Is this a safe guarding issue?

[evanley]

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.

I agree it was a really stupid idea and one we have tried to change but with no luck. We haven't had this group of pta volunteers long and we are guttered we couldn't change to a weekend but lots of sporting events and permission off the head was needed.

Also we have a lot of ta's and voluntary staff to take some children round but again it's disappointing as they can't enjoy the full day or even get a chance at all. I am cbs checked so could take a few round with me while my husband had ours but again not ideal.

The other parents need to ask the school about safeguarding concerns, not a recently ex member of the PTA.

OK, I'm going to revise my earlier opinion. It is beyond crazy to run this thing during school hours. Who on earth do they think will come?
And yes, if there are members of the public roaming the premises during the school day with children on site then that is a safeguarding issue, in this current climate. All visitors to schools these days have to sign in and wear badges and be escorted around the site. How do they explain letting any Tom, Dick or Harry just swan in?

If somebody wanted to scope out the school they would just book a tour.

I've never known a school fair not be open to the public! We went to the fairs at possible future schools to see what they were like. Really not an issue OP.

I agree just lots of very angry parents and the pta don't really know how best to handle. I said I would ask the question to see if anyone else has been through this but not looking that was. It's very tricky as well as the old pta didn't have a great relationship with the staff and we don't want the same thing happening. We are doing really well and have raised so much in our short time doing it but making parents angry just make the school annoyed and it's not what we want we just want a nice day for everyone to enjoy and parents to have piece of mind.

If everyone is off timetable won’t that free up support staff to monitor the toilets? The adult toilets aren’t going to be anywhere near the pupil ones anyway.

I have tried to edit my post but don't know how. To just clarify it's held during school hours with kids still in class rooms this was not up to us but booked by the old pta and we were unable to change the day. Next year it won't be an issue as it will be open to all and better planning in place this is very unfortunate that it's midweek during school hours and to be honest sucks as it means less fund raising for us

Unfortunately there is one adult toilet which is not far from the children's as it's a small school. It's a nightmare as we can't please everyone that's why maybe this year we should maybe keep it closed to general public for ease and open it up next year when we can get it on a better day. We don't have enough staff to take the kids round and watch the corridors it's a right pain

So the pupils are not taking part in their own school fair? Where are the stalls going to be and who is going to be on them?
I’m struggling with the concept of a pupil-free summer fair tbh.

I think it should be cancelled. The HT is responsible for the safety of the children and it is not feasible. The only way it would work is if school 'closed' early that day. Any children not able to be picked up would be kept together in classrooms with a film or special afternoon tea or something and hopefully safe from wandering randoms.

Whilst it is rubbish that it is done in school time for all sorts of reasons. The additional risks from allowing anyone in vs just parents are zero. You cannot allow little Jonny's mum into the toilets whilst little Stevie is there any more than letting Jo Stranger, the risks are identical that the school has to manage.

The fact you were all happy before means that you trust the schools risk management of the situation, and nothing has changed in that respect.

It’s a bizarre set up. The school doesn’t have a good relationship with the PTA but is offering lots of TAs to take children round?

OP - you are assuming the community are the only ones who might be a safeguarding risk. Co sidering most abusers are known to a child, I'm surprised you want parents and relatives to be let in!

If they are that concerned they'd take time off. Wtf are they on about.
I've never heard of a school fayre not being open to the wider community.
why are parents contacting you are you in charge of the fayre.

Problem is this set up doesn't give the parents who don't want their kids around strangers (for whatever reason) but who can't get time off work much of an option.

Would those parents feel the same about an assembly or Church service they couldn’t get to? Same sort of Community Strangers at those events, after all.

I'm surprised the children aren't involved in any way, what a shame.
Mine enjoyed running a stall, walking round buying other peoples tat
I used to go, but there were never any issues about kids whose parents couldn't go. They just stayed with friends.

YOu got such response on the first page, as many PTAs do not run their fetes during school hours.
For those saying it is a stupid thing to do, btw - it certainly isn't - they have a captive audience of the whole school population, a large % of whom wouldn't come if it were on a Saturday or in the evening. It is a different way of doing it, but used to work really really well at my dcs' school.
However, that is an aside.
If the fete is outside - on the field or playground or whatever space you have, then it is not really a problem - all dc presumably can be fetched by family members, and those whose parents can't be there get to go round in groups with staff members.
I presume the doors into school are locked and nobody not known to be DBS checked by the school would be allowed in, unless there is an area of the school that can somehow be 'cordoned off' from where the dc are (obvs this depends on the individual building.
OTOH, if it is in the school and people are just wondering in, then that is a safeguarding concern, working on OFSTED safeguarding rules in 2017.
If several people have contacted you, thinking you are on the PTA, then you just need to share their concerns with the school, who, ultimately, will be the ones charged with keeping everyone safe.

Adults use adult toilets, kids use the kids ones. Dot people around to supervise.

Easy answer tell them not to send their kids to school that day if they think it is such a big deal

Thank you backforgood. It's mainly outside however the only toilet use and collection of children will all be inside. The only door locked will be the front one the back one will be open.

It's difficult as all available staff will be used to take the children round stalls. Would this mean some children cannot run stalls? I just want to gather the info to reassure parents and also come up with solutions. If there are not enough staff then the children will be taken out on time slots while the others kept in the class rooms. It was the same issue at the Christmas fayre too. Things will be different at the next fayre we just need to try and keep as many people happy as possible for this one. Like I say I understand both sides to this and it's only just been opened up to the public and didn't get received well. They are contacting other members too but obviously I am being contacted by the class my child is in. I have explained I am taking a step back but if they need help I won't bail on them either. Again this is our first fayre so we need to get it right. We just want to be prepared for Monday. I personally think it should just be kept to the children and family this year just to make it easier as it's been done in previous years until we can do it out of hours. But I also see why they want to open it up for more funds

We had our school fayre on friday and part of it was in school time. . The school gates were open at the start of the cause and parents collected children. Children not collected ( arranged beforehand) were taken to class and taken round by an adult. The gates were then locked until the end of normal school day . The gates continued after school. We made sure unaccompanied children were okay. All used adult toilets . We didn't consider bomb threats but in an emergency would have carried out same procedure as fire alarm during break or lunch. It was a great after . It will be fine.

Could the fair be opened up to the kids for an hour, before the public come? They could then go back to being supervised in their classes? Sorry if that's a daft idea.

Savagebaggage not a silly question it's actually a good one. I am wondering if we can do that or even keep it closed until pick up then see if we can keep it going until 5 for general public? Thanks for the idea I will put this forward. Children would be collected at half three anyway so Cant see it being an issue?