discharge of junior children at hometime

[quill]

Hi
Was just wondering what others opinions are on this and if all junior schools are the same.
My ds has just moved up into junior school and a couple of the other moms were talking to me about how surprised they are on how they simply let the children go without actually checking that a parent is there first.

While alot of children are actually old enough to come out themselves and even walk home themselves some parents at the school think that for the younger ones age 7 that teachers should be making sure there is a parent there for them first.
I myself think that maybe its not necessary although I would be a bit anxious if I was running late on getting there however I do think that 7 is mature enough to know to stand and wait by the school.
Its so different from the infants where they came out class by class and the teacher only let each child go once they had seen their parent waiting for them if the parent was not there they would take them back into school and would even check up on the identity of anyone not familiar coming to get them.
Just wondering if this was normal practice at junior school as it seems to have surprised alot of parents whose children have also moved up from infant school.

I would agree entirely Anna, but in the case of OP the staff don't see it as a problem. If there was a danger I am sure they would change the system. In my small town it is perfectly possible for all schools to expect 7 yr olds to get from the classroom door to the parent. If OP isn't happy the best bet is to be waiting by the correct door.(If she has a younger DC, who will be handed to her, then she can get him/her second.

I have been slated before for saying this, but at my ds prep (yrs 3-8) school , ALL children must be signed out every day, otherwise you get a phone call.

I was the one who slated you MABS! However it wasn't to do with your DS, it was for your teenage DD.
It depends entirely on the situation of the school.
In my area, infants are handed to a parent,childminder etc and juniors find their parent and it is perfectly reasonable. Secondary DCs either get a coach, bus, walk, cycle or collected by car. It is a gradual progression.

DD was in year 8 at that time AbbeyA, so was in prep school,that's what i was referring to - the school not the child.

She has just started senior school at yr 9, no more signing out now.

Pretty normal for 7 yr olds to make their own way home or to a meetin gplace.

Sorry, I didn't read it properly! I think age 3 to 8yrs is perfectly sensible. Year 7 and 8 would irk me beyond belief. However lets not start that one again! You are happy with it and luckily I have never had to do it, so we will just have to agree to disagree.

nope ous school has teachers releasing ks2 kids to parents / carers

We just hang around in the playground for dd1 and she's always one of the last out - too busy gossiping while I'm getting drowned outside.

I'm surprised that parents/carers can't wait in playgrounds for the children though.

Depends how many parents would actually be waiting in the playground. They can get in the way something shocking.

I meant as opposed to waiting outside on the pavement - isn't that more dangerous with cars?

are playgrounds that small?

Ours yr 3-6's all come out without a teacher and the children are all told to go back into the main office if no-one is there for them.

If a parent knows they will be late they ring the school and the child waits in the main reception area.

Its never been a problem.

If 180 kidsa re coming out of school and you have 180 parents waiting for them, yes playgrounds often are quite small.

At my previous school (a very large state junior school) the yr 3s were just let out at home time. There were 120+ 7 year olds leaving at the same time... it was just not feasable for the teachers to check individuals.

At my current school (a small independent school) the teachers escort their class out (from Nursery age to Year 6) and then shake hands and says good afternoon to each child when their parent arrives to collect them.

It is old fashioned, but lovely!

Also our infants school sends its year 2's out without a teacher with the same "if xxxx isn't there come back in" instruction.
It was never a problem.

no LucyCat the playgrounds are huge and there are two of them ( one for yr3 and 4 and other year 5 and 6) , having gone to the same school as a child I can tell you it was a nightmare at hometime as people park cars there as well.

The thing is the school is just by a very busy main road and several children have been knocked down over the years coming home from school

agreed Abbey