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Original poster

getting children to school

56 replies

maggie1963 · 01/10/2019 10:57

I have 2 sets of twins under 6 and i don't know what to do. when one of them is sick how do i get the other 3 to school i am a lone parent and i do not know any of the other mums in the school to ask for help. the school is always telling me off for the children's absence from school but i cant leave a sick child and take the others i have to keep them all off school. any advice please.

OP posts:
SmileCheese · 01/10/2019 12:15

I have in the past taken one of them with a bowl and believe it or not the mum's have looked at me like I'm a monster for bringing him into school.

Ignore the looks you are probably imagining most of them anyway because you are worried they will judge you. Most parents will sympathise that you have to take a sick child with you to drop their siblings off.

I would try to make some school parent friends though as they will be invaluable in future.

norbert23 · 01/10/2019 12:19

Have school offered any help or suggestions?

Kanga83 · 01/10/2019 12:26

How often are they vomiting? Personally, if it's the four year olds I would look at a reputable taxi service for the 6 year olds and keep both four year olds off. Otherwise it's double buggy with raincover if tummy bug to contain the germs- this is what I do if my youngest is sick and I have to walk my eldest and vice versa. Even if sunny, under a raincover near school. I have two immunity compromised ones so I know it's hard but the well ones have to go in.

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Rystall · 01/10/2019 12:26

Wow OP, 4 children under 6 is tough going. Can‘t even imagine how you’d get them all out to school on a normal day, not to mind if one of them is ill.

Nothing else practical to add to what’s been suggested already. But I hope you find support or a way to do this that works for you and your family. It can’t be easy on your own x

InsertFunnyUsername · 01/10/2019 12:31

Oh that cant be easy on a normal day. I have no advice OP, I remember my neighbour coming to sit with us when we was that age when me or my brothers were unwell. Do you know your neighbours well?

InsertFunnyUsername · 01/10/2019 12:32

Obviously we knew our neighbours extremely well.

IVEgottheDECAF · 01/10/2019 12:33

I dont think covering a sick child with a raincover even if sunny is a good thing! They could over heat!

Northernlurker · 01/10/2019 12:39

Use a good taxi company and ring school to warn them. You could send them a few minutes late to ensure it's quieter for the drop off. Can't believe you kept them all off!

KevinKlineSwoon · 01/10/2019 12:43

I'm a single parent with no help nearby and have taken ill kids on the school run dozens of times.

jannier · 01/10/2019 13:08

Im confused. School has only been open a month and you are new to the area how can they have had so many bugs already that school is onto you about attendance.

Thatagain · 01/10/2019 13:29

Don't send them home tuition that's what I would do nowadays. Or you could get a taxi. Most parents have been there when we have had a sick child and the others had to go to school it's not nice if I had anymore children I would educate them at home.

OriginofSpecies · 01/10/2019 13:38

Does the school have a family liaison officer (FLO)? They should be able to work with you to find a workable solution to get your other children to school if one is off sick.

Branleuse · 01/10/2019 13:41

I would think that it doesnt happen that often, surely?

School isnt compulsory for 4 year olds so i wouldnt worry about those two having the occasional day off. If its a 6 year old, could you just walk to the outside of the school, get them to walk in to the playground themselves, or get someone from school to meet you outside (if you call the office, sometimes they can do this). Try and ignore opinions of other parents.

Hannah2199 · 01/10/2019 13:53

Ask the school what do they suggest? If it's a real genuine emergency and yiuve tried all other options could a home school link person come and pick them up? Imagine it would only be for very serious cases though?

Mumof21989 · 01/10/2019 13:56

Gosh what a nightmare for you. I have a one and 4 year old. My 4 year old seems quite sickly and I dread the upcoming winter. Perhaps a childminder could help you with school runs? Sounds like you are feeling alone and anxious about it all. I have no family to help so I dread the days I feel ill or drained. I am anemic and some days I feel so weak I panic about functioning. It's not nice. I understand you not wanting to take a vomiting child out. If it's a stomach bug it's not ideal taking them near other people anyway as we all know how horrible they are. But colds and temps I'd say dose them up on Calpol and nurofen, a drink of squash and a biscuit and tell them they can snuggle up in half an hour.

How many days off have they had? My dad has been off one day but I believe they can have 10 days off before they hit 95% attendance. It's important to not miss too much school but it's a nightmare with things like this. Hopefully by spring they will all perk up x

Sparklypurpleunicornsaremyfav · 01/10/2019 14:01

I had a friend who had issues with getting her son to school when her youngest two were ill. She spoke to school and it was arranged a member of staff would pick him up and take him. The member of staff was also a qualified childminder so I know it's completely different but point is talk to the school, they may be able to provide a solution, you can't keep 3 healthy children off school for the sake of 1. Do any neighbours attend the school or one that could sit with your ill child for a bit?

Makesmilingyourbesthobby · 01/10/2019 14:15

I know itis awful when things like this arise, pram, taxi, neighbour?? thankfully it shouldn't happen often, we all have to take them out when attending doctors appointments and working parents often have to take they child out and take them to other family members or friends homes when they are ill because they can't take the time off work, take no notice of what you think other people are thinking and take them to school and cuddle them back up when you get home

Original poster
maggie1963 · 01/10/2019 14:30

The last school I had to go in at least 3 times due to not getting boys to school the new school iv had 2 ooccasions when I have been stuck with the younger ones unwell and again I'm being called in. I'm just going to have to take him with me sick or no sickness

OP posts:
Serendipity79 · 01/10/2019 14:36

I feel for you as I am a single parent, albeit I do drive. Making friends with other mums is invaluable, as is asking the school for some support if they can help. But how serious a problem is it? if you haven't lived there long - how many times have you had to keep them all off cos schools only been back a month?

Original poster
maggie1963 · 01/10/2019 14:41

Thankyou I'm going to enquire about this

OP posts:
CupoTeap · 01/10/2019 14:52

Two sets of twins, I take my hat off to you!

pumkinspicetime · 01/10/2019 15:00

I only had one set of twins and I didn't take the well twin in if DH was working away. I wasn't dragging a sick dc about and moved around enough that I didn't always have other options.
So sometimes well twin had a day off and if I was really sick they both had days off.
They've both survived primary school fine.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 01/10/2019 15:05

There are really people that would let their 6 year olds go off alone in a taxi? Reputable or not, that's not safe at all.

I would just take them all.

twotoasts · 01/10/2019 15:17

You could maybe use a double buggy and buggy boards if the older kids don't or won't walk?

HairyToity · 01/10/2019 15:26

Four kids as a single mum sounds tough. I have kept DD off as toddler DS was poorly. I was grateful as DS had a two hour afternoon sleep, and if DD had been at school I would have had to wake him for school pick ul.

It happens now and again. I wouldn't worry too much at primary school age.