Parents - Help I need advice

[Loubbylou]

My 4 year old started school last week. I took some time off work to drop him off and pick him up the first week. This week the childminder has been picking him up as I work Monday to Wednesday. The problem is he keeps going wandering at home time. If he has left his coat or lunch bag inside they send him back in to get them and thats were the problem is because he then comes back out another door and then just sets off out of school by himself. The teacher is obviously busy handing over the other children to parents and and the childmider picks up other children so she is outside with them.

The teacher and childminder have both said a child may do this once but as soon as they see how worried the teacher, parents or childminder are they don't do it again. I am a nervous wreck, I have tried talking to him about it telling how dangerous it is and I have tried punishments such as no TV or DS but he just does it again the next day.

Has anyone else had a similar problem and if so how did you sort it.

Louise

 

[natalielongstaff]

The teacher should be aware that this is happening and take steps to ensure that your child hasn't got the chance to go off on his own !
especially in the reception class

 

[Netty]

As the teacher is aware of his wandering,she should be putting procedures in place to stop this happening. surely there is also support staff with the pupils as well? after all you have put your child in the trust of the school, they should be making sure he doesnt wander regardless of how many pupils the teacher has to deal with.

 

[emily1982]

If the childminder has asked the child go back into school it is her responsibility. I just know from my experience of working in a reception class I would probably keep an eye out for the child, but if he has been handed to the child minder prehaps their not aware she is not keeping an eye on him. But then if the child has been sent back by the teacher i would definately have a word.

 

[Loubbylou]

The teacher should be aware that this is happening and take steps to ensure that your child hasn't got the chance to go off on his own !
especially in the reception class

I am going to talk to the teacher tomorrow and ask her to make sure he doesn't get the oppotunity again. I think that he is just finding his feet. At his previous nursery it was locked doors and only one door so he just never faced this problem before.

 

[Loubbylou]

As the teacher is aware of his wandering,she should be putting procedures in place to stop this happening. surely there is also support staff with the pupils as well? after all you have put your child in the trust of the school, they should be making sure he doesnt wander regardless of how many pupils the teacher has to deal with.

There is support staff but to be honest with you at home time it seems a bit like badly organised chaos

 

[Loubbylou]

If the childminder has asked the child go back into school it is her responsibility. I just know from my experience of working in a reception class I would probably keep an eye out for the child, but if he has been handed to the child minder prehaps their not aware she is not keeping an eye on him. But then if the child has been sent back by the teacher i would definately have a word.

I do think I am going to have a word with the childminder too. She has very good recomendations but my son is the only reception child she has at the moment and maybe she has just forgot that they still very young and get confused in new situations

 

[Netty]

Hope you get it all sorted

 

[Loubbylou]

Hope you get it all sorted

Thanks, I hope I hope I get it sorted too as its probably at bit excessive to have him fitted with GPS

 

[Pinky166]

Thanks, I hope I hope I get it sorted too as its probably at bit excessive to have him fitted with GPS

Oh bless. It must be very scary for you.

 

[Loubbylou]

Oh bless. It must be very scary for you.

I'm terrified and it is so out of character for him as when he is out with me he knows never to go out of my eyeline. I think he is just confused by the new routine.

 

[shellbell]

I think you could maybe have a word with the child minder and the teacher to make sure that they both know where he is at the end if school. I'm sure he doesn't understand what he is doing. At dd's school they are not aloud to leave the classroom until they know that there is someone there to pick them up. Hope you get this sorted.

 

[Loubbylou]

I think you could maybe have a word with the child minder and the teacher to make sure that they both know where he is at the end if school. I'm sure he doesn't understand what he is doing. At dd's school they are not aloud to leave the classroom until they know that there is someone there to pick them up. Hope you get this sorted.

I think the main problem is that although the teacher does line all the children up and then hand them out to the person collecting them, because dd then has to go back in for his coat or something and she has already handed him out she obviously thinks he is the childminders responsibilty but the childminder has sent him back in so she thinks he is the teachers responsibilty again. I can understand why they both think that but when a childs safety is at stake surely it's wise to double check

 

[natalielongstaff]

I do think I am going to have a word with the childminder too. She has very good recomendations but my son is the only reception child she has at the moment and maybe she has just forgot that they still very young and get confused in new situations

I pick up children from various classes and i collect them in order of age the youngest children are too young to be worrying at home time, the older children know to wait at the school gates for me.

 

[PoppyAnna]

Does the teaching assistant come out with them too?

I think pick-up is much easier when there are two teaching staff at home time.
Firstly, I think the teaching staff must take special care to ensure that your son has all of his possesions so there is NO reason for him to return to class or his bag/coat peg. Secondly, for the foreseeable future if he does forget something and he needs to go back he should wait and hold hands with his teacher until all the other children are dismissed and an adult can go with him.
My DD's school is a very modern building with only one way in/out and the Head Teacher stands on the gate, this gives me great peace of mind, the playground is a very busy place at home time.
I feel for you it's scary enough when your little one starts school.
Best of luck getting it sorted

 

[PoppyAnna]

I pick up children from various classes and i collect them in order of age the youngest children are too young to be worrying at home time, the older children know to wait at the school gates for me.

Nice one Nat
I wish more people thought like you - even with their own children. My eldest DD started reception last year and it struck how many Mums picked up their eldest first and stood gossiping with the other Mums whilst their youngest were sometimes last to be picked up from the whole reception class

 

[Loubbylou]

I pick up children from various classes and i collect them in order of age the youngest children are too young to be worrying at home time, the older children know to wait at the school gates for me.

The childminder stands in one spot (but it is outside the reception doors) and all the children come to her. I think I will tell her her that if he has forgotten something not to worry just leave it as like most kids he has another coat and lunch bag, then i can pick his other items up on Thursday. If the school complain about all his stuff mounting up I'll just tell them it wouldn't be necessary if they kept someone in the cloakroom making sure the kids can't backtrack through the school.

Does the teaching assistant come out with them too?

I think pick-up is much easier when there are two teaching staff at home time.
Firstly, I think the teaching staff must take special care to ensure that your son has all of his possesions so there is NO reason for him to return to class or his bag/coat peg. Secondly, for the foreseeable future if he does forget something and he needs to go back he should wait until all the other children are dismissed and an adult can go with him.
My DD's school is a very modern building with only one way in/out and the Head Teacher stands on the gate, this gives me great peace of mind, the playground is a very busy place at home time.
I feel for you it's scary enough when your little one starts school.
Best of luck getting it sorted

I can't understand why he keeps leaving his stuff as the door they come out of is through the cloakroom and the door is locked until all the children are ready. There are only about 20 children in each of the two reception classes and two teachers and two assistants to hand the children out, surely this is a situation that should not be happening.

 

[The Fetherstons]

Ahh poor little thing, good luck with getting it sorted