Have you got a back up plan?

Sorry Joli but this is a stick up.

Rm I am taking Dylan to your dentist after he broke his front tooth. He may not be around after Sat.

I think we put our faith in schools following a system, but often they do not.

More than once my kids schools have allowed my children to go home with other people without my permission or my knowledge!

To say I had a shit-fit would be an understatement. The fact that they both did it again, made me realise that our kids are seriously at risk when we leave them at schools and we assume schools are going to follow the strict rules/security regulations that they say they will.

I am not sure what to do to ENSURE the school sticks to thier rules - and both are really good schools, but for some reason have contravened their own rules more than once of allowing kids to leave with out permission from the parents.

It is very worrying.

Joli, This is really such a good topic to start. At the moment I dont need to worry as Jaydon is still at nursery school but he goes to big school and I have been stressing myself lately about what I am going to be doing with him for afterschool. I want to send him to the afterschool at the nursery school he is at now, but then stress that he wonders off after school instead of waiting for his lift.

RM, thats such a good idea on the card in the bags. I think I will try that for next year.
All tips you guys are giving now, will be awesome.

Julz, 2 years ago when my younger sister was in a school in Joburg, her lift never picked her up. When my mom went driving looking for her, she was hiding behind a bush as she was so scared and the school gates were locked. My mom went to the school the next day and there excuse was that they have to lock up at a certain time in the afternoons and there is no staff to watch to watch the children. We just couldnt believe the lack of security the school offered children

I like the business card idea. THX RM. Will do that as well and for Megan as well as soon as she's back at school. Kayla at least now knows both my number and hubby's number as well as our address. You need to teach them as soon as you can.

She also knows not to leave the school and I keep telling her that she's not allowed to wait at the gate for her lift - she must wait inside the school yard.

Julz there is an aftercare centre at the school, so your child should wait for you there. The girl that was waiting at the Grade 0 class was obviously not seen as she was hiding under the jungle gym.

We definitely need to arm our kids with a plan and what to do in the event of a lift that does not arrive!

I also put my business card into my kids school bags, so if there is ever an issue, they can take out the card and give it to someone and say "please call my mom!"

I just keep dumping cards in the bags, so even if they get lost, I always know there is one in there.

I also tell them never to leave the school - never go out the gate or the door, if I am not there get someone to phone me.

NEVER LEAVE THE SCHOOL!!!

Wow thanks Joli. Really important. Shocking tha the schools don't have a plan where they check the grounds.

I was shocked to hear that the schools lock up now. Years ago we could wait in the library. Apparently not so anymore.

Yes RM - I kept telling myself yesterday whilst driving to the school - she will be there, she will be there, she will be there!! Imagine she wasn't there. I told Dorcas yesterday that she can't just assume - Kayla only stays after school on a Wednesday. If she was missing, it would have been like 4 hours later. Too late to do anything! Also spoke to my friend today and told her to rather call or to give me a missed call so I can call back.