4 year old got outside school gate today to car park

[Triggles]

I am extremely upset as when I went to pick up my 4yo DS (on his 3rd day of reception), the teacher told me that he had gotten out of the school gate from the playground and into the driveway and carpark, which is laid out so that about 30 feet to the left is a major busy street. I am absolutely livid, as:

1 - we were told the reception children didn't go into the main playground but played in a separate more secure playground. (which I'm now being told is not correct, that they play in the main playground for about 45 minutes at lunchtime)

2 - the teacher made great pains to state that the reason this happened was because he (DS) opened the gate and walked out, which the children are not supposed to do, and that "none of the other children have a problem with this rule" so now he has to sit/stand with one of the dinner ladies that monitors the playground during this time and hold their hand instead of playing. (rather than simply locking or monitoring the gate instead )

3 - I told his teachers (2 of them, they job-share) that he is a runner and will need extra attention until he is clear on the rules of where he can and cannot go. And that the first week or so would probably be the worst as he would be feeling a bit "exploratory" (isn't that pretty much common sense??) in a new surrounding. The teacher today said "well, we don't have enough staff to monitor him 1 on 1".. well, okay, then LOCK the stupid gate or monitor the GATE when they are out there playing.

I was very clear with her that I was not happy with the situation, especially that he was put in danger. She also mentioned in passing that on Friday he had made for the gate... (nobody told us about this!) shouldn't this have put them on guard about him and the gate so that today's incident shouldn't have happened??

I just get absolutely ill thinking about what could have happened... what if they hadn't found him in the carpark?? There is a main entrance directly to the road right there (in fact, he would have had to cross the small road by the carpark, which has limited view, so cars coming from either direction wouldn't see him until they were right on top of him. And another entrance on the other side of the carpark (it's a small carpark and he could be across it in a matter of minutes) that is always open as well, so he'd be out and lost in an unfamiliar neighbourhood. of course, there's the obvious concern about getting run over by a car as well.

I'm thinking of speaking to the head tomorrow and telling them I am not happy with this situation. The teacher thinks that he should be holding hands (for 45 minutes??) with the dinner lady on the playground and not playing tomorrow and then they are going to put a sign on the gate to remind him not to go through it. Personally, I think the gate should simply be secured during school hours and unlocked at beginning and end of school day, just like the other pedestrian gate. This is just a little wooden halfgate that is only closed by a shoot bolt. Doesn't this seem a more reasonable option??

I am also concerned that they are quick to point the finger at a 4 year old, rather than the fact that their lack of supervision allowed him to get to the carpark. Yes, he needs to be warned about safety, but it's his 3rd day.. and he's 4... and it's an insecure gate which makes it unsafe IMO...

I also question whether or not they advised the dinner ladies on the playground that he was a runner and a concern. I suspect not, as the teacher stated that they have NOW been warned. I'm so angry!!!! And I don't feel confident AT ALL in their ability to keep my child safe.

Any opinions or suggestions would be helpful, as right now I am simply to cross and freaked out to think clearly.

preghead "so what - if they need inspecting they need inspecting. I can't believe you are putting the politics of schools before the safety of children.

How dare you, I was not - I said categorically that it should have been reported to the head, who should hav done something about it instantly - and she did, without the need for an Ofsted complaint r an inspection. Your remark is bloody offensive.

Oh calm down feenie. You're coming across as quite hysterical.

But Feenie, you're seeing it just from a teacher's POV! As a parent, triggles must have been terrified by what happened and perhaps if school had been less quick to blame her 4yr old then she may have waited and spoken to the HT. But a response of 'we can't look after him 1:1 would just make a parent more stressed and I can completely understand why she came home and phoned Ofsted for advice.

And of course I say all this as both a teacher and a mother of 3, 2 of whom have shown impeccable road awareness and a 3rd who despite being taught and disciplined in exactly the same way still, at nearly 5, has no sense of danger whatsoever.

