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Primary education

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Original poster

Is this a safe guarding issue?

92 replies

evanley · 30/06/2018 18:18

I have just heard our summer fayre has been opened up to the general public. Usually it's only the children and parents/carers who are invited. Parents have been contacting me saying how unhappy they are with it. Highly unlikely anything would happen but in this day in age can we be sure? The school is opened up to everyone and people could scope out the school for abductions or terror attacks. It was only Tuesday a lot of schools in this county were getting bomb threats. Surely this cannot be ignored. Would love to hear other people's thoughts and any info anyone has. Maybe I am being an over protective parent but children walking around without supervision for example they need the toilet and having strangers in the school makes me uncomfortable. Thank you for any afdvice and like I say I am probably over reacting.

OP posts:

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Mindchilder · 30/06/2018 18:37

I'd it during the school day?

WowLookAtYou · 30/06/2018 18:37

Whaaaaat????

Is this serious? I've never heard anything so bloody ridiculous in my life. Get a grip, OP.

PotteringAlong · 30/06/2018 18:37

Really? No. This is a complete over reaction.

Original poster

evanley · 30/06/2018 18:37

One question is do we have cctv no we don't.

And no I am not that parent there is no need to be rude. They are contacting me as I was on the pta before I stepped down due to being heavily pregnant and want to help the school still and usually known as the problem solver of the group. So many rude people and there is no need. Just saying

OP posts:

WowLookAtYou · 30/06/2018 18:40

If, as you say, you have somehow taken on the role as the go-to person for queries of this nature, then you need to tell the other parents that there really is no issue here and it is perfectly normal practice in schools up and down the country.

SnuggyBuggy · 30/06/2018 18:41

What's the plan for kids who don't have family going?

Namethatchange · 30/06/2018 18:42

All the school fetes here are open to the public. DC and I tend to go to them all as 1) they are fun and reasonably cheap and 2) Its fun noseying around the other schools. I would think that anyone who wasn't there for the right reason would stick out a mile and questions would be asked.

Doyoumind · 30/06/2018 18:44

Even if it was only open to children and parents, I wouldn't have my DC there by themselves, unsupervised unless they were Y5 or Y6. Who is responsible for them otherwise? Not school as the school day is over. If their parents or someone else can't be there then they need to go to whatever childcare they would usually go to after school.

Mindchilder · 30/06/2018 18:46

When actually is the fete? Usually they are after school or at the weekend so no unsupervised children.

Original poster

evanley · 30/06/2018 18:46

I am just trying to get advice and hopefully put there mind at rest about the safe guarding. I know I am over protective but I will be luckily enough to be with my children. But trying to put other people's minds at rest.

Because it's during school hours they children will have to stay in school and brought out in groups for a limited time depending on how many staff they have available.

OP posts:

Original poster

evanley · 30/06/2018 18:50

This is the problem it was booked during school hours by the old committee. The new one is in talks to do it on an evening or a weekend hence why parents are concerned as children will have to stay in school who's parents can't attend. As I say I am just trying to help my team out and have a solution so that everyone can have a good day and we earn lots of fund raising. I am certainly not against it but I can understand both sides to this. The children will be taken out in groups with either a teacher or TA which ever are available at the time.

OP posts:

sirfredfredgeorge · 30/06/2018 18:54

It's always quite surprising just how much a summer fair can make, but seriously a couple of hundred quid on portaloos is not a reasonable expense at all.

SilverHairedCat · 30/06/2018 18:57

Yes, because usually people making claims about being the problem-solver extraordinaire are actually busy bodies and interfering. You may happily be the exception to that rule, and I sincerely hope you are of course. You're also no longer on the PTA, so it's not down to you to "fix" anything, irrespective of whether it needs fixing.

Why would children be obliged to be at a fete out of hours? If it is during school hours, surely the usual ratios for chaperoning apply as if it was a school trip out?

sirfredfredgeorge · 30/06/2018 18:59

So your risk assessment appears to be bomb threats (have such things ever been anything but a "prank" or get out of exam crap in the UK?) they can be pretty much ignored, the risk is not changed, indeed it's likely lower as anyone lugging a meaningful bomb will stick out like a sore thumb it would need to be done when no-one was around.

