To think that a school cannot impose restrictions on what parents can do during the school day?

[crosstraineraddict]

A friend of mine was telling me about something that has happened at the school where her DCs go. Several times in the past few months, parents have gone out for the day to places over an hour away, to meet friends or go shopping or whatever, and their child has been ill at school, so they've been called and been over an hour getting to the school to pick up their child.

The parents have all apparently had a letter now stating that a parent must be within half an hour of the school at all times during the school day, and that they recommend that at least one parent works locally!

Am I alone in thinking this is bonkers and unfair, not to mention dictatorial!

[lljkk]

yanbu, but I think you'll hear some interesting arguments otherwise.

[ILiveInAPineapple]

We both work over an hour from my ds' school.

They can get stuffed unless they want to pay my mortgage!

[orangefan]

It's ridiculous, how on earth are they planning to police it? Stupid and completely unreasonable.

[crosstraineraddict]

The headteacher is apparently known for being dictatorial about things, and thinking they are in charge of the parents too.

[redwhiteandblueeyedsusan]

ssmile and nod, smile and nod...

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

Ridiculous! Completely ridiculous!

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Perhaps badly phrased by the school - I would like to believe that the school would be happy if you had another responsible person nearby in case of emergency ...

[Issy]

Bizarre. For the millions of people who work in central London but live in the home counties, a half hour commute is an impossible dream.

[ethelb]

It's ungovernable. Like everyone is going to stop working because of this dictat.

What are they going to do if they are not under half an house away.

[redskyatnight]

I agree that school cant' dictate. But do think if both parents are going to be some distance away it would be a good idea to have a backup adult available.

[ethelb]

house=hour

[Moomoomie]

I think what the school is trying to say is that they would like an emergency contact person who can get to the school within half an hour, not necessarily a parent.
I understand that parents need to work and many not locally but I think in those cases it is worth having someone local you trust to pick the child up if necessary.

[OwlBabies]

That's hilarious - YANBU. God, schools need to get it into their heads that parents aren't constantly orbiting the school, waiting for a call. I'd be tempted to compose a very sarcastic letter in response.

[DowagersHump]

How ridiculous!

I got enormous amounts of grief from the school secretary when my DS was ill once - I was nearly 2 hours away and there was no way I could get back more quickly. When I turned up, his teacher was completely chilled about it and she said he'd just gone to sleep in the reading corner.

I would be tempted to complain if they dared to send me a letter like that.

[charlottehere]

I don't see how they can enforce this.

[ouryve]

YANBU. DH works half an hour away (in good traffic), which means I wouldn't even be able to go shopping in my nearest town because it could take me over an hour to get home.

Besides, not all parents are in jobs where they can just drop everything without any notice. Teachers included.

[DowagersHump]

Moomoomie - I do have emergency contacts but sod's law they were both unavailable that day!

[Sunnywithachanceofshowers]

YANBU. A lot of parents work, ffs.

[JeezyOrangePips]

Ludicrous. My kids primary required parents contact details, plus a 'responsible person' who lived close by that they could contact if the parents were unreachable. Much more reasonable ( but still not workable for all - eg people new to the area)

[TroublesomeEx]

That's ridiculous and unenforceable.

I wonder what the governing body would have to say about it..?

[Scholes34]

Not well worded by the school, but I would think for your own peace of mind you'd like an emergency contact a little closer to the school then you are.

Having said that, I don't have any emergency contacts, as constantly requested by the school, but I'm only 10 minutes away on a bike.

[Netguru]

Having someone nearby is helpful.

We both work away my commute is 2.5 hours away, my husband anywhere from one hour upwards. Earlier this year, I was in Malta when my husband in India!

[ivykaty44]

So is this half an hour away by foot? Where we live every time there is an accident on the motorway town comes to a stand still and travelling 2 miles takes two hours.

Work is over half an hour away for many of my work mates - so school will do what - tell them to quit their jobs and live on what?

This is not the 1970's where one parent is at home and the other parent works

[kate2boysandabump]

YANBU, that's bonkers!!

I once got into trouble with the school secretary because I'd come out to pick up ds2 from pre-school and had forgotten to pick up my mobile. To compound my sins I'd ridden my bike to collect him, so had cycle home before I could collect ds1. She was not best pleased, despite the fact it took no more than an hour for me to collect him. He was fine by the time I got there

[solidgoldbrass]

Just ignore it. There is nothing they can do to enforce it.