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Original poster

Worried about tomorrow's school run

101 replies

Mangoxmangox · 10/02/2020 20:55

This morning my partner took my DD to school. He worked from home today due to the crappy weather. Then he collected her this afternoon. The wind has been terrible but it started heavily snowing this afternoon. He was 20 minutes late to collect her along with many other parents. The traffic was really bad this afternoon and the school received many calls due to this. They sent out an email to say in exceptionally bad weather only then they will close

Tomorrow it's giving 45-50mph winds with showers again. I'm abit worried about tomorrow morning. I don't think the school will shut. But we will be walking. It's an ok walk usually and we enjoy it. But I'm so worried the paths will be slippery and the wind will be too strong. We have to walk through a park with a river and loads of trees etc. I'll also have a toddler with me.

It's impossible to get a taxi at that time. I just get this feeling it's not going to be safe but the school can't obviously focus on everyone's individual situation. It's extremely rare for it to be this bad. What should I do? My DD is 4. Thanks!

OP posts:
SoleBizzz · 10/02/2020 23:08

I wouldn't go.

thaegumathteth · 10/02/2020 23:10

Unless you have mobility issues I would walk and take her. Wouldn't have considered anything else when mine were wee tbh. I couldn't do it now as I have a serious hip issue but otherwise still would.

Mycatwontstopstaring · 10/02/2020 23:22

Stay home OP.

By the way at age 4 your child is below compulsory school age and there’s no requirement to go. You can’t be given unauthorised absences or fines etc.

We used to take a day or two off each week to do museum trips / stuff that was way more educational than school. (The head wasn’t thrilled but when I pointed him in the direction of the relevant law he got over it.)Miss it!

Seriously why go? This isn’t an endurance test.

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General education Weather
NoSquirrels · 10/02/2020 23:24

Eh, stay home and snuggle up. She's 4, and you have an added toddler to wrangle. No harm will come, honestly.

neveradullmoment99 · 10/02/2020 23:25

Just stay off. She is only 4. I doubt one day will hurt and I am a teacher. I really would just relax and do something nice with her. Loads of learning things you can do at home to make up for it.

Kolo · 10/02/2020 23:28

Schools aren't really equipped to run a risk assessment for all their pupils every morning. Schools close if their own site is dangerous, or conditions mean a number of staff can't get in, or their facilities are not working to provide heat/food/sanitation etc for students. I wouldn't take the fact that school is open as a sign it's safe to do anything. You need to make your own judgement of risk. Have a look at weather warnings for your area.

Rain or snow wouldn't bother me, nor ice. But the wind is pretty bad where I am tonight (50mph). In slightly less wind 3 years ago (Doris) half my roof blew off and landed on our cars. We've had trees fallen and blocked roads yesterday. We've also had snow today, but it's the wind that worries me. I'm not sure I'd go walking with my kids through a wood in this wind.

Kolo · 10/02/2020 23:34

Schools aren't really equipped to run a risk assessment for all their pupils every morning.

Reading that back it doesn't say what I meant. Of course schools do a risk assessment when deciding whether to open. But I've never once seen the decision to close being based on every child's journey to school. They're not going "oh, little mango is walking past the trees by the river. Let's close". I'd expect parents to make the call about whether it's actually safe to travel to school. Schools make the decision about whether it's safe to open.

Shinycat · 10/02/2020 23:52

@Mangoxmangox Good grief, how the hell did we win 2 world wars? Confused Get a grip FGS!

Shinycat · 10/02/2020 23:57

When did the UK get so pathetic and precious and snowflake-like, seriously???!

A broken fingernail? Have a day off school/work. 2 broken fingernails? Have a week off. A sniffle and a cough? Have a month off! WTF is wrong with people?!

VenusTiger · 11/02/2020 00:33

@Miljea - totally agree - creating a snowflake because of snowflakes. Assess the situation in the morning, if there's no-one about and the trees bend and bow, stay home. If you're not sure, order a taxi at 6am - if you're late in because of weather, so be it.
Try not to blow things out of proportion OP.
It's still stormy where I am - 60mph gusts and there is still snow laying around - I walked my 6yr old son home from school today - it was really slippery, but I held onto his hand and wore some sensible shoes.

theflushedzebra · 11/02/2020 00:34

Your child is 4. If it's horrible in the morning, just don't go. Call/email the school and tell them you don't consider the journey safe.