I think Feenie that part of the problem here is a really comprehensive failure on behalf of the school to look after children. I can quite understand that the op (not wanting to put words into her mouth) may have thought:

1. Have I misunderstood the role of the school in looking after my child - ofsted can advise where their role starts and ends.
2. Is it possible that this is a school where this problem has been raised before - ie is there any knowledge at ofsted of this problem?
3. Is it possible that ofsted would agree that this is a significant problem but are completely unaware and would like to be made aware?

i don't work in education but do work in local government and have found that people's lack of understanding of my area of work is profound. Even when it's clear they do understand it, they lack belief in themselves. I don't blame them for their lack of understanding or confidence, it's a complex area of work and something you might only come across a couple of times in your life. That someone would seek advice from the school regulator doesn't seem to me to be unreasonable

(with apologies again as I've not read whole thread)

No your attitude to the OP is offensive - you are clearly in the minority here and yet you keep going on and on about a parent phoning ofsted - The Office for Standards in Education - for advice about the educational establishment her son attends. I am sure ofsted reports aren't pleasant but that's no reason to hide things and brush things under the carpet if they need addressing. And as EVERYONE on this thread has acknowledged, the incident has been apropriately addressed by the school head, the parent is happy, ofsted are happy that no further action is required by them or anybody else and the situation has been resolved. You are the only one on this thread hysterically ranting about the Op contacting ofsted. It's her right to do so if she wishes. Get a grip.

You work in education Feenie and may have more knowledge on prefered procedure, but the OP is entitled to speak to whoever she likes toget the info she is looking for.

And anyone working in her DSs school, who feels the need to hold a grudge for the next 6 years is acting very unprofessionally.

I am being misquoted all over the playce here - who on earth said anything about a grudge? As if. I don't think it wad appropriate to involve ofsted at this stage, but some of you do. I am also entitled to an opinion, and am allowed to explain my reasoning. I am also entitled to be more than a little pissed off when I am accused of placing politics before children, which I could never do, and certainly have not said I would anywhere on this thread.

A couple of years ago I saw 2 children wandering down the road alone.... they seemed very young and underdressed for it being Dec to be old during school hours. I did what most people dont do, I turned the car around, stopped and approached them.

It turned out they had left school. I asked them to wait with me so I could phone the police but they legged it.

I called the Police and they were found safe and well just returning to school

I got follow up (and got some of the story from the kids) and these weren't 'naughty' kids or 'runners'... nope one of them had left something at home and decided to nip home for it, with their mate!! They had got a bit lost and wandered about 1.5miles out of their way, never actually found home and had crossed 3 main roads.

The school hadn't even missed them, they had slipped out of an unlocked door and they were FOUR!! They knew it was a rule but they REALLY needed what was at home so....

So yes... school SHOULD lock their doors because kids aren't responsible adults with a sense of danger. They need us to think for them to keep them safe.

That said just put it to the school that IF a child got out then surely they need to be seen to have done everything to prevent it... because believe me the police were FURIOUS that the door they got through wasn't locked.

i wouldn't have called ofsted either.

and our school doesn't even have any fences. (did mention that earlier, but y'all are too busy blethering about padlocks and intercoms.)

preferred procedures? i thought everyone knew it was teacher/ ht first, then govs, then lea. tbh ofsted wouldn't even be on my sight line for a complaint. wouldn't have occurred to me.

Apologies for my typos in the last post - I evidently can't MN on my phone.

I would just like to make it clear that the way I believe the op's handling of the complaint may affect her working relationship with staff (even though they would be far too professional and polite to ever dream of saying something) would never result in 'bearing grudges', as some posters have strangely assumed and nor would it ever, ever affect the staff's relationship with the dcs. It's more that she is likely, as I said before, to be a parent to be very wary of, to be tiptoed around, and staff may feel that they would have to be very careful what they said to her. That's all. And it's that that I feel could be damaging to a proper, honest working relationship between school staff and parents.

The complaint was extremely valid and needed addressing - but the head did exactly that.

Not getting involved in the ofsted discussion but just wanted to say that the HT handled the situation very well. Glad that you are feeling happier about the situation.

But the point is not everyone does know the "preferred procedure".

And even if they did, it is not set in stone and everyone is entitled to get info from Ofstead if they deem it necessary.