 18:03

Then why do you need to post some kind of private info like HT thinks this particular teacher lacks leadership skills, that is not commonly shared with regular parents?
You already have biased view, because you have inside info.
Almost all the pp have agreed that the punishment was inappropriate for 5/6 years old. But you needed to make sure to let us know, even the HT thinks the teacher doesn't value her, only because of your position as a parent governor. That is patronizing.

Quadrangle · 08/02/2020 21:18

How does "I understand that the whole class was kept in at lunchtime. Can you explain what this is meant to achieve please as it feels disproportionate?" sound?
I would always clarify with the teacher what has happened first as there's always a chance there's been a misunderstanding. Then, if she confirms your son is correct you can proceed as you were.

BookMeOnTheSudExpress · 08/02/2020 21:22

Both you as a new governor, and the HT, if what you've said is true are so way over the line as far as your professional roles are concerned that the line is no longer visible.
It's really shocking that the HT would be tittle-tattling to the governors in this way about a member of her team.
I hope the teacher hears about it and makes a formal complaint.

BookMeOnTheSudExpress · 08/02/2020 21:25

And you derailed your own thread by dripfeeding your governor status and the gossiping you've been doing about a member of the HT's staff.
Tbf, badly behaved children getting a detention rather pales into insignificance.

Clackyheels · 08/02/2020 21:44

Ah god, a governor, who has no experience in teaching, I assume? Thinking they know how to run a class better. Getting involved in harmful gossip, and patronising teachers -explain what you were hoping to achieve'? Get to fuck.

I agree if the kids have been 'silly' keeping them all in for break isnt the best behaviour management, but I would not be explaining what I' was hoping to achieve' to you. How patronising and assuming. Total power trip.

CripsSandwiches · 08/02/2020 23:04

No idea why everyone's having a go at you OP - probably some people getting very defensive . This is an anonymous forum and you haven't posted anything identifying so I don't see what's wrong with what you posted. I agree with PP that the HT was unprofessional in what she said to you but that's not the same as you posting information anonymously on a forum.

All of the information you posted was relevant as it gives a picture of the climate in the school and the fact you're a governor also impacts how you might need to interact with teachers within the school.