Uni attendance

[Babyshoes1]

Hey so I’ve just received my personal timetable for uni and once a week I have a seminar that ends at 6pm.
My son is currently in childcare that finishes at 6pm.

I don’t have anyone local to me that could collect him (except my sister) which she might be able to since she works nights. But if she isn’t, and I have to leave 20 minutes into the seminar every week, will I be in trouble?

I know I can speak to the uni and hopefully they’ll understand but worried they’ll just tell me to find new childcare for him which does a later collection. He as a really good childminder who’s he’s been with since he was 6 months old (he’s nearly 2 now) so I don’t wanna change it just based off this and feel under pressure to find new childcare.

Sorry for rambling am just a bit stressed because I know they have a strict attendance policy and don’t want to get kicked out over this.

Contact the Uni and the childcare. Explain the predicament to both of them and see what they say.

The Uni might have the same seminar at another time that you could attend. Or they might say that it’s up to you when you leave etc but hopefully won’t reflect in your coursework.
The uni will hopefully be supportive but might respond with they made all potential students aware of the possible timings when they applied- when I applied for my uni courses, they all said it was potentially Monday - Friday 8-6 and that I would need to be prepared to attend the classes within those times. Did they have anything suggesting the timings?

Im j sure what your childcare will say but you could ask if there’s an option to pay more to stay later? Failing that, If there’s no one around to collect him then you might need to find somewhere else thag provides wrap around care.

My guess is that they will have a specific set of protocols for students with caring responsibilities and they have not been applied -either because this right people don't know or because there has been a mistake

You will have been assigned an academic advisor -go to them in the first instance and they will tell you how to sort it (or direct you to some one that can help)

If no joy from them go to the senior tutor, or course and stage director. Cc the su as well. Last resort would be the head of department

OP, I went to Uni many moons ago but there was one seminar I was assigned with a friend that finished at 6pm and she successfully swapped to the same seminar on a different day. I can’t remember why - maybe an evening job or something.

Definitely talk to the Uni. Just see what the options are.

Ive worked in HE for years and in my experience most unis I’ve worked for are really hot on supporting families / parents. Try the contacts PP suggested and you could also contact your student well-being department. Have a look to see if your Uni has any sort of family hub too. Like the one I’m at now has a working parents’ network for student parents that can help.

Thanks all for the comments.
Really hoping my sister is available to pick him up (she hasn’t replied yet.) So this is me just preparing for worst care scenario if she can’t.

My son is with a childminder and I’d feel super bad asking them to have him until 6:30-6:45 as I know that’s their family time/dinner etc. It would also mean I’d be paying more than the hourly rate so will take a hit financially.

Great idea re asking if there’s the same seminar at a different time, I think this would be my best bet.

Op please reach out to student support or to your academic advisor. That way you won't be put in this position again

Could the seminar be recorded for you to watch later? I know this is an access arrangement for students with SN.

Hello, as others have advised you need to reach out to the university and explain your situation. If it was a lecture you could probably just dip out a bit earlier but as it is a seminar which tends to be a more interactive and smaller group, I think leaving 20 minutes early might be an issue. I think they should be able to swap you or else they can probably give you some dispensation ❤️