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Original poster

School run dilemma

82 replies

Roundroundthegarden · 14/05/2024 12:12

Hi I just can't seem to figure this out. Very boring, but maybe someone can give me an idea I didnt think of.I have 2 kids, one primary aged and one 2yo.
We live in the middle and both schools are 20 min apart from each other.
the 2yo begin at 8am and the other at 8:20 and there is no way I can go back without getting stuck in traffic. Dh won't be able to help as he leaves before that and even if he is able to, his WFH days are very rare.
It seems unlikely that anyone wants a job for 2 hours in the mornings too. I tried that. We are going round and round trying to figure this out.

OP posts:
TinyYellow · 14/05/2024 12:14

Nurseries are often flexible with timings, could you book your 2yo for an early start or drop then after the other one is at school?

TwoTimesShoeShop · 14/05/2024 12:14

Just drop the 2 year old later?

Brainded · 14/05/2024 12:15

Are there literally no other school options???

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General education
strawberrybubblegum · 14/05/2024 12:15

Presumably the 2yo is at nursery rather than school. Is there a different nursery or childminder you could choose which is either close to your DS's school or close to your work?

octoegg · 14/05/2024 12:16

Only thing I can think of is if the school has a breakfast club, or somewhere nearby that does a breakfast club that can then drop them off at school. We have a similar issue, school without a breakfast club; it's a pain!

BigBadBarri · 14/05/2024 12:16

Drop the 2 year old later? It’s a “from” time, not a “must register at that exact time” time

ForAPicnic · 14/05/2024 12:17

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Abitofhassle · 14/05/2024 12:17

Ask around to see if anyone is in the same predicament who would be willing to share drop offs.
My children had several sets of siblings in their school years, that age difference is quite common.

Cheeesus · 14/05/2024 12:18

BigBadBarri · 14/05/2024 12:16

Drop the 2 year old later? It’s a “from” time, not a “must register at that exact time” time

Not necessarily. Our setting did 9-12 slots and everyone went in all together. It was pretty disruptive to them having people arriving late and they made that clear. That was a council pre school from aged 2. Not all settings are the same.

Gymmum82 · 14/05/2024 12:18

If the 2yo starts at 8 and the school is 20 mins away just be there for 7.55. Throw them through the door and race to school for 8.20. If you can’t be bothered with that level of chaos ( I couldn’t) then just take the 2yo in for 9ish.

Moltenpink · 14/05/2024 12:19

Has your DH tried to change his hours?

mindutopia · 14/05/2024 12:20

The 2 year old is just in nursery. You change the timing of the drop off to suit the school run, either dropping off earlier or later than you currently do, so that it's convenient.

When dc2 was in preschool, dc1 was in primary school that started at 8:45 and preschool didn't start until 9:30. They were 2 minutes from each other. It made no sense for one of us to drive dc1 to school at 8:45 and then come back again at 9:30. We paid for extra wrap around care for preschool, so I dropped off at 9am instead of 9:30. At a previous school, both school and nursery started at 9am. I'd drop dc1 off just before 9am and then drive to nursery (15 minutes away) for 9:15. They just had to accept that he would be arriving a bit past 9, because I don't have a teleport machine.

Original poster
Roundroundthegarden · 14/05/2024 12:23

Thanks for the replies. She has a morning slot 8-12 and that is very non negotiable. I could drop her off but then sometimes the traffic out of that area takes 15min alone before I enter the area for my DS school which also has alot of traffic. We have been on a waiting list for the school for a while and applied for the afternoon slot which would have worked better, but this is what we got and have taken.

OP posts:
WhatNoRaisins · 14/05/2024 12:26

Would the nursery revoke the place if you dropped off later or just be arsey about it?

Gymmum82 · 14/05/2024 12:27

I guess your only alternatives are either to use breakfast club at the school. Or find a closer nursery/preschool. Is there no preschool attached to the school your other child attends?

LittleLittleRex · 14/05/2024 12:27

Can you post on the school Facebook page or ask the nursery about older siblings/which schools they attend, to see if anyone else is in the same boat - so you would essentially swap a child at 7.50 with one parent taking two kids to nursery and the other taking two to school.

Are you driving between them or would you walk if it was just one drop off?

Original poster
Roundroundthegarden · 14/05/2024 12:34

My ds school is not flexible at all. The start time is 8:20 line up to start at 8:25.

We moved in between so did not anticipate being offered a different slot.

OP posts:
Original poster
Roundroundthegarden · 14/05/2024 12:35

WhatNoRaisins · 14/05/2024 12:26

Would the nursery revoke the place if you dropped off later or just be arsey about it?

Yes. It is an independent nursery with a massive wait list. They don't offer breakfast clubs too.

OP posts:
Bunnycat101 · 14/05/2024 12:37

i really couldn’t have been doing with that level of rigidity for a 2yo- we never had a start time for our nursery. Your older one is more important re the primary but is the 8.20 ‘from 8.20’ or a rigid start? Can you find out when the take the register as that is the important time in terms of attendance. Eg my school prefer the kids in before 8.40 but the gates close at 8.50 and they seem to finalise the register at 9. You might have a bit more wiggle room.

Original poster
Roundroundthegarden · 14/05/2024 12:38

LittleLittleRex · 14/05/2024 12:27

Can you post on the school Facebook page or ask the nursery about older siblings/which schools they attend, to see if anyone else is in the same boat - so you would essentially swap a child at 7.50 with one parent taking two kids to nursery and the other taking two to school.

Are you driving between them or would you walk if it was just one drop off?

I would have to drive as the walk is only 20 minutes but very tricky to do the walk.

OP posts:
Original poster
Roundroundthegarden · 14/05/2024 12:40

Bunnycat101 · 14/05/2024 12:37

i really couldn’t have been doing with that level of rigidity for a 2yo- we never had a start time for our nursery. Your older one is more important re the primary but is the 8.20 ‘from 8.20’ or a rigid start? Can you find out when the take the register as that is the important time in terms of attendance. Eg my school prefer the kids in before 8.40 but the gates close at 8.50 and they seem to finalise the register at 9. You might have a bit more wiggle room.

Edited

Yes priority is the older one and the start time is 8:25 and gates are shut. No wiggle room at all.
With the 2yo the slot is also fixed.

OP posts:
poorentia · 14/05/2024 12:41

You would be able to cycle it in 15 min then.

Bunnycat101 · 14/05/2024 12:48

You might be able to pay one of the nursery staff to take them for half an hour before the 8am slot and take them to work with them. Otherwise I’d beg the nursery to take them 9-12 with you still paying for the 8-12 slot. you can’t be the only one with kids at the nursery and school so they must have encountered the issue before and might have a suggestion.

Original poster
Roundroundthegarden · 14/05/2024 12:48

poorentia · 14/05/2024 12:41

You would be able to cycle it in 15 min then.

I really wouldn't manage to do that as both are uphill and I wouldn't do that with 2 kids.

OP posts:
WhatALump · 14/05/2024 12:52

Have you looked into a childminder for the school aged child? Most schools will have several local to them who drop and collect children

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