There is a child

[meriad]

It's awful - poor child. Debih, I so agree that children shouldn't start until 6 or so. That's the age both in SA and in Germany to start school - with leeway one year either side depending on a child's abilities and maturity.

As for the schools not allowed to comfort / cuddle - too sad. I remember at the school where T & A were (well A is still there), a child wet his trousers once and was too distraught to get himself sorted so they had to call the parent. Poor child sat like that until the mom arrived because the teachers weren't allowed to do anything. They provided blankets and towels, but weren't allowed to help him undress

It must be so hard for a teacher as well though if you think about it - what they want to do and what the law allows them to?

[debih]

I think it depends on the school.

I know at the primary school mine went to and which I was a governor at (which I no longer am - hurrah) the female staff there were quite cuddly with the children. If a child hurt themselves or cried, they would pick them up or give them a hug.

The male staff both felt that it was inappropriate for them to do the same.

Sad.

[Ally]

That's what I was thinking Loz, are they allowed to touch children any more? It comes to something when PC means you can't cuddle a 4 year who is distraught

It stopped just after I posted thankfully, but if it happens again I might just call them, make them aware that people do notice!!

A few years ago my sister (as a fully qualified teacher) went on a school trip with lots of pupils from her school and one little boy was very upset on the first night at bed time..really missing his mum.

Michele sat on his bed with her arm around the little lad and soon comforted him better.

BUT! someone reported her (this makes me fume) and sis was given a telling off for being "over familiar"!! with the child.

I ask you!!!!!

Thank goodness this is not the case here - in my last little school sometimes I'd have one child on each knee and one round my neck!

Where on earth has it gone wrong that one cannot comfort an obvious distressed child?

[saundra]

poor mite
our lilly is only 4 (july)
and i think she is ok but is tired its a long day
but k had no option but to let lilly go at 4 from
her little nusery because she is at uni 3 days a week
its all this health and safety my friend was a school play ground /dinner lady she said it was murder you had to report every last thing
and kids cant even play ball or skip
but saying that some kids are not even toilet trained properly

[Gal]

He probably just needs a cuddle and distracting, but are teachers allowed to cuddle children any more?

No I don't believe they are....hence why mums have to apply sun cream etc before the child goes to school

It's a terrible state of affairs

[Kaz]

It is shocking. I must say I noticed a big difference in such things between when Chris started school in 1983 and B starting in 1999. So much had changed!

Ally I'm glad the Spanish seem to have more sense

I will be around at the same time tomorrow and will listen out Loz xx

[Ally]

This has just reminded me...

Over here it is utterly completely normal to 'pet and fuss' a baby/small child - in fact, the parents seem to take great pride in the fact you've singled their child out to lavish attention on.
They don't mind a jot if you take the child's hand, chuckle its chin, muss their hair or even give it a little kiss..they are a very tactile nation so none of this is odd.

Last week in Birmingham there was a little dote of a girl in her pushchair and I immediately went to do what I'd normally do here..but pulled myself up in time in case the mother thought I was a nutter.

[Kaz]

Sad to say it was probably just as well Ally - what a shame though!!!!

[debih]

......... thought I was a nutter.

She'd have been right there then.

[Ally]

......... thought I was a nutter.

She'd have been right there then.

Oh indeed.