Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

Original poster

To be fed up with the school gate wait

23 replies

Sandywaves1113 · 15/03/2022 08:46

This might seem like a minor issue but I’m starting to get fed up with waiting for my DC school to open the gates in the morning.
They’re supposed to open 8.25 for children to be on the playground for 8.30. The gates close at 8.40 and register begins at 8.45. It’s all very rushed but well organised and means I and many others can get to work on time.
For the past fortnight the gates have been opened anywhere from 8.35-8.45. Everyone is left waiting on the busy main road and then this causes an influx of cars and parents making a mad flustered dash for work.
One parent complained at the main office and we were told that whoever is available with the gate keys gets sent to unlock when they’re approached. Previously it was 2 support staff already waiting by the gates at 8.20 but they now casually walk over as if they have all the time in the world.
I can’t leave my DC to wait alone as they’re too young but it’s frustrating that all of our mornings are now based on unorganised staff and of course disrupting the teacher when the children finally settle in class. I have had to make embarrassing phone calls to work about running late over this. I don’t like to officially complain but surely this isn’t acceptable?
I overheard one parent say she brought her DC to breakfast club and had to wait 20 minutes to be let in. We also had one afternoon last week where all the children were on the playground but they couldn’t find the staff to unlock the gates to send the children home, so that held everyone back 15 minutes.
Feel free to say if I’m being irrational, but if anyone brings their DC to school late they miss playtime as punishment so why aren’t they ensuring the school is open on time and considering how it affects parents?!

OP posts:

toomuchlaundry · 15/03/2022 08:52

More of you need to complain.

In the meantime is there another parent you could ask to keep an eye on your DC if you need to get to work?

parrotonmyshoulder · 15/03/2022 09:13

If it’s just been a fortnight, have you considered that they may be having significant difficulties with staffing at present? It may seem like ‘just one small job’ but if the regular person who does this is away, then every single one of their ‘small jobs’ needs to be done by someone else. Each of these will be taking someone away from what they are normally doing.
By all means ‘complain’ but perhaps find a way to do it respectfully.

Original poster

Sandywaves1113 · 15/03/2022 09:16

It’s still the same staff and as support staff they don’t technically begin working until the children are in school so it beats me what they’re doing! But yes I understand it could be that there are difficulties, but the headteacher should be aware of this and inform parents of the reason and what they can do about it, because at the moment they have a ‘don’t care’ attitude.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education

toomuchlaundry · 15/03/2022 09:20

I would expect School to notify parents that there is a temporary change to morning drop off if they were having staffing issues

DoItAfraid · 15/03/2022 09:23

As someone who has to dash off promptly to start my commute, I would complain. Politely yes but pretty firmly. Getting in late all the time would literally tank my career.

Also as PP have said i have asked other parents to watch my ones (also too small to leave alone) and when i am WFH and have more time I always offer to wait with other people’s so they can dash off. Never once had an offer refused.

Sometimes school staff can come across as very insular; like they dont seem to appreciate how much these “small” things affect other people/ cause stress.

So state your concerns politely and clearly.

ExplodingCarrots · 15/03/2022 09:25

Yeah I'd be frustrated too. And like pp said more of you need to complain . I rely on my DDs school to be on time and I know a lot of other parents do too because they start 9am on the dot . Luckily the gate is open bang on the dot when it's supposed to. And if it's a minute or two late you get a flustered head teacher running over apologising.

MiddleParking · 15/03/2022 09:33

@parrotonmyshoulder

If it’s just been a fortnight, have you considered that they may be having significant difficulties with staffing at present? It may seem like ‘just one small job’ but if the regular person who does this is away, then every single one of their ‘small jobs’ needs to be done by someone else. Each of these will be taking someone away from what they are normally doing. By all means ‘complain’ but perhaps find a way to do it respectfully.

Do me a favour. Is making people late for work every day for a fortnight and say nothing about why you’re doing so ‘respectful’?

JingsMahBucket · 15/03/2022 10:12

Yeah, that’s crap. I would complain and also ask/rally other parents to complain as well. It needs to be remedied pronto.

Original poster

Sandywaves1113 · 15/03/2022 10:55

Thanks all I have seen on the school whatsapp group some parents are kicking off over it so I have sent a message about considering a complaint to the head teacher, I’m hoping the pta mums will take the lead as they’re a very vocal bunch

OP posts:

toomuchlaundry · 15/03/2022 11:04

If they can complain nicely it would be good

CookPassBabtridge · 15/03/2022 11:11

It's bad communication by the school too.. our headteacher would be telling parents whats going on.

Rickrollme · 15/03/2022 11:26

Why do you think it’s someone else’s responsibility to complain? As one of vocal PTA mums it’s very annoying when other people complain but refuse to speak up. Nobody wants to be the squeaky wheel every time as of course you are more likely to be taken seriously if you pick your battles. This is clearly an issue for you so it’s your turn to put your head above the parapet. Moaning to other parents isn’t going to help, you need to contact the school to express. your concerns in a polite and respectful way.

whatajuckingfoke · 15/03/2022 11:30

We're having this recently too. Gates supposed to open for 8:40, children in for 8:45. Recently we've had the gates sometimes not open until 8:50 or later, with the school secretary (whose job it is and always has been!) just sauntering out like she's got all the time in the world. HT is also there I can see him walking around inside!

It doesn't bother me because I'm a sahm so don't have rush off, but I last week had extra three children left with me one day to take in (ours are in year one so too young to be left) by parents who were running late for work. I don't mind at all luckily they all stood nicely and did as I asked but it's not good enough and I really feel for the parents. Its been a very mutinous queue recently so I expect complaints have been made.

It also has a knock on effect because parents are parked much longer which means whatever's going on at the community hall next door gets delayed because people can't park there.

Pythonesque · 15/03/2022 13:02

They've created a major safety issue by the sounds of it.

I would have said opening school gates at the right time is not a "small issue" but one of such priority that in the case of staffing difficulties I'd expect the head to be there opening up.

airrrrAIRRRRiELLLL · 15/03/2022 13:31

Sounds like support staff working to rule. They probably won't be getting paid until 8.45 unless they have successfully negotiated an 8.30 start. The 8.20 gate opening was probably done because they got in early to do other start-of-day tasks and then got roped in to do the gate!
Complain and complain. Support staff need to be paid properly.

eddiemairswife · 15/03/2022 13:57

Surely the headteacher could open the gate.

TheOccupier · 15/03/2022 14:45

Drop the children over the gate?

itisyourbirthdayKelly · 15/03/2022 14:51

My dds school is a bugger for this. You never know what time those gates will open. It’s been happening for years and I know people have complained but nothing ever happens.

AchillesPoirot · 15/03/2022 14:55

If the support staff and they aren’t technically working at that time, I’d suspect there’s a work to rule going on. And good for them.

Nat6999 · 15/03/2022 15:34

Complain to the governors, the parents who are losing 20 minutes of breakfast club each day need to reduce their payments accordingly as well.

toomuchlaundry · 15/03/2022 16:35

Before complaining to governors you should follow the complaints policy which should be on the school website

Original poster

Sandywaves1113 · 15/03/2022 17:07

Thanks all some of us have put some words together to send to the head teacher. Just to add I wasn’t relying on pta parents to speak for me/us, it’s just that in our school any grouped issues gets passed through them as general communication with the school can take a week in some cases otherwise!

OP posts:

MajorCarolDanvers · 15/03/2022 17:10

Mine get the bus to school so have never had a parent hanging around with them in the playground.

But even for those getting dropped off at our school once they are in the school gates that's it. No need to wait. You wave good bye and off they go to play with their pals until its time for the bell.

Flip