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Original poster

Child left unsupervised

77 replies

Hutch1n5 · 03/03/2020 19:57

January this year my 7 year old child was allowed to go outside to the playground during lessons to look for her coat she thought she left it out there. Another child volunteered to go with her. The teacher agreed that they could go. As the kids went out the door, it automatically shut behind them. The teacher did not realise the kids were missing for 35 minutes until they were let back into the school again. I have spoken to the school about this matter but do not feel the conclusion is good enough. Does anyone know what law exactly this breaches such as Health & Safety, safeguarding or Child Law as surely the class teacher has a duty of care to safeguard not only my child but the other child involved. I have reserched for weeks but have not come up with a definitive answer. Thank god nothing bad happened as i honestly dont think anybody would of even noticed immediately. Sorry just isnt good enough.

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waterbottle12 · 03/03/2020 19:59

What was the school's conclusion that you feel isn't good enough?

DelphiniumBlue · 03/03/2020 20:02

This is why I don't allow children to go back to look for lost coats etc.
How did they get back in?

Original poster
Hutch1n5 · 03/03/2020 20:04

They said they will add door bells to all exterior doors, all kids at school will be spoken to about 'asking for help' and that no children will be allowed to go outside after registration and finally that site managers will check school grounds for personal belongings. The teacher originally lied and said that the kids were only outside for 5 minutes until I asked them to check CCTV which revealed 35 mins!

OP posts:
KisforKoala · 03/03/2020 20:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

milkysmum · 03/03/2020 20:10

Sounds like they have an action plan in place going forward to reduce risk of this happening again. What exactly do you want to happen? Teacher to lose their job, police to be called? I appreciate it's worrying what happened and have a child same age, but I'm not sure what you now want the school to do?

DelphiniumBlue · 03/03/2020 20:11

Well, it sounds like they are taking it seriously, they seem to be making plans to ensure it can't happen again.
What were the children doing for 35 minutes? Were they trying to get back in but were unable to? Hope they weren't too frightened.

spanieleyes · 03/03/2020 20:13

It doesn't breach any "law", there is no law about children being outside on their own. It is a safeguarding issue and the school have quite rightly put measures in place to ensure it doesn't happen again. There may well have been disciplinary proceedings taken against the member of staff but you wouldn't necessarily expect to be told the outcome. The Local Authority Designated Officer may well have been informed and would monitor the outcome of any investigation. But it's not a police matter.

saraclara · 03/03/2020 20:14

They said they will add door bells to all exterior doors, all kids at school will be spoken to about 'asking for help' and that no children will be allowed to go outside after registration and finally that site managers will check school grounds for personal belongings.

That is an extremely thorough response. I have no idea what else you could want from them.

saraclara · 03/03/2020 20:15

Did they not knock on a window? I find it odd that they couldn't alert anyone for that long.

Original poster
Hutch1n5 · 03/03/2020 20:17

To be honest I'm not sure what I want the outcome to be, I just know that I'm not happy. I am already following the schools complaints procedure due to a different matter so feel extremely let down by them as a whole that this has since happened. Yes the kids tried to get back in by using sticks they found to try and prize the door open. My child got so cold that the other lent her her coat. It was blimin freezing that day too

OP posts:
HoffiCoffi13 · 03/03/2020 20:17

They said they will add door bells to all exterior doors, all kids at school will be spoken to about 'asking for help' and that no children will be allowed to go outside after registration and finally that site managers will check school grounds for personal belongings

That sounds like a thorough and appropriate plan of action. What else specifically would you like them to do?

Thesearmsofmine · 03/03/2020 20:18

I’m not sure what else you want fibrin them?

reefedsail · 03/03/2020 20:18

They said they will add door bells to all exterior doors, all kids at school will be spoken to about 'asking for help' and that no children will be allowed to go outside after registration and finally that site managers will check school grounds for personal belongings.

They've done quite a bit more than just say sorry. What outcome are you hoping for?

Chattercino · 03/03/2020 20:18

Agree with @saraclara, nothing bad did happen to your child and the school have put measures in place to stop it happening again. We are all human...

monkeypigsysandy · 03/03/2020 20:19

Why didn't they knock on a window ?

Original poster
Hutch1n5 · 03/03/2020 20:25

The kids actually tried to prize the door open with sticks. They didn't want to get into trouble by leaving the area of the playground they were allowed into to head around the other side of the school to knock on a window. They are only 7 and did what they thought was right

OP posts:
waterbottle12 · 03/03/2020 20:25

Sounds like a thorough and well thought out response. what are you after. money?

Original poster
Hutch1n5 · 03/03/2020 20:27

Not about money in the slightest! Im not 100% sure what more they could do hence Im on here asking for help

OP posts:
reefedsail · 03/03/2020 20:28

If this had happened to my DS I would have told him being cold for 30mins should remind him not to leave his coat on the playground in the future.

FizzAfterSix · 03/03/2020 20:28

The definition of helicopter parenting.

PanicAndRun · 03/03/2020 20:28

While I agree it's not good the teacher didn't realise they were missing for 35 minutes,
Actually the school are taking this very seriously and at a cost (installing the door bells) so I don't know what else you need from them. They are taking steps to ensure this doesn't happen again and still take responsibility for the kids belongings. Most school would've just done a blanket policy of no kids outside for any reason unless a grownup is available to go with them.

monkeypigsysandy · 03/03/2020 20:29

What do you want them to do ?

forrestgreen · 03/03/2020 20:30

Seems a good outcome. And hopefully your child won't leave their coat again.

CalleighDoodle · 03/03/2020 20:32

Can they get out of the yard?

Again they have responded with a detailed plan.

I think you do know what you want. You just dont want people saying how unreasonable what you want is.

VioletCharlotte · 03/03/2020 20:33

Could they not have banged on the door or window to draw attention to themselves? My children were playing out at 7, they wouldn't have been at all concerned by this.

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