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Original poster

Teachers - is this true?

14 replies

branflake81 · 06/03/2008 15:45

Someone told me that it is illegal for a teacher to leave the classroom, even to bob out for five minutes. While it makese sense for the little ones, it seems a bit extreme for older children/teenagers - is it really true?

OP posts:

luciemule · 06/03/2008 16:22

As a prospective student teacher, this is one my main worries (i'm sure there'll be a few more important worries once I start though!) How will my bladder last!!!

I guess if there was an emergency you could ask another child to go to the office and get help, rather than you leave and leave the kids unattended.

Blandmum · 06/03/2008 16:25

Not 'illegal' per se, but inadvisable for some classes. And I think that you would be held responsible if anything hapened while you were away

cornsilk · 06/03/2008 16:32

Our head would freak if we left the kids on their own - insurance issue! If we need the loo we telephone through to the office and someone comes down for a few minutes. Same at wet play.

Blandmum · 06/03/2008 16:33

I do leave my sixth formers from time to time

luciemule · 06/03/2008 16:48

phew about ringing the office!

alfiesbabe · 06/03/2008 17:08

Not illegal. Ill advised though in most situations.

ScienceTeacher · 06/03/2008 19:04

If I need to pop out for a couple of minutes, I can do so without any worries.

We have children unsupervised in classrooms during break and lunchtime, and this is a much 'riskier' situation than 2 minutes of a a lesson with work set and a strict instruction about silence etc. The main rule is that they are not allowed to use computers unless a teacher is present, and they respect that. If they abuse the priveledge, they have to go outside.

etchasketch · 06/03/2008 19:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DualCycloneCod · 06/03/2008 19:18

yes it was when i taught

,creeky chair>

roisin · 06/03/2008 19:30

I would never leave a class for which I am responsible. It would be very ill-advised for about 95% of classes in our school. And the teacher does have a statutory responsibility for the Health & Safety of the students, and I don't see how you can fulfil that if you're not in the room, even for just 3 mins.

TheFallenMadonna · 06/03/2008 19:33

I have only left a (non A level) class twice - both times to throw up.

In secondary schools lessons are only about an hour long, so bladder control isn't really a problem.

And I don't let children leave my lesson to go to the loo, so it wouldn't really be appropriate for me to do so...

robd · 06/03/2008 20:45

Been known to pop to the scanner and copier for a few minutes - but leave my TA in the room.

I would hate to imagine what would happen if I left my 5 year olds for 2 minutes.

jennifersofia · 06/03/2008 22:51

I wouldn't leave mine with no adult in the room. I am responsible for them. They are 5 though. You have to sort yourself out bathroom wise at break times, just like they should!

alfiesbabe · 06/03/2008 23:35

It's not that anything drastic is likely to happen while you're out of the room for s couple of minutes. I can think of only one class which I really wouldnt be confident to leave. It's simply that as a professional you should take your responsibilities seriously . And I can't think of many situations where you would actually need to leave a class, if you are organised, well prepared and fit and healthy.

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