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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Is it ok to leave four yr old in the playground in the morning?

63 replies

twynkle · 17/05/2007 16:55

I have to be at work some days by nine, kids don't go into school into five to. Is it OK to leave dd to fend for herself in the playground for five mins so I can get to work on time? I felt really bad doing it this morning because all the other reception class mums seem to stay till the bell goes and help them hang their coats.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

NuttyMuffins · 17/05/2007 16:56

Tbh no, she is 4. Is there another mum you can ask to watch her for 5 min ?

mankyscotslass · 17/05/2007 16:57

At our school the parents/carers are not supposed to leave until the reception and y1 children are indoors. Is there another mother you could ask to amek sure your daughter goes in safely?

nailopish · 17/05/2007 16:57

IF ITS just once in a blue moon i would ask another mother to watch her
you could repay the favour another time

Gobbledigook · 17/05/2007 16:58

I wouldn't. No way.
I might ask someone else to see them in for me, but I wouldn't expect that as a regular thing unless it was a good friend.

LIZS · 17/05/2007 16:58

Can't you actually ask one of them to look after him or is there an early morning club. If he had an accident or wandered off and you'd left him , the school would not be covered until the start time.

Sparkler1 · 17/05/2007 16:58

No not at all. The child is your responsibility until the handover to the teacher. If anything were to happen to her the school would not be liable. I would ask another mum to watch her or even speak to the teacher to see if it's possible for you to drop your child at school five or ten minutes earlier. Some children do that at my dds' school - they go in and help the teacher set up for the day.

PinkTulips · 17/05/2007 16:59

i wouldn't do it but then i'm neurotic.

could you ask your boss to go in 10 mins late and leave 10 mins late instead?

LIZS · 17/05/2007 16:59

sorry her , or ask work if you can start 5 minutes later ?

OrmIrian · 17/05/2007 16:59

It's a tricky one. I was late to work every day for the first 5 years of school until DD was in yr 2 and they were OK to be dropped at school. I don't know how to get round it. I would wait at least until Yr 1 or find another mum to leave her with - assuming your DD is happy with that.

DimpledThighs · 17/05/2007 17:01

agree with the other mum suggestion - i have done this for people before.

pointydog · 17/05/2007 17:01

If she's a sensible kid, if she's with others she knows, if you are happy with playground arrangements, I'd say 5 mins was fine.

Blandmum · 17/05/2007 17:01

While it might be OK to ask the teacher, please don't expect the teacher to do so, the last few minutes before the kids come into the classroom can ver very hectic. Teachers also often have pre school briefings to attend.

prufrock · 17/05/2007 17:02

No it's not. At our school Foundation stage children have to be taken into the classroom and helped to stick their pictures on the registration board before parents can leave.

Can you not start work later? As a parent of an under 6 you are entitled to ask for flexible working, and this would come under that category - you could ask to stay for 5 minutes longer at the end of the day, or take 5 minutes less at lunchtime

Original poster

twynkle · 17/05/2007 17:03

Oh dear, feel worse now.
I have probably only ever done it about 3 or 4 times (not just saying that cos I feel like a terrible mum!) when I have HAD to be at work by nine and my mum wasn't able to take her for me.
I don't know any of the other mums - I am not good at playground stuff

OP posts:

nailopish · 17/05/2007 17:05

twynkle, speak to your boss, you are entitled to flexible worktime
offer to work your lunch
is there a breakfast club at school?

dotn feel bad

Califrau · 17/05/2007 17:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nailopish · 17/05/2007 17:05

you could ask dd if she could point out her friends mummys

itll be an icebreaker

Original poster

twynkle · 17/05/2007 17:06

They don't do that our our school prufrock - they like the children to go in by themselves and don't rally like parents to go into the classroom at all with them - they queue by a little gate and go in in a line.

I am sure you are all right though - I guess if I had felt it was ok I wouldn't have felt the need to ask

OP posts:

nailopish · 17/05/2007 17:07

"hello im dds mummy. i have a mad rush to get to a meeting today i wonder if you could just watch dd til she hangs her coat up? id be ever so grateful, thanks so much"

if anyone sadi that to me id be happy to help

pointydog · 17/05/2007 17:07

Don't feel bad.

How does your daughter feel about it and cope with it?

Really, 5 mins, I wouldn't worry.

Twiglett · 17/05/2007 17:08

Quite simply NO it is not ok .. ask another parent to watch her

tombley · 17/05/2007 17:09

I take my 5.5 yr dd to breakfast club on the days I go to work. All pupils can attend and it's free. She doesn't eat there but she is supervised 'til she goes to class. Do they have one at your dd's school Twynkle?

ska · 17/05/2007 17:09

i agree ask another mum. maybe it's way of breaking the ice with someone who looks friendly? anyone who you have round for tea sometimes? I still odn't leave my 8 year old dd until the teacher comes out to their line. my dh leaves her at the bottom of the hill but she tells me she gets frightened (it's about 3 mins walk!) and i only leave her if there is another mum we are FRIENDS with. sorry, agree about flexible working but it's easier said than asked for in my experience

OrmIrian · 17/05/2007 17:09

We are the same Twynkle. We are actively discouraged from taking the kids in to the classroom - even on a Monday when the poor little tots are loaded down with everything plus PE kit and book bag . That has only been the case since DD started - if it had been like DS#1 I don't think he'd ever have gone in without being dragged. I'm really hoping that DS#2 finds it all easier as there is no leeway to los finding it hard to leave mum....

Twiglett · 17/05/2007 17:09

look .. you need to bite the bullet and say to someone 'hello I'm xxx's mum, do you think you could possibly keep an eye on her as I have to rush to a meeting' .. they'll be fine about it

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