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Primary education

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Original poster

Ds not collected after school. Am I over reacting?

17 replies

LynetteScavo · 24/02/2008 20:31

DS2 is in reception (he's not yet 5). Twice a week, on the days I work, he's collected by the after school club staff and looked after by them (on the school grounds) untill I collect him at around 4pm.

On Friday I was earlier than usual, and as I aproached the school at 3.30 I saw DS sitting in the school entrance, as the staff hadn't collected him.(Apparently a TA had told the after school club DS had already gone home)

This is the 2nd time this has happend, and once he was taken to the club on a day I collect him staight from school, making me late to pick up DS1.

I'm bloody furious this has happened, and really want to let the owner of after school club (it's a chain of 3 day care centres)have the full force of my fury tommorow morning.

Am I over reacting? Should I find a childminder to collect him instead? Should I threaten not to send DD to the "day care" next year? Can I go to OFSTED with this?

OP posts:

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colditz · 24/02/2008 20:32

YANBU and YES go to OFSTed

How old is he?

ingles2 · 24/02/2008 20:33

I would be absolutely furious lynette. Write a very serious letter of complaint to everyone involved, school, club, ofsted

fryalot · 24/02/2008 20:35

You are absolutely NOT overreacting.

quint · 24/02/2008 20:36

You are definitely not over reacting, I would be furious

Heated · 24/02/2008 20:42

YANBU.

I would have a very strong word with the head and the person in charge of the after-school childcare.

Really stunned at the cavalier attitude to the supervision of the children in their charge. Couldn't get away with this at secondary!

Would expect an apology as well as an explanation of how this will not happen again in the future.

If I thought my concerns were not taken seriously then I would star putting things in writing.

nametaken · 24/02/2008 22:02

You are not over-reacting and you should definately report this to Ofsted.

southeastastra · 24/02/2008 22:05

the TA seems to be at fault though, why did she not know your son was still at school? talk to the school first.

islandofsodor · 24/02/2008 22:07

YANBU but it should be the TA you should complain about, not the after school club.

quint · 26/02/2008 19:14

So what happened? What did the school say?

DloeufyDoo · 26/02/2008 19:17

NOT over reacting!

SpringSunshine · 26/02/2008 21:31

This is appalling - our school are paranoid about security and even those running the after school clubs make sure the children are collected or they are taken to Tea club.

Thye won't even leave them with other parents who they see every week chatting with the mother and the child clearly knows becasue the child is their responsibilty until handed over to a parent or another staff member.

definiytley complain especially as this is not the first time - think what could have happened if you had not been early (sorry do not want to scare you but the entire staff associated with this needs a rocket)

RustyBear · 26/02/2008 21:57

I don't think it's just the TA you should be complaining about - the after school club should also accept responsibilty for any child booked in.

At the school I work at, if a child on the list is not there when they come to collect,after checking to make sure they're not just dallying/playing football/in the loo, first we check the sign-out book, where all children who have gone home sick are entered, and then we ring the parents - if they can't be contacted whoever is in the office will look out for them, and the after school club (which is in a nearby sports centre) will be informed & will keep trying to contact the parents/emergency contact.

If they still can't be found it gets passed to the head who will then decide appropriate action - luckily so far this hasn't happened.

Our school and the club have a written policy for this - I don't know if it's a requirement though - we may just be a bit more aware of these issues because we're only a few miles from Broadmoor & have to have a written procedure in case of an escape.

Original poster

LynetteScavo · 26/02/2008 22:58

The owner of the after school club isn't reurning my phone calls, even though I've left messages outlining why I'm calling.
DS has been off sick so far this week, but I shall be having a word with the head in person tommorow morning.

OP posts:

Spidermama · 26/02/2008 23:07

Good for you Lynette. It's totally unacceptable.

hatwoman · 26/02/2008 23:14

it's really not rocket science for the school, the teachers, and the club to have proper systems in place to ensure this doesn't happen. it's not rocket science and is an absolutely essential part of running schools and clubs. I would ask very specifically what system they have. ask to look at it. ask why it was possible that this happened.

Original poster

LynetteScavo · 27/02/2008 09:47

Spoke to the school head this morning; she was rather put out the school were being blamed, and agreed after school club needed to tighten procedures.

Spoke to owner of after school club, and was given a profuse appology. She has promised a collection policy would now be put in place, and a copy sent out to all staff and parents.

It seems DS was conifdent I was collecting him straight from his classroom, and all adults involved belived him. The owner agreed this wasn't acceptable and has assured me all children will be taken to the after school club on their regisered days, whether parents have said they'll collect them from school or not.

So do I pay for that session, or with hold £7.50 from this months cheque?

OP posts:

hatwoman · 27/02/2008 11:26

well done Lynette. I'm a bit they didn't already have a written collection policy but thanks to you they will now. also a wee bit dubious about the school's claim that it's not down to them. I appreciate there mustn't be too much onus on schools otherwise they can;t cope and will withdraw from this sort of stuff, but the club;s collection policy has to dovetail with the school's letting kids out policy iyswim. I guess at least the school didn;t turn ds out on his ear - so they weren't responsible for any safety breach. anyway well done for getting something changed

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