No access to wraparound care, what next?

[Chattenoire]

Just started a new job and my DS just started reception in the same week. School told us their wraparound care was super flexible but it turns out there are no available spaces (some days). We have no family nor friends that can help. There will be times when neither DH nor I can make it to school at a normal time (but can get there earlier). Is it acceptable to ask school to let our DS leave early for those days? Wouldn't be very often and would get him around 230.

They got released today and we couldn't get a place :(

you asked if we thought it was accepted....I do not. I reduced my hours at work in order to pick my child up from school every day instead of having the worry of getting a wrap around place. Money wise we really needed me to stay at work but it outways the worry of a wrap around childcare place.

Its not just disruptive to your child, but to everyone else in the class. If they are in the middle of PE, they have to get someone from the office to go and get them, stop the PE session while they sort out your child leaving, take them to the classroom to get their stuff and back to you leaving. What if its a day they are on a class trip and not back until normal pick up time? What if in the middle of another lesson, the teacher has to stop the lesson for everyone else, get your child together to leave class and send them to the office.

For you its 30 mins every month or so you pick them up earlier but it has a wider impact on the class not just your child.

I'm not opposed to taking children out of school (My DS is having a week after after half term for a family wedding abroad) but I think it is unreasonable in your situation as it is disruptive. I'd make a temporary arragement for a flexibale working request at work. If they are a good employer they will understand temporarily while you sort the wrap around care out

I don't think they'll be happy about it but as he doesn't have to be in education until after Christmas they can't actually refuse. So if you really don't have any other options ask them, making clear it's temporary until Christmas at the latest

It would be 100% temporary as it was just the perfect storm and would find the solution for next term.

If it would really help you to collect early once a month and it's genuinely only once a month then school won't object and it won't be very disruptive.

From an attendance point of view once the afternoon register has been completed after lunch the child is legally considered "present" for the whole session so there would be no consequences for reduced attendance.

How often will you be collecting him at 2.30pm and for how long will you need to do this?

Do you know any other parents who do pick up at the same school who you could ask temporarily?

You should entitled to parental leave so this could be used until you organise a more permanent solution.

Re wraparound care check terms & conditions carefully. Ours invoice monthly for your agreed pattern. Any changes require half terms notice.

Only two... Both fairly superficially. One of them told me today she gets overwhelmed with her own child, so I can't genuinely ask her.

If it is once a month for the rest of this term, can’t your DH take half days/arrange dentist and optician appointments so that he is OOO on the specific afternoons and able to pick up?

And by the time of your November and December meetings, maybe you will have another parent friend who could help you out for an hour.

“The system works in a way that it's refunded as credit, so we'd just keep reusing it. “

I would be surprised if this was uncapped- it seems more likely to be meant to cover someone who booked a term and then suddenly granny can do Wednesdays than to allow you to book everything and then cut back… because if everyone did that, then lots of parents wouldn’t get a space (like you haven’t this time) and would make other arrangements, leaving the club underused. Worth checking

You can book and amend as much as you like. That's the flexibility the headteacher told us about. Unfortunately we took it as "we always have space".

And this is why there are no spaces available. I bet others have done that this term. I'd speak to the organiser and ask them to ask everyone to unbook what they don't need now not wait to the last minute

It's far from ideal but understand that not getting the school's "approval" doesn't mean you can't do it.

The rules on absence are punitive now but he'd be in for morning and pm registration so you should be ok on that. I would tell them you need to collect him, don't phrase it like you are waiting on their approval or signoff. Mostly their response will be driven by the rules set by the LA or govt rather than what any individual believes or understands. It's not personal. He won't be tarred. You might possibly be judged, but if so just wear it.

Can your dh book half days off?