Is it acceptable for a child to be given a detention for being too early to lessons?

[Carsgoingby]

Interested in other peoples thoughts on this - twelve year old turning up ten minutes early every time the lesson is after break / lunch. Teacher has repeatedly asked them not to.

Yes if they’ve repeatedly been asked not to. But why are they doing it? Are they being bullied at break time? A good teacher would want to get to the bottom of that.

A detention is a bit much but it rude and disrespectful to be so early. Just as bad as being late. Why is this child so early after break? Are they having friendship issues or is there bullying? Are they anxious about being late?

They aren't getting a detention for turning up early, but for not listening to instructions. I'd be concerned the pupil was struggling with friendships or something but must also be frustrating for the teacher.

Its a bit disrespectful as the child is essentially showing that they believe they deserve an extra ten minutes of the teachers time, time when the teacher will either be on a break or getting the lesson ready.

Many schools also ban children have free run of school during breaks as anywhere a child could possibly go needs adult supervision. A few one of incidents, fine, but to continually ignore instruction from the teacher does need to be punished as the child is refusing to listen.

Is the kid hanging around in the corridor (out of bounds at break), or bothering the teacher who wants to have lunch in peace?

If the kid is seeking refuge from unstructured time then that’s one thing, but if just refusing to follow a reasonable instruction, that’s another.

Are you the teacher or the parent. Have you asked the student why they prefer to sit in an empty classroom rather than take their full break. I would be concerned they are being bullied. No, detention is not needed, the student has done nothing wrong.

They are refusing to follow instructions. That is detention worthy.

If I was the teacher though I'd be wanting to find out why they were early. The first thing that would cross my mind is they are being bullied and trying to avoid being on the yard during breaks.
I wouldn't go straight to detention before ruling that out.

Are they in an area they aren't allowed to be at that time by being early?

But I agree... is there a reason they are being early that needs looking into?

They have been asked not to and have not heeded this. The next step I guess is to be punished.

If your child has been repeatedly asked by a teacher not to be early then they should listen and not be early.

That said, I'm an early rather than late person and would be there at least 5 minutes early.

Bullying or SEN a factor? I bet one is.

The detention is for not following instructions.

Has the teacher suggested what or where they could wait instead? Are they safe wherever that is?

Are you op with a name change

They are repeatedly ignoring instructions and appearing places they are not supposed to be at that time. A detention is fine

If the detention is because of them not doing as they've been asked yes I think it's acceptable.
I'd hope the teacher would have investigated the reason for turning up early first though

Nope, i've just said the same thing as a few other posters, not sure why you've picked my post

The bigger picture, as others have said, is that the child can not cope with unstructured times - this could be a variety of reasons but all need looking at and discounting- no friends / bullying etc

No, detentions are pointless. Could he be being bullied? I think a referral to guidance is more nurturing.

Sorry, I just thought you might be op as I didn't think we havent been told what the detention was for.

Seems reasonable as they are doing something they have repeatedly been asked not to do. I would be more worried about why they are doing it and a bit suprised the teacher hasn't thought about that either. I would suspect loneliness or bullying.

I also think that the detention is for not following the teacher's instructions - it may be that the pupil is turning up early for another reason which needs looking in to, but turning up early to lessons isn't going to solve the problem. If it is a problem with unstructured time or bullying, does the school have a hub or support centre that the pupil could visit instead? If you are the parent OP, did you know this was happening (turning up early)?

It depends what they are doing when they turn up early and how many times it has happened.

Are they turning up early every lesson all year and distracting the teacher, E teeing the classroom unasked, eating inside, messing with stuff laid out for the lesson?

Well how on earth do you know that they haven't? Why wouldn't a teacher have thought of exactly what a load of mumsnetters have?

I think detention for repeatedly not following instructions is justified, yes.