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Original poster

Leaving child alone after club

53 replies

Rachirooo · 22/09/2025 12:46

Hi. I am hoping for some reassurance. My son is 7

I arrived at after school club to pick my son up about 5 mins early. The TA taking the club told me that a teacher wanted a word with me. The teacher invited me inside for a chat. A chat which wasn't appropriate in front of my son.

While I was in the meeting the TA must have just left my son outside on his own and went home. In addition, the head teacher interrupted our meeting to get her stuff, spoke to my son about how muddy he was, but also left him on his own in the playground. Neither of them brought him inside where they knew I was.

Is this a breach? Surely they should never leave a child alone whatever the circumstances. Both knew where I was and could have brought him inside.

Thanks

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Meadowfinch · 22/09/2025 12:53

Presumably the playground was enclosed and locked, and your dc could come in to the school building if it started to rain?

DelphiniumBlue · 22/09/2025 12:55

If the Head teacher spoke to your son about his muddiness in front of you, was he visible from the room you were all in?
If the TA did just leave him by himself and go home without telling you, then clearly that is wrong. It seems a very strange thing for both the Head and the TA to do. I'd have expected the TA just to bring him to you, irrespective of the appropriateness of your chat with the teacher.

mugglewump · 22/09/2025 12:56

Is there any difference between him being outside on his own in the school playground and being inside but not in the room with you? I assume you could see him outside to know that is where he was, so that could be deemed safer than outside the room. If you couldn't see him, did you let the teacher know he was on his own? Also, how long was he on his own for? It sounds like you are looking for a stick to beat the school with.

Original poster
Rachirooo · 22/09/2025 12:59

Meadowfinch · 22/09/2025 12:53

Presumably the playground was enclosed and locked, and your dc could come in to the school building if it started to rain?

Hi.

No, the playground wasn't locked and the building doors automatically lock too.

Rain was the least of my concerns. My issue is regarding safeguarding. Both people left my son knowing he was alone yet they knew where I was.

I left my son to go inside knowing he was with the person running the club. I didn't think that they leave the premesis without passing him on to a responsible adult?

OP posts:
Pices · 22/09/2025 13:02

That’s poor of the TA. I don’t think I’d raise it but next time be very clear that you want him brought to you if they need to leave.

Original poster
Rachirooo · 22/09/2025 13:03

DelphiniumBlue · 22/09/2025 12:55

If the Head teacher spoke to your son about his muddiness in front of you, was he visible from the room you were all in?
If the TA did just leave him by himself and go home without telling you, then clearly that is wrong. It seems a very strange thing for both the Head and the TA to do. I'd have expected the TA just to bring him to you, irrespective of the appropriateness of your chat with the teacher.

No, when I questioned my son about it as we went home, my son told me that the head had laughed at the state of his trousers as she walked past him to go home.

I didn't see anything as he wasn't visible from where we were having the meeting.

OP posts:
TheNightingalesStarling · 22/09/2025 13:04

What age? There will be a massive difference between 10yo and 4yo (although not good for a 10yo, they should be fine waiting five minutes)

Poirot1983 · 22/09/2025 13:05

No, I feel that common sense should have dictated that the TA would have taken your child indoors before she went home. Or waited for your meeting with the teacher to finish.

What kind of comment did the teacher make about the mud? Jokey? 'Oooh look at how muddy you are' kind of thing?

I suppose really the teacher knew the finish time of the club and should have either kept the chat with you brief, asked the TA to hang on for you or instruct the TA to bring your child inside to you before they left for the day.

I just don't think much common sense has been used here. It's not your fault as you would have assumed the TA would be with him and also you were 5 minutes early so the club was still running and other children would have been there.

Poirot1983 · 22/09/2025 13:06

TheNightingalesStarling · 22/09/2025 13:04

What age? There will be a massive difference between 10yo and 4yo (although not good for a 10yo, they should be fine waiting five minutes)

It's in the OP 'My son is 7'

Indianajet · 22/09/2025 13:06

When I ran an after school club, I never left a child unsupervised. I think that is very poor behaviour.

TheNightingalesStarling · 22/09/2025 13:08

Poirot1983 · 22/09/2025 13:06

It's in the OP 'My son is 7'

Show quote history

I read it three times and completely missed that! Thank you.

PurpleThistle7 · 22/09/2025 13:09

This wouldn’t occur to me to be an issue but if it is for you then just tell the teacher the time doesn’t work for you and pick up your child after the club next time. You knew what time he’d be finishing and they knew you were there. If it doesn’t work for you or your child was distressed then just don’t do it again.

pizzaHeart · 22/09/2025 13:10

TA should have brought him inside and told you that she was leaving .
Im suprised that head didn’t ask him why he was sitting alone, it’s a huge red flag for me. In DD’s primary any teacher would.

Original poster
Rachirooo · 22/09/2025 13:11

mugglewump · 22/09/2025 12:56

Is there any difference between him being outside on his own in the school playground and being inside but not in the room with you? I assume you could see him outside to know that is where he was, so that could be deemed safer than outside the room. If you couldn't see him, did you let the teacher know he was on his own? Also, how long was he on his own for? It sounds like you are looking for a stick to beat the school with.

