Angry parents hand in 550-name petition over playground fears

Gary Fitzpatrick • Published 17 Jun 2010 07:30 18 Comments

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CONCERNED parents from the West Fife villages have handed over a 550-name petition to the council to protest at the "disastrous" decision to axe playground assistant posts.

The parents fear the cutbacks could put their children's safety at risk and lead to increased bullying.

Parents at the Oakley campus have been at the forefront of the campaign and spokesperson Lorraine Peden said, "We as parents and carers have great concerns with the budget cuts which have led to the removal of playground assistants from our children's schools.

"The fear is that having no playground assistants in the playground will lead to a lack of discipline which will then be carried into the classroom and will disrupt classes."

She added, "The Fife administration are saying the alternative to playground assistants is to use teachers or classroom assistants.

"When do they propose these members of staff get their breaks?

"An even more concerning suggestion from Fife administration is to use kids to monitor the playground.

"If these same kids are the bullies what chance do our kids have?

"Is this the start of what's to come in the education cuts?

"Parents of Fife please wake up before it's too late.

"And councillors should be held to account for this disastrous decision."

Jennifer Roy, who handed over the petition, asked, "Who will lead the structured play in the playground and who will deal with any accidents which are likely to happen?

"Our teachers have enough to deal with currently without making their jobs more difficult."

They were accompanied at Fife House by Labour councillor Bobby Clelland who said, "The amount of signatures collected in a short time demonstrates the strong feeling against the SNP/Lib Dem administration's cutting funding for the playground assistants without any consultation with the parents."

Fife education chair, the SNP's Douglas Chapman, hit back, "Despite the Labour government creating the worst economic conditions in living memory, Labourites like Councillor Clelland need to think differently about this future they have created for all of us.

"Councillor Clelland raises the issue of playground supervision at Inzievar, for example, yet this is not a concern for the headteacher and she also informs me that this is not a concern for the school's parent council.

"The children are as safe as they ever were and the playground is still being supervised albeit in a different way.

"However, as Councillor Clelland appears to have a lot of time on his hands and as a councillor he has been positively vetted, so why doesn't he think differently and approach the headteacher to see if he could spend some volunteer time with the school to cover a playtime or lunch break?

"There may be another few people who signed his petition who could also think differently and help out the school if, despite the headteacher's reassurances, they have any remaining concerns."

James McKinstry, education service senior manager (resources) said, "We are undergoing a period where we must re-think how we deliver our services to ensure we continue to provide the best education service possible but within necessary budget constraints.

"We recognise the work that has been undertaken by these valued members of staff, as well as the commitment they have given to the pupils and school.

"I know that many are an integral part of the school community and will be missed.

"However, we have been faced with the challenge of making considerable savings and we are doing all we can to ensure these have as little impact as possible on our pupils.

"In the future, alternative methods of delivering pupil supervision during break periods will be adopted."

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Caroline
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Jun 17, 09:32
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A friend of mine told me that her sons primary school have started using primary sevens as playground attendants. This is mad! What is a ten year old going to do if someone wanted to kidnap a kiddie from the playground? Not much, in fact they are a potential victim thenselves. What about accidents in the playground? The quick action of someone who has first aid training can sometimes be the difference between life and death if a child had a bad fall etc. I know these examples may be a worse case senarion but it can happen.

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Ben Dover
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Jun 17, 10:33
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I bet a petition to axe the staff would generate more signatures. Don't you people realise we're in the midst of our worst ever recession?!

Get over it.

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conncerend parent
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Jun 17, 11:15
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BEN dover i take it you dont have kids or grandkids .The councils only asking for trouble let these people have these jobs back for HEALTH AND SAFTEY REASONS.Why not let the big GUYS TAKE PAY CUT AND THIS WILL PAY FOR PLAY GROUND ASSISTANTS.They would be first to moan if there child got hurt or builled etc etc .OH and were coming out of recession ?

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saccus
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Jun 17, 12:34
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There wasn't any playground assistants in my day or previous generations at school. Kids can't even play conkers now because of H&S regulations.You learn as much in the playground about life as you do in the classroom. And to use the argument of kids being,hurt, bullied or abducted is just ridiculous. Why don't we all live and work from home in case the big bad world gets us!

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Geewhizz
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Jun 17, 15:34
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The response of our Primary School is to cut down lunch time to 40 minutes (!) and finish 15 minutes earlier in the day - fine if you do not have to pay for after school care.

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angel
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Jun 17, 20:52
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why don't parents of the children at school offer to do playground duties if they have a day off. i would gladly do it to make sure my children are safe.

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Ben Dover
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Jun 17, 21:15
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Health and Safety? Aye right enough school playgrounds are really dangerous places for kids to be. As mentioned by saccus, we didn't have Playground Assistants when we were at school, and I can assure you I didn't come to any harm because of it.

As I said, get over it, it's happening whether you like it or not. Away and find something else to moan about, like you're family tax credits being cut!

