School say they're monitoring lateness now and I feel sick about it

in my experience of working in schools, children hate being late. That’s why you’ve been pulled up for it. They like to go in with everyone else. If you can get there being just a couple of minutes late, you can definitely always be on time. Action can be taken if children are so late that the register has closed and they miss the morning session mark but this won’t apply to you. I had a toddler to get to nursery and a child to get to school 4 miles away before I rushed off to work. My strategy was to get up really, really early and leave earlier than necessary. Everything ready the night before (in theory). We were only late a couple of times if there was a crash that held the traffic up.

Imagine school starts 15 mins earlier than it actually does, then adjust the timing but follow the routine you do now to a tee and you will be ten mins eatliwg

Parenting is tough .. especially if you're walking to school aswell middle of winter.
You are already trying to juggle everything and a teacher says we will have to monitor your times.
Don't take it to heart don't overthink .
I'm well out of this stage now so it's easier to say than do but getting up before the little ones so you are less rushed kids feel the rush and anxiousness aim to leave in good time walking leisurely will make things less stressful for you.
You won't always feel like this it gets better x

Ok, most people manage it. Off to polish my tiara 👑 🙄

It depends on the school. My class door is independent from the main office so yes, sometimes im in the middle of teaching and get interrupted by late comers knocking on the door or window. I have to stop what im doing and let them in, then mark them late.

I'm not expecting a reply, but I wanted to say that it's possible to have empathy with how difficult mornings are for the OP, while simultaneously knowing how important it is to take steps to ensure that her oldest child's education isn't being affected. The two things aren't mutually exclusive. I do have empathy - I was a single parent of a baby and a toddler - it's nothing to do with not being empathetic.

Being late is a choice.

As OPs have said, there are unlikely to be any actions taken as a result of lateness. Absence is a thing that can be monitored and fined but I have never ever heard of anything coming of lateness.

Also, you will not be the only one.

However, regular lateness does make for a stressed child and is disruptive for the rest of the class and their teacher, not to mention a black mark from the dreaded OFSTED, which is why they are bringing it up with you.

Absolutely you should let them know why it is difficult for you as you are the sole sleep deprived parent at that time of the morning but also you should undertake to improve which it sounds like you intend to so good on you.

Having everything ready to go the night before is excellent advice, as is lowering your expectations for the tounger ones being fully dressed for the day - if they are warm and have a snack to go, all is well. Aiming to arrive 15mins before you need to is the key to success. Given your current performance, it's unlikely you'll actually arrive early but if it looks like you will, just stroll slower ;-)

Good luck, OP. We're rooting for you!

I regularly pushed a screaming baby to school and fed and changed him when we got there.
It sounds really hard for you but I used to have it in my head that we had to be there at 8.40 when the gates opened and despite being a little late, was almost always on time.
I also second having everything ready the night before. Clothes, lunches etc.
Your situation is extra tricky with a toddler in the middle of it all but you can do it. Good luck

Family help? Are the grandparents able to do the school run while you sort the youngest two?

any other school mums nearby who could offer to walk your eldest in the short term?

Please don’t be too hard on yourself I’m sure this won’t last. I had three under 3 and an 8 year old at one point it was just chaos with three different school drop offs by 9am. We were late far too often than I’d like to admit but slowly got into a routine and brought things back earlier, the baby just had to fit in, he was woken and fed half an hour earlier than his usual time and then slowly moved onto solids and could be managed with the other children and so on.. the school will be fine, especially if you tweak things and the lateness subsides or is intermittent! Do not stress at all, mums have such a lot to juggle, it’s inevitable that you’ll wobble at some points. You’re doing a great job! Just find a plan that works for you to get out a bit earlier.

Why are you calling everybody who suggests leaving a bit earlier a bitch? Can you not outline your points and views in a constructive way?

Ironic that you’re accusing people of not being able to read, yet it’s clear from your posts that you can barely string a sentence together (and English isn’t even my first language) You sound really common.

Just because the school you worked in was like that, doesn’t mean it’s the same for everyone. We all start at 9am and hit the ground running. What role did you have in school?

Its bloody hard @oBoltFire ... at my DC primary morning bell goes at 8.50 and children have to be in by 9am. After drop off I see people walking to school as im walking home so they must be late...
Can you aim to be at school 10 minutes earlier than needs be so I'd aim to be there for 8.40. That way if I over run a few minutes I'd still be there by 8.50. My DC are at a small primary and there's not usually many people in the playground tbh.

Obviously you can't read or you'd see shes struggling with the baby..stop being a bitch 🙄

Don't be bullied by the school! Explain calmly your situation and that you are doing your best. Put this in writing to the complainant and perhaps copy in a more senior person. If they keep.complaining or start threatening ask for a meeting with them and say it all again!

Look this is serious because it’s not just affecting your dc but the whole class. You need start the getting out of the door routine earlier, that’s all, set an alarm 10 minutes earlier than you really need. Yes it’s hard, we’ve all been there but i found the double buggy a godsend

Feck off

Oh give over with your bitchiness..you're not a saint..it happens..life happens..its not forever,she's trying to do something about it,god you're insufferable but a typical mumsnetter of course

I also understand how difficult it is for OP to juggle a baby and toddler too. Maybe I have more empathy than you. Meanwhile I won't be answering anymore replies from you. My reply was just to the OP.

Please don’t worry. You have a baby. Everyone understands. This phase won’t last forever. You have got this. You care, and that’s clear. Do not take it personally. Solidarity 😊

You are going to need to grow a much thicker skin with children in primary school.

Yea it’s difficult when you’re running on empty and no sleep, but there’s families up and down the country doing the same.

and it’s also quite entitled of you to assume being a few mins late is okay. It’s not.

Stop being a mean bitch..some people struggle..and this lady is at the minute..typical mumsnetter here

If I needed more proof that the education people get at school is utterly woeful and does not set them up to partake in even surface level discussions, this is it.

No, 'everyone' else doesn't manage it. Don't be so smug, princess.