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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to question the school banning prams from the buggy shed?

154 replies

ProudBrickBiscuit · 15/09/2026 22:28

Just a quick one bc I feel like an idiot for pushing on this and rationally I know it’s not a big deal.

My kids school is very strict, but we are fine with that.

I have a 3 year old in a school nursery (drop off 8.30) and a 6 year old in year 1 (drop off 8.45- main gates open at 8.45 and we walk into the playground).

Recently we’ve had emails asking parents to stop leaving strollers/scooters/bikes in the stroller shed. I have actively ignored those and carried on leaving my pram there.

Today, a teacher approached me and asked me not to leave the pram there. The school’s reasoning is that there is a stay and play session, once a week for one hour in which parents need to store their buggies. So space needs to be left for them.

It is boggling my mind that they would stop regular nursery parents from leaving prams and essentially have the shelter empty for the whole week, bar one hour a day.

We can’t take cars on the school road as it has become pedestrian only. School is a 13min adult walk away but my kids walk really slowly and it takes us about 25mins if no pram.

I have to run (actually run as in running clothes and trainers) back from the kids pick up to make it back for my 9am meeting on my WFH days. office days I go straight from school to the station (walking). I can’t run back with my pram. The teacher suggested if I’m struggling with the timings with work I put the kids into breakfast club- that would be costly for two kids and it’s a matter of minutes.

if they had a good reason for this rule I’d completely understand, but this just seems so odd. I don’t want to push it because it’s such a minor issue and it’s embarrassing to make a fuss about sometime like this.

Am I not seeing sense here?

OP posts:
OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 22:41

frogspawn15 · 15/09/2026 22:38

OP can’t set off 12 minutes earlier. The issue is that she cannot drop her eldest until the gates open at 8.45, and she needs to be home for 9am to start work. So she runs, which she can’t do with the buggy.

Still not the schools problem that she doesn't leave enough time for her commute and sorting the buggy.

Happytaytos · 15/09/2026 22:41

Fold up scooters you can carry?

I'd be challenging being unable to leave scooters, that goes against all the healthy living guidance and eco/transport stuff too.

PatCandlestick · 15/09/2026 22:41

frogspawn15 · 15/09/2026 22:38

OP can’t set off 12 minutes earlier. The issue is that she cannot drop her eldest until the gates open at 8.45, and she needs to be home for 9am to start work. So she runs, which she can’t do with the buggy.

She can leave earlier, she just doesn't want to!

Azandme · 15/09/2026 22:41

It's a nursery, not a storage facility.

Original poster
ProudBrickBiscuit · 15/09/2026 22:42

Raptors · 15/09/2026 22:37

They have told you the shed isn't for storing pushchairs it's for the stay and play so it was incredibly rude to think that didn't apply to you.

You could leave earlier, use scooters, cycle or use the breakfast club service which they have informed you about. To ignore the request again would be very unreasonable.

The stay and play uses the school nursery building. It’s not a separate entity. The building was built solely for the purpose of nursery provision but they havnt recruited enough students yet hence the stay and play offering. Also it is indeed school property, and I’m not going to force the issue. It’s more questioning the rationale of having an adequate storage space but not wanting to utilise it

OP posts:
CalamityJane81 · 15/09/2026 22:42

I mean it’s an odd rule. You don’t really have much choice though do you? Their shed, their rules. You could complain but like you recognise you would
look a bit silly I think and you have a long time at that school yet. I think generally speaking most people would expect a child of school age to walk to and from school. Also, I’ve worked in FS2 for a number of years and only encountered a couple of children arriving in pushchairs - I’m sorry to say their peers did comment on it in quite an innocent but likely hurtful way. Try and set off earlier if you can. They’re probably using the excuse about needing it for other things because they don’t really want to be honest and say you shouldn’t be bringing it. Are you the only one?

Hover · 15/09/2026 22:42

frogspawn15 · 15/09/2026 22:38

OP can’t set off 12 minutes earlier. The issue is that she cannot drop her eldest until the gates open at 8.45, and she needs to be home for 9am to start work. So she runs, which she can’t do with the buggy.

Yes, but if she leaves 12 minutes earlier she won't need the buggy? It's for the child who is in nursery, so if they leave in time to walk there then no buggy is involved.

OP I can understand your slight frustration, but ultimately there are two very reasonable solutions to your problem: use breakfast club or leave home 12 minutes early.

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 22:44

Just leave earlier 🤷

TheJuryIsOut · 15/09/2026 22:44

Why is a 3yo still in a pushchair anyway?

mynameiscalypso · 15/09/2026 22:45

CalamityJane81 · 15/09/2026 22:42

I mean it’s an odd rule. You don’t really have much choice though do you? Their shed, their rules. You could complain but like you recognise you would
look a bit silly I think and you have a long time at that school yet. I think generally speaking most people would expect a child of school age to walk to and from school. Also, I’ve worked in FS2 for a number of years and only encountered a couple of children arriving in pushchairs - I’m sorry to say their peers did comment on it in quite an innocent but likely hurtful way. Try and set off earlier if you can. They’re probably using the excuse about needing it for other things because they don’t really want to be honest and say you shouldn’t be bringing it. Are you the only one?

