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Original poster

Teacher slapped my kid

63 replies

NarminM · 25/09/2022 21:00

Hi! My DS has been going to a nursery for a year now and he loved it. Until recently. He started to tell he doesn’t like one of the teachers. I didn’t pay much attention, thought it’s fine, he doesn’t have to like everyone. You always have most and least favourite teachers. But the situation started to get worse, he started to tell he is scared of her. Then he told she is always angry with him. I still thought he was imagining things, didn’t want to accuse anyone but yesterday he told she even slapped him once😳 I talked to his friend’s mom, she asked her son and he confirmed something really happened there. I have no idea how should I act now. I am going to talk with his key worker tomorrow for sure, but should I go further to the head teacher and complain or what?

OP posts:
TinaYouFatLard · 13/10/2022 18:26

This is a massive allegation and I would be suitably astounded if it is true. At around this age my DS told me that another child punched him, then kicked him and then held his head right under the water in the toilet. All completely false. DD said her former friend shot her with a real bow and arrow.

By all means investigate but I would assume it didn’t happen, at least not what you’re imagining.

BeanieTeen · 13/10/2022 18:26

Yes op you should inform the police it is an assault.

It’s not anything at the moment, it’s a four year old’s version of events. Comments like that make me feel really sorry for nursery and school staff, I don’t know why anyone would want to go into that line of work when these sorts of accusations can be so easily made and people actually think calling the police on a nursery employee on a child’s whim is appropriate. How scary. I would definitely want it looked into by the headteacher but taking a four year olds word as gospel and running to the authorities is just plain daft.

mathanxiety · 13/10/2022 18:26

@Mariposista
There is no such thing as "a well earned verbal blocking" for a child of 4.5.

You teach small children by modeling the behaviour you want to see as well as direct instruction. You do not shame or frighten them for lapses in judgement.

@SwanRot
At 4.5 a child is well beyond "barely verbal", and highly unlikely to be an accomplished liar.
II second the comment of Sunburn19.

BeanieTeen · 13/10/2022 18:29

Also - if the tables were turned - I’m assuming people saying ‘call the police’ would also be happy for the nursery to immediately call the police if their child had told their teacher ‘I don’t like mummy, she shouted and hit me…’ after a tantrum at the school gates.

Whiskeypowers · 13/10/2022 18:39

BeanieTeen · 13/10/2022 18:26

Yes op you should inform the police it is an assault.

It’s not anything at the moment, it’s a four year old’s version of events. Comments like that make me feel really sorry for nursery and school staff, I don’t know why anyone would want to go into that line of work when these sorts of accusations can be so easily made and people actually think calling the police on a nursery employee on a child’s whim is appropriate. How scary. I would definitely want it looked into by the headteacher but taking a four year olds word as gospel and running to the authorities is just plain daft.

Well I hope to fuck you don’t work in safeguarding. What you brush off as a whim could equally be a genuine disclosure

Whiskeypowers · 13/10/2022 18:41

BeanieTeen · 13/10/2022 18:29

Also - if the tables were turned - I’m assuming people saying ‘call the police’ would also be happy for the nursery to immediately call the police if their child had told their teacher ‘I don’t like mummy, she shouted and hit me…’ after a tantrum at the school gates.

If she had had a tantrum at the school gates it would have been witnessed by any number of parents. Parents who might have seen actually parenting or abuse In that she did shout at and hit her child.

Oblomov22 · 13/10/2022 19:18

It would be very unusual if true. Approach with caution OP. I'd tell Head what child is claiming.

BeanieTeen · 14/10/2022 08:14

@Whiskeypowers but my point is the shouting most likely didn’t happen either. That’s a child’s simplistic way of saying ‘I was told off’. Four year olds can speak in full sentences - that doesn’t mean they are good at choosing the correct wording. Even older children do this.
Talking to a safeguarding lead instead of immediately phoning the police is not brushing things off. It’s just sensible.

Pinkbananas01 · 14/10/2022 08:18

Speak to the head teacher & report it to the Care Inspectorate. Absolutely no justificati9n for smacking a small child & Smacking is illegal in Scotland so it will be taken seriously

fUNNYfACE36 · 14/10/2022 08:24

mathanxiety · 13/10/2022 18:26

@Mariposista
There is no such thing as "a well earned verbal blocking" for a child of 4.5.

You teach small children by modeling the behaviour you want to see as well as direct instruction. You do not shame or frighten them for lapses in judgement.

@SwanRot
At 4.5 a child is well beyond "barely verbal", and highly unlikely to be an accomplished liar.
II second the comment of Sunburn19.

You must live in rhe moon! You certainly haven't met many 4.5 year-olds!

bloodyeverlastinghell · 14/10/2022 08:27

I would be emailing head of nursery and head of school to get in writing. Wouldn’t go in all guns blazing but from a position of concern. X said this incident happened in nursery yesterday obviously we are very concerned and ask for a meeting asap.

They will have a duty to investigate. Not saying these things don’t happen. Last year there was an incident in our p2 class and the teacher resigned/ went into early retirement.

beonmywaythen · 14/10/2022 08:32

Tell Ofsted. That's ridiculous. No teacher should ever ever slap a child.

Whiskeypowers · 14/10/2022 10:22

BeanieTeen · 14/10/2022 08:14

@Whiskeypowers but my point is the shouting most likely didn’t happen either. That’s a child’s simplistic way of saying ‘I was told off’. Four year olds can speak in full sentences - that doesn’t mean they are good at choosing the correct wording. Even older children do this.
Talking to a safeguarding lead instead of immediately phoning the police is not brushing things off. It’s just sensible.

How do you know it didn’t happen?
a safeguarding lead would probably involve the safeguarding police asap if any disclosures of abuse were made in any event.

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