4yr old went into class then left again - help

[TTT824]

My 4 yr old reception child went into school, dropped off book bag then left again - when I asked she couldn’t say why she left - but she’s 4 years old!!!
The chair of governors made it sound like the child was the issue (even the teacher said she is a “switched on child she didn’t think she needed to worry about”) and the head didn’t want to implement anything as it’s the first time it has happened.
So basically they have said it hasn’t happened before so its not an issue.
I don’t know what to do now as the teachers don’t watch the door at drop off times and are not aware of children entering (or leaving).
Luckily she was found by “a kind grandma” in the playground who brought her back, but all the gates were open as it was drop off time and she could have easily got out or the grandma could have been someone who is not kind.
The teachers are actively encouraged to work at their laptops checking emails etc in the morning rather than interacting with the kids, and the TA doesn’t start until class starts, so the head thinks it’s unrealistic to have someone on the door ensuring the children can’t leave.
I have since dropped her off and had to wait about 5 minutes for the teacher to notice me stood at the door - at which point she got up and began interacting with the children rather than looking at laptop.
What do I do as the situation hasn’t been taken seriously.

My son is in reception. All of the parents stand in the playground come rain or shine until they open the door to the corridor. The teacher and TA then greet every child then close and lock the door, takes about 5 minutes. Latecomers I assume have to go through the main reception to sign in.

If I were a primary teacher, i don't expect i'd like a constant stream of children and parents either when i'm trying to set up my lessons, but if that is their policy then the children need to be supervised once in. I'm amazed there isn't some kind of sign in... would they ever have noticed your daughter had been there had it not been for 'kind grandma'?

@Pinkflipflop85:
'Teachers have directed time. At ours (and many others) it begins at 8.30am so the working day has already begun when children start arriving.'
Yes, that's true, but there should also always be members of staff on duty too (whether that's at the doors or gates).

@TTT824, you need to ask about the above, not just for your own child's sake but for others as well - what happens if a child is injured or worse? The school absolutely would be responsible as it happened on school grounds.
It seems you've exhausted all other avenues, so Ofsted it is. And even better if you have written communication about this as it will back up your complaint.

That’s appalling. Your four year old doesn’t have the cognitive development yet to judge safety. Keep making your voice heard, good luck.

That should not be possible. In all the schools here you either pass them to the teacher/TA at the classroom door, or they line up in the yard and are escorted into the school. Either way, there is no possibility of escape.

I had a similar thing happen at my DS's school recently and the Head took it incredibly seriously and implemented changes to the drop off procedure starting the very next day.

In your case, I would definitely be calling Ofsted as the school's reaction has been terrible.

My daughters (Y2) classroom opens 8.40-8.55. Her teacher stand in the doorway, welcomes the children in and would absolutely not allow one to pass back out. Door shuts & locks at 9.55, if you arrive after then the child has to go to reception & a staff member take them to class as all other gates are locked. Every class works the same way.

This ids not acceptable. I would report to the Local Safeguarding Board and to Ofsted.

This horrifies me!!!

This is no where near acceptable practice and I would be considering moving my child given this happening so quickly into her education. It's hard enough settling your child into an environment with people who are strangers to them, never mind ones you now know cannot be trusted to watch over them properly. My child wouldn't be stepping foot into this class again at 4 years old unless I was directly handing her over to someone and knew they would be taking over from there to look after her well-being. I cannot understand at all the headteachers response to this. Once is one too many times and it would certainly not be her response if something dreadful had happened. My experience has also been either someone greeting the child at the door at that age and the doors having safety locks and buzzer systems on the them when a person is not at the entrance. You would then buzz, hand over child to teacher and door would safely close behind them. Yes as they get older they wouldn't require this level of safety but certainly not at 4 years old.

If this is the outcome to one of your first and probably most serious concerns possible I wouldn't be hopeful for a happy safe journey for them through the rest of the years. My advice would be.... move her as soon as possible and report higher so this can never happen to any other child.

This sounds wrong. My kids school has teachers welcoming them into the classroom all the way up to year 6. They also have someone at the gate who stops kids running back out, I know because DD once ran in without taking her bag off me and was stopped when she tried to go back to get it until I'd reached the gate.

@TTT824

The chair of governors is the safeguarding lead.. he has supported the head teacher. Nothing to be implemented- this is why I don’t know where to go now. This was before Christmas and I’ve only got a response from it now, I was unable to speak with the chair only write to him, and the head teacher said it’s the first time ever so it’s not an issue. ☹️ The chair is a safeguarding member at a local college also

How many times does it have to happen to make it an issue?

Our school has a member of the EYFS team on the door and also a member of SLT on the playground gate so this wouldn’t have been possible. I’m suprised they haven’t got some sort of system.

Also, even if they think most 4 year olds wouldn’t do this (which I think is risky) what about the percentage of children with additional needs who may be more likely to get confused or upset. It’s not a safe system.