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mrs jones
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Jun 18, 11:16
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There are lots of things that we didn't have when saccus and bend over were young, such as the wheel or penicillin. That doesn't mean that they are not needed now. Pointless statement.

There weren't classroom assisstants or learning support staff either. Teaching was done by teachers and if you had a learning difficulty or behavioural problem you went to a "special" school. No longer. Inclusion means that children with all degrees of "challenges" are sent to mainstream school.

This is why all the "non-jobs" have been required to be put in place.

Also, society was not as broken as it is today, bringing about all the social problems that go with it.

I will make no apology for wanting my child supervised when they are not in the presence of their teacher during the school day. As a parent I would not leave them outside at home unattended at 5 years of age, so why would I want it any different at school? Nor would I expect my 11 year old to do it. He is still a child himself and that responsibility is not his - it's mine because I am the parent.

I pay my council tax along with everyone else and I am happy for some of it to be spent on playground supervisors. I consider it a worthwhile job which should not be disregarded simply because of the "we didn't have it in my day" brigade.

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Mrs S
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Jun 18, 12:36
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Angel, I agree with your point about parents. I work 3 days a week and would be more than happy to give up some of my own time on my non-work days to supervise in my son's school playground at breaktime.

And re: comments from "conncerened parent" about us coming out of a recession. We will only come out of recession if serious cuts are made. I work for Fife Council. They need to cut staff by at least 10% and save about £124 million. We are all nervously waiting to find out which jobs and services will be cut.

I hope there's as much public outcry for all the other council staff that risk losing their jobs.

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Gail
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Jun 18, 12:48
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"why don't parents of the children at school offer to do playground duties if they have a day off. i would gladly do it to make sure my children are safe"

Angel that was my thoughts exactly, there are enough parents that are in our school as unoffical helpers (libary duties, trips etc) to go round. i dont think anybody would have a problem with that. All it would mean is that the council would have to sort out disclosures and simple first aid.

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soon to be redundant
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Jun 18, 13:50
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So, James McKinstry, what are these "alternative methods of delivering pupil supervision during break periods" that will be adopted.

You informed us in MARCH about these job losses. I have not yet been advised either as a redundant playground supervisor or as a parent as to what these "methods" are to be.

So come on, spill the beans what, have you got up your cufflinked sleeve.

Or will it be the usual Council approach of seeing what turns up on August 18th?

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worried parent
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Jun 18, 14:53
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My child goes to Linburn Primary and there is often 'yobs' passing through the school playground, amongst the children who are out playing, haven been to the shop for a bottle of buckfast whilst smoking a cigarette (or worse).

How can the school think it is accptable to allow such a risk to the kids safety. Linburn is negligent at best when it comes to childrens safety and what little protection there was will now dissapear.

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Annie
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Jun 20, 16:31
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I take my child to school on the presumption that he is going to be looked after and safe. Already one child has "run away" during lunch break and the police had to be called.

My relative was a playground supervisor for many years and they do NOT get paid a lot for the sake of an hour and 1/2 per day..penny pinching springs to mind.

Of course cuts have to be made but bloody hell start then at the top of the tree and don't compromise my childs safety and every other kids safety in the process!!!

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total agreement
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Jun 20, 20:28
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Here, here. As usual take it away from the poorer end of the spectrum so the rich can stay richer.

James Mckinstry and Kenneth Greer, if the budget had been handled better in the first place-YOUR JOB- we wouldn't be in this position in the first place.

The buck stops at the top. And that's where the bucks should be cut. Along with heads!

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mother
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Jun 21, 10:09
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You just cant get anyone in to look after kids now not even parents that have time to help out as you have to be CHECKED OUT NOW ?

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Bob the Builder
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Jun 21, 23:47
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Any parental helpers should be SCRO checked by Disclosure Scotland before helping out in any school, in any capacity already. Full credit to the parents offering to fill this role - there are many parents who whine and moan about it being someone else's job whilst they sit on their collective *rses and complain about the effort others make. Fair comment by Ben Dover, never did me any harm either, but then there weren't as many convicted paedos, kiddie fiddlers and registered sex offenders at large in society either.

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Robert
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Jun 24, 12:50
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Instead of continually complaining how about some of you parents coming up with constructive ideas? The country is in the worst financial state in living memory and because most of the council's spending goes on wages some jobs will have to go. I know of many dozens of non-working young mums around Rosyth who could do a bit of unpaid supervision instead of leaving absolutely everything up to everyone else and complaining about it.

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Mrs S
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Jun 25, 09:35
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Why can't the teachers do it? They used to. My sister-in law is a teacher down south and couldn't believe that people are employed to do the job here. It's part of their remit to take a turn walking round the playground at lunchtimes.

Playground supervisors should never have come in to existence in the first place but if the teachers refuse to do it then it should fall to the parents to do it on a voluntary basis. Fair enough, some parents work full time and won't be able to but even in my son's small school of 200 or so pupils there are always volunteers for school trips etc.

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