Worried about childcare behind scenes at ballet show.

[thinker]

My 3 year old daughter is going to be in a ballet show soon. During the show, the teacher has said she doesnt need mums behind the scenes because we distract them. She has also asked us to sit outside the classes and she is right, they are better without us around. But I have not met the older students who will be looking after about 8 2-4 year olds, my mate today said dont worry, they will be fine, its only an hour. But there could be stuff like plug sockets without covers, hot drinks and young women who havnt had kids or training with kids just wont see these hazards like mums do. so am I fretting too much? Or would you insist on at least one representative mum go behind stage to oversee their care?

I would expect there to be adult matrons of some sort, but not necessarily mums.

When dd1 used to dance parents were not allowed back stage, however the children didn't stay back stage for the entire length of the show. They had their own dressing room where parents were allowed. The young ones always got the biggest dressing room so there was room for them to play and run around. They were called to the stage literally minutes (if not less) before they had to go on. They were only allowed back stage when the troupe before them were due off. Straight after they came off stage they were sent back to the dressing room. This is how most dance shows do it.

I can't see them wanting a bunch of noisy three year olds back stage for any longer than absolutely necessary.

an hour she said, without any mums. Have not even met these people who will be looking after them. She said they are her older pupils who are studying to be dance teachers.

I honestly think it will be fine, the teacher will have done this many times before and will be used to this situation. If you are happy for them to be left for an hour in lessons then you should trust the teacher's judgement in this situation I think. Why don't you speak to the teacher if you have any concerns?

Legally children taking part in any performance where an entry fee is charged have to be looked after by a licensed matron or chaperone. These have to be licensed by the LEA and there is a strict 1:12 ratio. The LEA when granting an exemption of performing licence may stipulate higher ratios if the children are very young.

If this is not happening you need to speak to someone. Some LEA's will allow children to be looked after by a non licensed person if they are performing under an exemption but these should all be CRB checked adults.

I am a licensed matron in my area and have to attend a training course every 3 years to keep my registration.

Thanks for your responses, really useful It is different in lessons because we sit next door and can watch through the window, but never even been to this theatre. Might have a word, also might just go back stage during rehearsals tocheck it and these girls out. Thanks a lot xx

Don't worry about plug sockets - the cover thing is a bit of a con, all UK sockets have closed flaps over the live holes that are only retracted when the earth pin is pushed in.

In fact there is a campaign to ban certain socket covers because in certain instances they can make them more dangerous (e.g. if inserted upside down, as a curious child may do, they can open the flaps exposing the live terminals). There is a website somewhere.

I think your child will be fine.

They will be fine I am sure, but formthe sound of things thinkers dd's ballet teacher is not following the law with regards to children performing in the theatre unless all her older students are aged 18 plus and licensed.

We have a 17 year old helper and she is perfectly responsible to look after children and does so when we do small shows in our normal venue where there is no charge but she has been CRB checked, read, understood and follows our Child Protection procedure and health & safety policy etc etc.

Do the other children perfomring have chaperones. You need a chaperone until the last Friday in June of Year 11.

I don`t know, I will subtley find out though, she did call them chaperones so maybe its sorted. Chaperones always bring to mind jane Austin novels and old ladies discretely reading books in the presence of a courting couple

Why don't you register then offer to help backstage in an official capacity?

I was backstage for the entire run of dd's ballet show except for 1 night when I watched (She did 3 nights plus a matinee, the babies only do Fridays & Saturdays)

I was in exactly this situation a few years ago. Because I am a registered childminder and was really pushy about it I was allowed backstage. I was horrified by the lack of care or consideration to safety that I saw. I ended up giving first aid to a toddler from my own handbag without her even being able to tell me her name and nobody around us knew either. The helpers were also performers and were not at all interested in caring for the children.
I never let my daughter participate in a show again.
I would ask some very detailed questions about arrangements backstage before I let my child be there without me if I were you.

"The helpers were also performers and were not at all interested in caring for the children."

That is not allowed. We are not even supposed to be dressers but we mostly let that one slide although dd's school did also have separate quick change dressers backstage the chaperones help out too.

There is no requirement for first aid knowledge. My LEA says it expects separate forst aid provision to be made but we have to aquaint ourselves as to where it is on arrival.

Our duty is solely to the care of the children and thay are accompanied everywhere backstage. We also have to have a list of the children inour care. Some schools organise the children and chapeones into teams into teams, some give each chaperone 12 separete children to care for.