People who are late for school every day or almost every day.

[MrsJAlfredPrufrock]

Why don't you just get up 15 mins earlier?

I would be perfectly willing to concede that someone who openly admits they can't be bothered has a piss poor attitude- no problems there

but the OP was not actually about the OP hearing that parents don't care; it was about her seeing regularly being late and jumping to the conclusiont that they didn't care

if the OP had said "these parents openly admit that they don't care about being late and I know for a fact that this is not just an attempt to cover up something else they are too ashamed to admit"(dv, mh problems, child behavioural problems), then I would have been right there with my judgey pants on

Being late is not just one of those things. It's rude because it says 'my time is more important than yours, so who cares if I waste some of yours'.

We have three sets of uniforms but only 1 lunch box, coat and shoes each. It's those that go missing. I work split shifts so they're often picked up by family members and returned home after I have left for work, so I'm not there to put their things way.

DH struggles with getting dd2 settled to sleep on a night, so by the time he has managed that any thought of getting uniforms ready and emptying lunch boxes is forgotten. On nights I am home it's often 11:30pm by the time I have sorted dd2 and gotten everything ready.

It bothers me when my son is upset that his class didn't win a punctuality award AGAIN! Extra 10 mins play to a 6yr old is like finding the holy grail!

Ormirian "Being late is not just one of those things. It's rude because it says 'my time is more important than yours, so who cares if I waste some of yours'."

Yes, perfectly put.

I had a couple of years of being constantly late to school, only 5 mins. This was due to 2 reasons me throwing up repeatedly every morning due to stomach problems and ds2 who has speacial needs having a meltdown every morning. I think we did very well to be only 5 mins late. Now we always on time as my stomach better and ds2 meltdowns are less frequent. You don't always know what is going on in other peoples lives

Force.... schools/childminders have routines in place... structure... why you feel so entitled about upsetting a class routine every day is so very rude. Terrible attitude to have. And your kid/s will not be looked on kindly by the other kids I can assure you. A teacher/CM would not be disapproving to the child (it's hardly their fault, they aren't the 'supposed responsible' adult), but the kids would be. So unfair on your child. Your attitude astounds me.

Well I am with the OP, I think the majority of the time there is no excuse for being late apart from being too laid back or disorganised. My children have never been late for school, we have run in the gate as the last minute quite a few times and that is because we have been too disorganised in the morning.

I too see the same people strolling along at 9.10 most mornings and they just don't care. Surely puncyuality is a good things to teach children?

I know there will always be reasons for children being late but I can't see why anyone should be 10 or 15 minutes late every single day (unless the child has problem like Cory's), it's just not right.

I feel sorry for the Headteacher of DD's school. He's recently been told that he has the worst record of unauthorised absence and worst timekeeping record in the County.

He is gutted, and going by his latest newletter, bloody angry. He has started keeping a tally (that goes out on newletters) of absence/late stats. Not a single year group since he started (3 weeks ago) has reached 95% attendance or timekeeping. Unfortunately he is now talking about removing housepoints from the tutor groups, hoping to spur the children on, but I think this is unfair as in many cases it's not the childs fault.

We live the furthest from this school. DD only got in as all our closer schools were full when we applied. There is only us and one other family that qualify for free transport to the school - all the others are in walking distance. The Secondary school is 5 mins away.

I dont get it. I understand that there must be exceptions, that there must be some children with SN or other issues. But I know many of these kids/parents and they just seem to think it is funny, or not important enough to bother about. I just dont get it?

i simply can't find it in myself to judge lateness. there are so many other things that are more important, like encouraging tolerance towards others.

totally agree with cory.

I leave 2 minutes from school and I can't see the virtue of arriving early. DS goes off into the bushes and picks up sticks and gets muddy then I have to retrieve him when the whistle goes. If we arrive just in time (which we nearly always do!) he goes straight in on the end of the line and there is no faffing around. Twice a week we get there early for maths games/reading and when I am there 'on time' (8:45 instead of normal 8:55) I have always had to wait for the doors to be opened.

