A case study on supervision

Marie coaches alone at venues, hiring their arenas for her sessions. During a junior group coaching lesson one of the children, 8-year-old Ben, tells Marie he is desperate for the toilet. Ben’s parents have not stayed to watch, and Marie does not want to stop the lesson for the whole group to have a toilet break as the lesson has almost finished. The toilets are a short walk away past the cafeteria.

Ben tells Marie that he is fine to go to the toilet alone and will run there and back quickly. Marie decides that this will be ok as Ben seems very mature for his age, and she will hold onto his pony and continue to teach the session.

The lesson finishes a few minutes later. Ben’s mum appears from the cafeteria and asks Marie where Ben is, and she points his mum in the direction of the toilets. Ben’s mum takes his pony and Marie starts resetting the arena ready for her next lesson. A short while later Ben’s mum returns, and she cannot find Ben. Other parents and children join the search. The arena is in the corner of a much larger showground with other events taking place that day. Ben’s mother calls the police for help.

It is later established that Ben had been abducted on his way to the toilet. Marie is devastated by this and for allowing Ben to go alone to the toilet, and in doing so neglecting his care.