School kids can't phone home

Jun 5 2009 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

PUPILS at an Irvine primary school have been told they won’t be allowed calls home because of soaring telephone bills.

Every pupil at Lawthorn Primary was sent a letter telling them that due to “the escalating number of children requesting calls home for forgotten items and the costs associated with this, the office staff will no longer be able to telephone parents on behalf of pupils for items they have forgotten to bring to school with them, for example, musical instruments, PE kits and permission slips for school trips.”

One concerned parent who contacted the Irvine Herald was worried that pupils would end up scared to ask the office staff for ANY phone call to be made.

He said: “I understand that the office staff are busy people but it seems a shame that a child is unable to make a call home and has to suffer.

“My fear is that pupils are too scared to ask the staff to phone home if there is a real problem and I am shocked that the school say these phone calls are costing too much money.”

But North Ayrshire Council says this is a matter up to the school. Carol Kirk, Corporate Director of Educational Services for North Ayrshire Council, said: “This is purely an operational matter for individual schools.

“Phoning about children's forgotten belongings is not the most appropriate use of admin support time nor does it help develop children’s responsibility.

“Parents should be assured that they will continue to be contacted on matters of health, safety or welfare.”