We have never been so late we have missed the register, but regularly meet majority of parents walking away having dropped off. I aim to be 1 or 2 minutes earlier perhaps, but no more. Can't bear hanging around in the playground!

It is definitely the case that those with the least travel time (and therefore less possible contingencies on the way to school) are more inclined to think 'well I just have time for this job before we go' then get caught out at the last minute with some missing item or unforeseen tantrum/need from child(ren). This does happen sometimes.

By the way... I am well aware that kids have tantrums/teething probs sometimes etc. but to just be late and not be bothered about it... RUDE. (Miranda tone)

If a child has continued problems/SN needs etc. then a school/childminder would know about this (surely?) and factor it in.

It may not seem like it in this thread but I am a most flexible and understanding childminder, but take the mick consistently and you are given notice

I like the people that arrive just as the bell goes. They are a reliable indicator for us. If I seem them behind us down the road as we open the front door, I can yell "Quick we're really late".

Never been late, but sometimes just on time.

We are repeatedly late for ballet due to the bus being late and then getting stuck in traffic. Nothing I can do about that one. You don't know the circumstances of everyone - public transport can be very unreliable and not all of us drive.

I'm really astounded that those who are habitually late are defending it. How rude.

I think sessions of school should be closed to late-comers. So those late for school would be turned away from the morning session if registration has commenced. But they could arrive ON TIME for the afternoon session.

baskingseals Excuse me... why should we be teaching our children to be tolerant of bad behaviour...? Because that is what being late and not bothered about it, is.

Let YOU be on the side of the fence when someone is messing you around every single day, making a HUGE impact on your personal life... and then tell me you won't put your 'judgey pants' on.

Just out of interest what time do you and your DCs get up?

don't presume mrsj

i'm not late, but that doesn't mean i judge others for being so

Schools need to be like theatres... close the door if late at opening time.

We get up at 7.15am and leave for school at 8.15am.

Agreed cory, its judgy to have a blanket attitude to everyone.

Forgot when I commented earlier that some days we are late as DS will be having issues (he on verge of school refusal at times) and I feel "at least I've got him to school, even if he is late".

I would be happy to discuss that with his teacher/school staff, so wouldn't mind if I was pulled up about it, but not by other parents who don't have a clue.

I get up at 6:45.
Older boys up at 7:15 and out the door by 8 so can walk to school for 8:45.
Younger girls up at 7-7:30 and out door by 8:55 - need to be there by 9:10, but only have 2 mins walk.

Making 5 packed lunches is the bit I hate.

Accepting some have DC with SN,
for those who just are late you are undermining your child's relationship with school & education by basically saying it's not the priority in the morning.
You are showing your DC how to be rude, arrogant, unappreciative and disrespectful of the learning time of others & teachers.

We are not usually late but in the last 2 weeks there are roadworks between here and school. Sometimes they don't cause a problem but yesterday it took me 60 mins to get to school, it should take about 15 -20 mins. School starts at 8.25, we usually leave at 7.50 and arrive at 8.20. DC's get woken up at 7am. I have had this discussion with DH today about being late, this only option is waking them earlier

We can't get them into a closer school and we can't afford to move. It's not a problem that will go on forever but the slightest change in the traffic and the school run can be hell.

We are up at 7 usually, 7.30 at the latest and we try to leave at 8.40 to get to school for 8.50. The bell goes at 8.55 and they have to be in by 9.

Sometimes we are up later, once we never woke until 8.20 but I still got them there on time!

My DS1 has SN and that is the reason we are on time every single day.

If we are not on time he finds it really distressing, so we make sure that we leave the house at the right time every single day. We just make it a priority, no matter what else is going on.

DS2's best friend, however, is always late for everything. Once his mother brought him one hour late to DS2's birthday party to which he was the only child invited.

I'm with OrmIrian. Habitual lateness is rude.