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Pre-school parent rota - charging parents for no-shows

117 replies

ponygirl · 05/01/2006 20:29

Our pre-school has just (re-)introduced a parent rota system and we have instituted a fine for parents who do not show up for their rota-ed sessions. Our understanding was that other pre-schools operate this system, but a parent has rung our chair today and claimed we are breaking the law.

Does anyone know where we stand on this?

OP posts:
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rummum · 05/01/2006 20:31

Although we don't have parent helpers at my pre-school [don't know why] I have heard others that do..
Do you allow any excuses for not volunteering??
like having a small baby??

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paolosgirl · 05/01/2006 20:32

Sorry I can't offer any advice, but I hope that you aren't breaking the law, as is sounds a fabulous idea. Too many parents are happy to let other parents do all the hard work - it may just make some of them do their fair share.

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Caligula · 05/01/2006 20:33

I've never heard of this.

Wouldn't it put people off volunteering?

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ladymuck · 05/01/2006 20:42

How do you get all the parents to be CRBed?

Presumably the parent is querying whether you can contractly oblige her to do this? And whether you have the ability to enforce a fine for non attendance.

I suspect that actually you probably don't have the ability to enforece a fine as such. You could however charge higher fees to those pranets who do not contribute (same result, but probably more legit).

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mykidsmum · 05/01/2006 20:44

personally as someone who has helped at preschool I find this absolutely disgraceful that you should even consider it, seriously i would reconsider sending my child if that was the attitude of the owners. What exactly is your justification of it as surely the parents are supernumerary so it doesn't cost you anything if they don't help. Am totally gobsmacked

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starlover · 05/01/2006 20:47

lol you can't jhust force people to pay you money because they don't do something you want them to

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mykidsmum · 05/01/2006 20:49

And also why the hell should i have to justify to anyone why I can or cannot help, let me think of a variety of reasons why a parent could not do their rostered shift........

younger sibling, older poorly sibling, sibling with SN, parents who require help in the home, part time job, doctors appointment, midwives appointment, dentist appointment, school assembly, no bread milk etc have to go shopping, meeting with the bank manager, house in desperate need of a clean, feeling poorly, feeling depressed, bereavemnt, taking the dog o the vets etc.

So exactly how would you implement this, sorry am totally bemused.

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soapbox · 05/01/2006 20:49

I presume this is a pre-school for children all of whom have non-working parents!

Whatever next[bemused emotion]!

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lockets · 05/01/2006 20:50

This reply has been deleted

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PeachyClair · 05/01/2006 20:51

Our old playschgool did this, it seemed to work.

Exceptions were being PG (but nobody told me and I did duty at 37 weeks gone and thoroughly enjoyed it!), and having other smaller siblings at home, although you could send grandparents / dads in your place and were encouraged to.

It was part of the cpntract for taking your place, and you don't need to be CAB'd as long as you are never alone with kids. Helpers at Brownies etc aren't either, on that very strict absis

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lockets · 05/01/2006 20:52

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robinpud · 05/01/2006 20:52

Is this a normal playgroup run by a committee of parents or some sort of private financial venture? this is a really wierd arrangement.. please clarify....

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paolosgirl · 05/01/2006 20:52

Why should non-working parents cover for working parents??? Annual leave can be used for a whole variety of things, you know (and I am a working mother who has done just this). If you are happy with the care at the pre-school, then you should be more than happy to take your turn on the rota - and if you're not prepared to muck in, then look elsewhere.
The number of parents that moan about taking their turn once in a blue moon is

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mykidsmum · 05/01/2006 20:54

I do help, and have no problem doing so, but making parents is another matter, personally I wouldn't want a parent who had been forced into it looking after my children anyway.

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PeachyClair · 05/01/2006 20:55

Ours was a bit of both: they did make enough to cover wages for the staff and that was it. The parents helped with things that couldn't be done normally: so I went in a did a special mask making session carnival day, things like that, or they gave the rising fives extra preschool support.

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hercules · 05/01/2006 20:56

I would never be able to help at a preschool and tbh having it as a "rule" with a fine would stop me joining anyway.

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mykidsmum · 05/01/2006 20:56

Also some people find it hard at home coping with one child, they may find the playschool environment a bit too much, why should they be forced to do something they may find distressing.

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PeachyClair · 05/01/2006 20:56

Oh and everyone had equal rota session, 1 session a term.

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soapbox · 05/01/2006 20:56

Well I can say with certainty that I wouldn't be using up any of my annual leave to cover!

If the other parents choose to volunteer then that is a matter for them.

The school should have enough qualified teachers to cover the patch - if it didn't I would not remotely consider sending my child there.

I think it is a completely crazy hairbrained idea.

And I do volunteer at my DC's school but I do it through choice and not because everyone else does and I'd be FINED if I didn't!

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mykidsmum · 05/01/2006 20:59

And surely being PG shouldn't be the only medical condition which lets you off the hook, I can think of loads more, and what about insurance etc??

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PeachyClair · 05/01/2006 20:59

Well I still think it was OK. It was a playschool covering an area where all the kids bar mine and 1 other were ss/dss funded, so the income was SO minimum but the kids were often hyperactive, needy kids. It did make me gasp a bit when they told us, but as along as parents are aware when they sign up-

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LadySherlockofLGJ · 05/01/2006 21:00

Soapy

You saved me the trouble of a post.....

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paolosgirl · 05/01/2006 21:01

Really? Oh well, lets hope there are enough parents who are willing to muck in and help for all the future things your child will attend - beavers, brownies, etc etc. It's these parents that keep these groups going.

As for helping out once in a blue moon when required, so my child can continue going to a pre-school she loves - well, count me in.

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hercules · 05/01/2006 21:02

That's great you can but not everyone can.

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mykidsmum · 05/01/2006 21:03

I don't think anyones against helping, in fact many of us do, but being fined for not when there are hundreds of reasons why someone may not be able to just seems crazy

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