To think that if a school early morning club says 7:45 start, that 7:50 is not acceptable?

Definitely not pointless if it means you can catch the bus! It doesnt matter if you're both in the same place at the same time, this way you can make sure you're at the bus stop in time.

But I would say its definitely worth applying for the job anyway, good luck!

If you can get a childminder go for that option. It gives you so much more flexibility if, for example, you can get more hours at work.

I would raise the issue with the Head and the Governors. The before school childcare option should be up and running and accepting children at 7:45 on the nose, end of, if that is the stated time you are paying from.

You haven't even applied for the job yet!

Then I would speak to the school too. But dothink it’s important that the runner of the club is exactly aware as to why it’s an issue, rather than it being fed down as a “parent complaint”.

The likelihood is that you'll be late more times due to the bus being late than the drop off time. Can't another parent see her in for you?

I would speak to the woman first, in a “you do know that breakfast club regularly opens after 7.45. Not only are parents paying when the club is not open, but I will lose my job if this continues. Is there a reason why it regularly opens late?”

OP, totally get why you want to sort this out before (I would too). However, especially as it's the school holidays, I would go for the interview, do your best, and see if you get it, and then work from there.

If you don't get it, then the club isn't an issue.

If you do get it... People go for jobs all the time without having worked out the logistics! - worst comes to worst, you have to say no to it: that you had a plan/have a club/have a bus planned but it might be out of your control to be there at x time each time.
If they like you and have given it to you, they MIGHT work around that. If not, nothing ventured/nothing gained.

Meanwhile, lots of potential issues in schedule, eg as PPs have said, are other things, eg if have to sign them in and that will take time, are the buses reliable (you can log it during the holidays (although term times are different))? When is the next bus/arrival time?

@orangesandlemonssaythebellsofstclements You can still use a childminder, could there be one near the school and bus stop / on the way to the bus stop? There will probably be childminders that do school drop off.

You could write at the bottom of the letter it would be helpful if they contact you over this matter

but I’d put it in writting, just the facts nothing more needed

As others have said I’d wait to see if you get the job but tbh as someone who left a job as I only had minutes between drop offs and getting to work, I’d say it really puts a strain on you. I was so stressed and as a result transferring it to the kids who would be saying ‘quick get out of the car’ to each other. There was times I was debating leaving them alone in a totally isolated area as like you, the teacher hadn’t come on time. Of course don’t forget the odd odd time you can get a taxi if really stuck but do wait until you get the job to worry about all of this

I do think that paying for a service you would expect staff to be paid too. This would've irritated me knowing that the deputy wasn't getting paid but expected to be on site working from said time.

Overworked or working for free? This is wrong on so many levels.

Definitely follow up any communication with the school in writing as written correspondence is required to be kept on file

You could write at the bottom of the letter it would be helpful if they contact you over this matter

but I’d put it in writting, just the facts nothing more needed

The breakfast club lady needs to get her act together. She is paid to be open from 7.45 and that’s her job. Her not doing her job has a k ok on effect on the ability of others to do/get to their jobs. As a one off maybe it’s excusable but not as a regular occurrence. I would have thought she would have been there earlier turning in the lights and getting the place ready. Definitely speak to the Head or whoever is in charge of the breakfast club as I am sure others feel the same.

Is it definitely owned and run by the school OP? I’m a teacher and we have a similar set up in a mobile classroom in our playground…it’s NOT owned or run by us though, but many parents think it is and complain about it to us. They rent the mobile from us, but it’s a completely independent ASC.

If they are independent, they may be running summer camp/activities there, so you could possibly contact them now and ask the question??

In any event…it’s really sloppy management! If they are opening to accept children at 7:45, they ought to be in setting up at least 20 minutes earlier!

Sorry, I think I wasn't clear. I took my child to school and met the childminder there just before the gates opened. (waiting till opening time wasn't quite long enough)

You write to the school

dear school I have to use the 07.52 bus to travel to work. The school club starts at 7.45 and allows me time to get to the bus stop on time. The person running the club is not opening the club until 7.50 on some occasions. This is not acceptable as it will make me miss work - only one bus available and I’m paying to use the club.

can you insure that I get the time I pay for as it’s imperative I go to work, being late could cause me to lose my employment.

I’d be so stressed with a turnaround time that tight, tbh. Do you need to sign your DD into the breakfast club? That adds minutes even if it does open at 7.45.
I think a chat with the head is entirely reasonable as 7.45 should mean 7.45. Good luck with the job!

I would raise this with the head teacher. Politely explain how it’s vital you get that bus. It’s possible they have no idea it’s an issue and the 7.45 opening is informally so that it’s ready for 8am drop off.

However if it says 7.45 it should be open from then! The staff member needs to arrive 5 min earlier

Absolutely have a word if needed (although not until you actually get the job) -you're not asking for the club to open 10 minutes early you're asking if it could open on time!

But worst comes to worst if the bus stop is the opposite side of the road i don't see any issue in leaving your dd at the gate while you cross over. You can still keep an eye on her etc, its no different in terms of distance to a child running/scootering on ahead.

I feel your pain. I used to have to do the mad dash from the nursery to the bus stop and the schedule was always so tight. I'm freelance now so have time to chill in the mornings and I'm always happy to watch other people's kids if the parents have to dash to work. It's not a problem at all and usually I just check they have their bag and wave them off when the doors open. I hope you can find a parent that is happy to help but also it's reasonable to expect for the doors to open at 7.45.

This used to infuriate me. Ours didn't open until 8am and I had to be in a meeting two towns over at 8.30. Every second counts.

When mine were young I was often the sole parent supervising children dropped at the door. As they got older, i dropped them off and left.

It’s fine to speak to them.

also how well do you know other parents who use it?

when my ds used breakfast club it opened at 8 and that wa cutting not fine for another parent as it was. I had a 10 minute commute and did t need to be in work until 8.30 (8.40 at latest) but for da to have time for breakfast and to get bus to school from the central hub he needed to be there at 8.10 latest.

So 3 days a week when she had to leave 8am on the dot id wait with her ds and mine.
The 2 days I worked later and would go into next pay band if I was late by 5 minutes she’d get my ds and meet me in the car park.

it’s worthwhile seeing if any parents will wait with her - especially if she’s older and no problem and just needs an adult present.

I would speak to the head and it should be resolved. Organiser probably now thinks it's fine to be a few minutes late because no one seems to care.