write to the chair of governors saying how much your first child enjoys the school etc etc (positive BS) but that you have concerns about playground behaviour/supervision now that your younger child has started at the school (quote the injury/swearing ) and would like to meet with him/her together with the headteacher so that you can better understand their policies and see what you can do at home to reinforce good behaviour and help your 2nd child be happy at the school.

If you want mention the lapel incident – maybe suggest it was a little unusual but that you are concerned that your child could provoke that type of behaviour – then volunteer to be a parent governor

I am a Principal Teacher, the only way I can ever lay hands on a pupil are to stop them harming(in order) another pupil,themselves,me. If they are laying into a kid on the ground for instance,I have to “place myself between them” and that is secondary pupils. What I am saying is that no child should put up with that during their primary socialisation or they will think that is the correct way to settle confrontation. DO not have any more informal meetings with the head. Go to whoever is in charge of the school (I am in Scotland,so different up here) Children should be safe in school,primary is a time to learn from mistakes NOT be afraid of consequences from an aggressive bully.

I agree with Duckman. Go beyond the head.

I know this sounds harsh, bit are you sure your kids are the little angels you are hoping they are? How many other parents have had similar issues?

I know a 4 yr old (nice middle class family etc) who is a real nasty piece of work.

Teachers behaving like that is not acceptable, but your kids can’t be completely innocent in this.

Funkydunc… doesnt matter if the kid is an angel or not its the behaviour of the head teacher grabbing the child in the playground the OP has a beef with !

We moved my son recently from the local (on our doorstep) school to one two miles away.
It took a lot of umm’ing and arr’ing but it’s the best thing we’ve ever done.
He’s happy, we’re happy and that’s all that counts.
Tim

I saw the Head on Friday after school. She simply denied it.

I made it clear that I knew what she had done and I wouldn’t accept that sort of behaviour. At all. How can she critise a child for physical contact when she goes hands on at the first opportunity. I may have also called her a dinosaur who needed immediate retirement. I fear I may have marked my kids card even further.

However, while chatting to another parent while waiting for kids, they mentioned that she had dragged a classmate of my lad (so 5 years old again) out of assembly by his uniform for talking. So it looks like she is out of control.

Governors it is. Funnily enough, the chair of governors lives about 3 doors down from me. Time to escalate.

Any update on this?

i work in a pupils referral unit, if i did that to a secondary aged pupil i would be on gardening leave straight away, and i get serious verbal abuse most days of the week. I have a 6 year old, if i saw that happen there would be at least a request to meet witht he chair of the governers and a LA represenative to explain what i saw to them. Completely unnaceptable behaviour

If I was you I would drag the wife and kids into the headmistress’s office and then very systematically beat her to a pulp..

When finished, walk out of the school, change your name and take your family to live in a caravan at a desolate and neglected caravan site near Rhyll.. get a job in a local cafe, working for a boss who hates his job and hates you.. start drinking heavily to numb the pain of your existence..

job done

On a more light hearted note,the “RED Darth Vader Lunchbox” does exist.