But OP isn’t using a buggy for a child of school age. She’s using it for her 3 year old. I think it’s quite normal for a 3 year old to still need a buggy. I know when my DS was 3, he would have struggled to work 25 mins to nursery and back every day.

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 22:45

frogspawn15 · 15/09/2026 22:38

OP can’t set off 12 minutes earlier. The issue is that she cannot drop her eldest until the gates open at 8.45, and she needs to be home for 9am to start work. So she runs, which she can’t do with the buggy.

😂

Of course she can leave home earlier.... She's not locked in...

Timeforachange26 · 15/09/2026 22:45

ProudBrickBiscuit · 15/09/2026 22:37

That is very true but also easier said than done! Also I will probably do that anyway but this is more questioning the logic behind the schools rule on this.

Show quote history

Schools often dont have logiic

inthenameofpride · 15/09/2026 22:46

Assume this is private school and the stay and play is to attract future pupils? This would annoy me big time. I would be tempted to make noises about having to move the kids to somewhere with easier logistics. A mid/ground would be to suggest leaving your buggy there only on non-stay and play days. And on that day just leave it (pointedly) to one side with a cover over it.

Raptors · 15/09/2026 22:46

ProudBrickBiscuit · 15/09/2026 22:42

The stay and play uses the school nursery building. It’s not a separate entity. The building was built solely for the purpose of nursery provision but they havnt recruited enough students yet hence the stay and play offering. Also it is indeed school property, and I’m not going to force the issue. It’s more questioning the rationale of having an adequate storage space but not wanting to utilise it

Show quote history

I didn't say it was a separate entity. They've clearly decided this is who they want using the shed so all your comments about the nursery not having enough pupils etc are irrelevant.

There's been several solutions given here to resolve the problem. Knowing the specifics of why they're making this decision isn't necessary.

Original poster
ProudBrickBiscuit · 15/09/2026 22:46

Just a quick one I know the solutions but this is more questioning the rational behind the decision.

I am also very anti confrontation (avoid at all cost) so will not taking my buggy there anymore but it’s just seems so odd.

OP posts:
Timeforachange26 · 15/09/2026 22:46

mynameiscalypso · 15/09/2026 22:45

But OP isn’t using a buggy for a child of school age. She’s using it for her 3 year old. I think it’s quite normal for a 3 year old to still need a buggy. I know when my DS was 3, he would have struggled to work 25 mins to nursery and back every day.

Show quote history

Is it? I do t think any of my grandchildren did. The last 2 were out of buggy before their 2nd birthdays.

WhatILoved · 15/09/2026 22:47

I’ve recently told parents I’ll no longer accept buggies unless they are umbrella fold - some of them are massive and even when folded take up a lot of space. Maybe ask if you can bring an umbrella fold one and put in corner.

KiwiFall · 15/09/2026 22:47

I had to take my pushchair back and forth every day and annoying though it is your meetings at work you have to rush back for are not the concern of the school.

TheJuryIsOut · 15/09/2026 22:47

Timeforachange26 · 15/09/2026 22:46

Is it? I do t think any of my grandchildren did. The last 2 were out of buggy before their 2nd birthdays.

Edited
Show quote history

It's getting later and later, it's like potty training. Soon it'll be normal for kids in reception and year 1 to be getting dropped off in pushchairs.

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 22:47

mynameiscalypso · 15/09/2026 22:45

But OP isn’t using a buggy for a child of school age. She’s using it for her 3 year old. I think it’s quite normal for a 3 year old to still need a buggy. I know when my DS was 3, he would have struggled to work 25 mins to nursery and back every day.

Show quote history

Well he'd only have to walk one way.... And he'd get used to it. It's not even a mile, probably about ½ a mile if it only takes 13 minutes to walk.

Hardly 12 miles uphill both ways is it??

Original poster
ProudBrickBiscuit · 15/09/2026 22:48

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 22:45

😂

Of course she can leave home earlier.... She's not locked in...

Show quote history

True that. But mornings seems hard as it is 🤣 never know it would be so hard to get two little ones out of the house on time. Zero concept of time 😭

OP posts:
Porcupinepotato · 15/09/2026 22:48

Use the stroller, fold it at the school gate and hook it over your arm. Take child to class then push it home.

Timeforachange26 · 15/09/2026 22:48

TheJuryIsOut · 15/09/2026 22:47

It's getting later and later, it's like potty training. Soon it'll be normal for kids in reception and year 1 to be getting dropped off in pushchairs.

Show quote history

Well they are only 4and 3 so hardly long ago

mynameiscalypso · 15/09/2026 22:49

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 22:47

Well he'd only have to walk one way.... And he'd get used to it. It's not even a mile, probably about ½ a mile if it only takes 13 minutes to walk.

Hardly 12 miles uphill both ways is it??

Show quote history

Why wouldn’t he have to walk back at the end of the school day on some days? On days where OP is in the office, he’d have to walk home too if there was no buggy at nursery.

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 22:50

ProudBrickBiscuit · 15/09/2026 22:48

True that. But mornings seems hard as it is 🤣 never know it would be so hard to get two little ones out of the house on time. Zero concept of time 😭

Show quote history

If your school was 12 minutes further away, you'd miraculously manage to leave at the right time...

Just leave 15 minutes earlier, you'll find a way.