Colleague not doing job

[Gingercatlover]

If you had a colleague that was supposed to be part of a team of three supervising children and they just sat in a corner looking at their phone and ignoring the children, how would you handle it?

Go to whoever you trust in a senior position and tell them.

Surely phones aren't allowed round children for a start...
Most school policies don't allow that?

They shouldn't have their phone out in front of the children. However, without knowing the context of the supervision, it can get boring just sat there "supervising" with nothing to do, with two other members of staff, if that's the case. If you feel like a spare part, getting your phone out is usually the go to thing.

I remember taking children swimming, and I wasn't needed. The swim coach did everything, so I took my school laptop in and did some work, whilst keeping an eye, otherwise I was just sat there looking lost. Perhaps give them some work to do.

Ofcourse if this isn't the case, and children actually need support / help and the staff member is ignoring them, then the staff member should be told to do so, by their line manager or SLT. I might be wrong, perhaps they are being totally lazy but perhaps they arn't clear what it is they need to do and need direction? Do the other two staff members take over? As I say, I don't know the context so just guessing.

Exactly!

Thanks for your reply.

This person is employed to supervise and engage with the children, but chooses to sit in a corner and look at their phone.

They absolutely shouldn’t, A, have their phone out and B, should be watching as part of the job.
They are generally lazy and known for it throughout the school.

I have spoken to my line manager and she doesn’t want to deal with it.
Next step is SLT as I feel this is a safeguarding concern, as well as an accident waiting to happen

Other support staff know what is happening but haven’t said anything.

Are you the person's line manager or is it not your job to tell them?

Just make SLT aware, and I would be recording/ emailing what you have done, so that you are not held accountable. If you have informed your line manager, SLT, and have a record of it, I would then stop worrying. It's up to them to deal with it, and should anything happen, you will be in the clear as you can prove that you made your concerns known.

@TeacherPrimaryabc No, not line manager.

Having a phone out is a safeguarding issue. This needs to be passed on to SLT.

Phones near children = safeguarding concern. Report to the head.

Have reported it now, but it continues despite the person concerned being told to stop doing this by SLT so today I have been in to report again.

I will keep doing so until it stops, can’t actually believe the audacity of this person though!