Or kids being unsupervised in the toilet area around adults who are also unsupervised in the toilet area. That is a potential risk that should be taken care of - however limiting access to parents and carers does almost nothing to limit that risk, so that can also be ignored.

So what additional risk are you imagining?

RavenWings · 30/06/2018 18:59

They are not your team, you stepped down. This is not your problem and these parents are complaining to the wrong person. What you need to be redirecting these parents to the actual PTA, or ideally telling them to cop on a bit.

Also Roxanne I'm very impressed at your dedication to agree with me But I agree, very sensible heads on this thread!

SixHours · 30/06/2018 19:01

Massive overreaction

Original poster

evanley · 30/06/2018 19:01

I don't think we will get them in time now also but also know complaints that go in will stop it. I for one don't want it stopping. I think people are taking my first post as me not wanting this. That isn't true what I don't want is trouble at school on Monday as we haven't agreed on this date and it being in school hours it was agreed well before our pta started. We are all new to it and to anger the parents is the last thing we want and people are getting very upset. I am wanting to cover our backs and as I didn't know it had been opened up to the general public until this morning. I think it's because it's during school hours which is the causing the problem.

OP posts:

FatCow2018 · 30/06/2018 19:02

Oh fucking get a grip!!

SnuggyBuggy · 30/06/2018 19:03

That's crap, it should be held on a Saturday

Teggun · 30/06/2018 19:04

I must admit I've never heard of summer fetes being held during a school day. Seems bonkers. Surely you need all the parents there either spending money or helping out?
I actually understand your concern more with this scenario.

catherinedevalois · 30/06/2018 19:11

Ah. School time is completely different. Of course no members of the general public should be admitted unless those children without parents/carers are under the supervision of the teacher. What a bizarre set up.

Original poster

evanley · 30/06/2018 19:13

I have stepped down temporarily which most parents are not aware of yet and as for being a busy body unless you know me don't judge. They come to me because I don't gossip or judge if they are concerned then to me it needs addressing. I never said they were "my team" we are just a team and as things get tricky I am not just going to leave them to suck it up. They have had a tricky few weeks and I am still here in the back ground helping as they need I am just taking the load off for a bit. I haven't quit either I am still a member just taking a back seat but if they need my help I will be there that's is why we work together well. I am asking for advice to help them to reassure parents as I want to. So many judgemental people and maybe you may find it an over reaction but in some people's minds it's very real and maybe something they have lived through before. Again with anyone worried for their child's safety when it comes to strangers walking round school and using toilets they may have concerns due to there past but some of you just think it's a joke. I have my own reasons for being over protective as do we all but to some of the parents contacting me this is very real to them and I just wanted advice on what to do not be attacked.

OP posts:

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 30/06/2018 19:16

Having it in school hours is a really stupid idea. It means lots of parents can't come...large chunks of the local community won't be able to come either. Plus in what world do teachers and TAs have the time to take children round a school fayre?

If the school is open then having people, parents, relatives or otherwise trooping in and out is ridiculous. You can't put parents mind at rest...the truth is that a child could easily be lost...you just can't supervise them all in this scenario.

But don't worry because hardly anyone will turn up anyway.

Teggun · 30/06/2018 19:16

OP I don't think people understood it was in school time.
You got jumped on unnecessarily - and this is not even in AIBU !!

Original poster

evanley · 30/06/2018 19:17

We agreed it needed to be evening or a weekend but by the time the new committee formed it was too late the head master said but it will be different next year hopefully. That's why we are looking into the safe guarding of children with it because no school time and children still in school. It's really rubbish to be honest as we have such a great afternoon planned and a lot of parents are guttered but we can even let it gone on past 3.30 under the instruction on the head ( I could be wrong but think there is an after school lesson on).

OP posts:

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