I live in a village that tends to get rather snowed in, lots of treacherous country lanes - and I have done this numerous times in the snow over the years. No harm done, I promise you. And the kids love a snow day.

Shamazing · 11/02/2020 06:07

*The 'not yet 5/no consequences' thing is a blind alley. Already other kids will be associating her with 'skipping school', and the school will already be noting her as being a ready quitter, abetted by mum.

Agree 100%

It's windy/kids being 'so upset' by rain/have a snow day (what???). What a load of bloody nonsense.

Original poster
Mangoxmangox · 11/02/2020 06:23

I think people need to calm down. Concerned for my small kids. The fact mine walk a mile to school shows in not lazy. There's a school closer. I was on about safety not being lazy

Thanks for the sensible responses. No need to boast how you walk 15 miles in 90mph ones. Which is aload of crap. You'd struggle to walk in 60mph winds!

OP posts:
MrsJonesAndMe · 11/02/2020 06:35

I think you've had a really hard time OP. How is it looking this morning? We had 40m/h wind yesterday and it felt like the pushchair was going to blow away.

I don't care if anyone thinks that makes me soft or stupid either Hmm

TooGood2BeFalse · 11/02/2020 06:36

So are you going to take her OP?How is the weather?

Original poster
Mangoxmangox · 11/02/2020 06:41

The paths are icy and the winds are bad. Some fences have fallen over.

I am getting ready and will do my best!!!

I am not raising a snowflake for now wanting a tree to land on my kid or her to fall or slip into a river. Or slip on ice. Good for all you hard core people. Surprised you are not in the military fighting the wars we have now.

@MrsJonesAndMe ofcourse it doesn't make you soft. I love how people think they are harder than the wind. Like if a fence panel hit them or a tree fell down they would keep going. Noway there child could ever come to harm in it! Don't worry it's just the standard response you get on here from the usual people. Hope your journey is safe today x

OP posts:
MrsJonesAndMe · 11/02/2020 06:45

Our weather is meant to be better today, so not concerned here. Fingers crossed for you.

MamaBearThius · 11/02/2020 06:51

I'm also in Lincolnshire @Mangoxmangox and it's been absolutely vile the past 2 days. Ignore the horrible comments and do what's best for you and your little ones.

SimonJT · 11/02/2020 06:56

Looking at the weather it’s four degrees in Lincolnshire and it didn’t fall below three degrees during the night.

Four year olds walk to school in Norway, Finland, Russia etc. 45mph winds aren’t particularly unusual either.

dottiedodah · 11/02/2020 06:57

Unless you make a habit of it Im sure it will be fine to keep her off .I took the dog to the park Monday ,and missed out the woods as wasnt keen on being hit by a branch!

maddiemookins16mum · 11/02/2020 07:15

What happens if it’s snowy, windy and stormy for the next 6 weeks though? A few days off each week?

Original poster
Mangoxmangox · 11/02/2020 07:24

No Maddie as their dad is often able to work from home. It's a one off! Most wind is fine. It's not actually usually 50mph winds often!

OP posts:
Shamazing · 11/02/2020 07:33

@Mangoxmangox Kind of ironic you telling people to calm down given the hyperbole in your posts. But there you go.

Urkiddingright · 11/02/2020 07:40

Why even put your 4 year old in school if that’s how you feel mycat Hmm, it’s not nursery ffs. The law means you can hold your child back a year so they can start at five, why didn’t you do that? Only making them go in three days a week so you can visit museums is shocking parenting. That’s what the weekends are for.

That aside, I have walked further with my DC in the snow before OP. If you wear appropriate clothing you’ll all survive.

Ghoulestofmums · 11/02/2020 09:44

Toddler teapleashe - aren’t The Nottingham rproblems because of the bridge not the weather?

He