I'm concerned that you don't see an issue.

He was left by a TA and the head with absolutely no supervision in an unsecure area.

I'd have rather they both told me they had to leave than leave him alone anywhere in the school, inside or outside.

They called the meeting, not me, so I'd have quite happily ended it early than have him unsupervised.

And finally, no, I couldn't see him from the location of the meeting.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rachirooo · 22/09/2025 13:12

TheNightingalesStarling · 22/09/2025 13:04

What age? There will be a massive difference between 10yo and 4yo (although not good for a 10yo, they should be fine waiting five minutes)

He's 7 and I would say he was left at least 30 minutes alone.

OP posts:
confusedlots · 22/09/2025 13:14

Thats very concerning, I’d definitely take it further. In our school children have to be handed over to an adult up to the age of 8, after which they can walk home on their own etc if the parent has given written consent. Do you have a similar policy? In which case I would raise it in that way.

Original poster
Rachirooo · 22/09/2025 13:15

pizzaHeart · 22/09/2025 13:10

TA should have brought him inside and told you that she was leaving .
Im suprised that head didn’t ask him why he was sitting alone, it’s a huge red flag for me. In DD’s primary any teacher would.

THANK YOU!

I can't believe how other mums are saying they don't think it's an issue. It's not an issue until a kid is abducted.

The TA and the head could have passed him on to me if they needed to leave. I would have happily ended the meeting - it wasn't even planned, they surprised me with it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rachirooo · 22/09/2025 13:16

confusedlots · 22/09/2025 13:14

Thats very concerning, I’d definitely take it further. In our school children have to be handed over to an adult up to the age of 8, after which they can walk home on their own etc if the parent has given written consent. Do you have a similar policy? In which case I would raise it in that way.

Thanks! I think they can walk home alone in Yr 6 if you give written permission. My son is in yr 3.

OP posts:
TallulahLikesHoola · 22/09/2025 13:17

Rachirooo · 22/09/2025 13:12

He's 7 and I would say he was left at least 30 minutes alone.

Show quote history

Your after school meeting about muddy trousers lasted 35 minutes?!
Had all the other children and staff left half an hour previously?!

Thingsthatgo · 22/09/2025 13:18

I don’t understand why you didn’t check where your son was at the time the club finished. I would have just said to the teacher you were meeting, DS’s club has just ended, can he wait outside the room while we talk? I wouldn’t have assumed someone else can stay for 30 minutes to mind him.

Original poster
Rachirooo · 22/09/2025 13:19

Poirot1983 · 22/09/2025 13:05

No, I feel that common sense should have dictated that the TA would have taken your child indoors before she went home. Or waited for your meeting with the teacher to finish.

What kind of comment did the teacher make about the mud? Jokey? 'Oooh look at how muddy you are' kind of thing?

I suppose really the teacher knew the finish time of the club and should have either kept the chat with you brief, asked the TA to hang on for you or instruct the TA to bring your child inside to you before they left for the day.

I just don't think much common sense has been used here. It's not your fault as you would have assumed the TA would be with him and also you were 5 minutes early so the club was still running and other children would have been there.

Thanks I appreciate that. Yes the TA was there when I arrived but left him as I was in the meeting. They were playing in the playground.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rachirooo · 22/09/2025 13:24

Thingsthatgo · 22/09/2025 13:18

I don’t understand why you didn’t check where your son was at the time the club finished. I would have just said to the teacher you were meeting, DS’s club has just ended, can he wait outside the room while we talk? I wouldn’t have assumed someone else can stay for 30 minutes to mind him.

Edited

It's a teacher's duty of care.

The meeting was sprung on me without notice, if they organise it and ask me to go in so my son didn't hear the conversation, shouldn't they be responsible?

No matter what, a teacher should not leave a child alone in an unsecure space. They should pass on to another responsible adult. I'd have quite happily ended the meeting.

I saw a thread on here where a child was left outside school and a teacher got sacked. How is this any different?

OP posts:
Original poster
Rachirooo · 22/09/2025 13:27

Indianajet · 22/09/2025 13:06

When I ran an after school club, I never left a child unsupervised. I think that is very poor behaviour.

I agree. Thank you. Then double whammy with the head teacher passing him to leave too.

OP posts:
Poirot1983 · 22/09/2025 13:27

Just seen your update, OP. Any amount of time would have been too long but half an hour is definitely far too long.

I would bring this up with the teacher, definitely.

I imagine that you were involved in the conversation and assumed the TA was still with your son. You are not in the wrong here.

arethereanyleftatall · 22/09/2025 13:28

Thingsthatgo · 22/09/2025 13:18

I don’t understand why you didn’t check where your son was at the time the club finished. I would have just said to the teacher you were meeting, DS’s club has just ended, can he wait outside the room while we talk? I wouldn’t have assumed someone else can stay for 30 minutes to mind him.

Edited

I also think it’s really strange that as soon as it went past the closing time of the ASC you didn’t query who was looking after your son.

also whilst accepting that they didn’t do stuff right, are you trying to deflect and find something else to focus on rather than the actual problem which you don’t want to think about?