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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

Primary Children Going Out Of School At Lunchtime

40 replies

colette · 21/08/2007 19:57

DD is 8 and in primary 5. At her school the children so long as they have their parents permission go to the local shop and buy their lunch( lunch meaning sweeties and microwave chipsetc.)
I am point blank refusing to let dd go-when we visited the school before she started I discussed this with the head and she said that the school preferred pupils to stay at school but if their parents had signed a letter the they were obliged to honour the parents wishes.
Fast forward to primary 5 when they have this option and there is peer pressure to have a shop(crap)lunch! I can put up with her continually asking as I am not going to let her but am thinking of seeing the head to discuss :
1- why they do not have a blanket rule for everyone when here in Glasgow we are supposed to be supporting a healthy eating campaign?
2- When they are at the shop they are no longer the school's responsability , but how can they be the parents responsability when they are at work or elsewhere!! ie: if I left dd aged 8 on her own in the house I could have social services round.

I would really like to hear your own experiences re. going out of school at lunchtime and any advice about the legal aspects of schools responsibility during the school day.

Then I can go and see the head as I do not think this should be an issue until high school!

Thanks

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Original poster

colette · 21/08/2007 20:07

OP posts:

AttilaTheMum · 21/08/2007 20:09

At our junior school we definitely don't let children out at lunchtime unless they go home for lunch, - at the moment no-one actually does or parent comes to collect them - they have packed lunch or school dinner.

Having said that, one of the teachers does occasionally ask a couple of the more responsible year 6s (10-11) to post a parcel at the post office which is about 100 yards down the road, and she'll give them some extra money to buy themselves a treat - but it's only children whose mums she knows won't mind.

MaureenMLove · 21/08/2007 20:12

Good god! I've never heard of anything so ridiculous! And no-one has questioned this in the 4 years previous that you've been at the school? I can't believe thy're ALLOWED to do that, I really can't! I'm shocked!
My dd is going into secondary this September and there's a strict rule that no-one leaves school premises at lunchtime until they reach 6th form. I don't know what to say!
Do you have support from other parents on this?

Original poster

colette · 21/08/2007 20:12

Atila - I would be o'k with that and of course if kids want to go home to lunch that is their right.
Thanks for the reply

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Original poster

colette · 21/08/2007 20:16

exactly Maureen, I feel I am in the minority but am going to make a fuss about it.
Until she just started back I knew some kids went out but wasn't aware that they were allowed to age 8.

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Original poster

colette · 21/08/2007 20:17

Dh seems to think it is more accepted in Scotland( may be wrong )

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MaureenMLove · 21/08/2007 20:18

I obviously either live a very sheltered life or somewhere which is much more built up and 'city' like, because I don't think the thought would ever cross the minds of any of the schools around here! It just goes to show, how different things are in different parts of the country.

Hulababy · 21/08/2007 20:19

Have never heard of prinary school children being allowed out at lunch on their own. Think the whole system of that is ridiculous. At 8yo they should not be walking the streets, should not be unsupervised and should not be eating sweets or chips for school lunch! Madness.

onlyWotz · 21/08/2007 20:20

I am surprised to hear of this TBH, so who is responsible while they are at lunch if outside the grounds? You or the school?

onlyWotz · 21/08/2007 20:20

We have to sign them in and out..

What if they don't come back! Sorry to worry you.

Original poster

colette · 21/08/2007 20:27

Onlywotz it is the parents responsability which is a joke as parents at work etc.
Hulababy I totally agree with you . sil just phoned so will check later

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MaureenMLove · 21/08/2007 20:33

You say you're in Glasgow. Are you in big, built up Glasgow or a little leafy no-one around for miles bit of Glasgow? Its most odd, but I guess I can only really comment on what I know from living here. I just know it wouldn't happen. We live in a London borough to start with! I can kinda understand if you live somewhere with only 100 people living in the village.

Original poster

colette · 21/08/2007 20:35

Maureen we are right in Glasgow.

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MrsMuddle · 21/08/2007 20:37

We're in a town on the outskirts of Glasgow. Until last year, it was accepted practice that p6s and p7s went out "outsider" on a Friday. They usually went to Greggs or Tesco. DS1 is very sensible, he was in P7, and there were lollipop ladies at the crossings so I was quite happy with the arrangement. But then a new head started. She is very against it, and has sent numerous letters home, reiterating that the school is not responsible when children go outsider, and urging parents not to allow it. Now DS2 is in P7, and I will obviously not go against her wishes. BUT I do think it's a good thing for them to do in P7, even just once a week. It teaches them to handle money and make choices, and it gives them a sense of responsibility. Otherwise, when they go to secondary, some will be choosing what to eat from a large selection for the first time in their lives. It's still not been officially "banned" - it's just been made very clear that they would prefer that you didn't let them go outside. Must be something do do with their human rights.

Original poster

colette · 21/08/2007 20:37

can't get off phone will check later thanks for the replies

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MaureenMLove · 21/08/2007 20:38

Respect! Chatting and typing!

MaureenMLove · 21/08/2007 20:39

Damn those human rights!

onlyWotz · 21/08/2007 20:41

chatting, typing, and being thankful too!

MaureenMLove · 21/08/2007 20:44

AND she read the last post too! She's either really good or her SIL is boring her!

onlyWotz · 21/08/2007 20:46

Original poster

colette · 21/08/2007 20:48

I heard that

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Original poster

colette · 21/08/2007 20:51

Mrs M - that's interesting . I think the human rights issue is the sort of stance the head made when I initially talked to her about it. The shop nearby is a corner shop selling total junk really.

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pointydog · 21/08/2007 20:51

I'm in Scotland and I have never heard of primary schools doing this. Secondary, yes, all the time. I am taken aback.

I wouldn't be happy with it and I agree with you that high school is soon enough.

Original poster

colette · 21/08/2007 20:53

Poinydog - where are you? It seems that the decision is made at each school- I will ask other mums whose kids go to local schools I think

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pointydog · 21/08/2007 20:58

I'm in teh Lothians.

This must be a fairly new step I'd've thought. Worth finding out why they introduced it. The peer pressure must be tremendous.

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