To confront head teacher

[MissedTheBusHome]

DD aged 7 should have got the bus home from school today.

Usual procedure is after lessons finish at 2:15 she waits in atrium and is collected by bus monitor and arrives at collection point 2:50.

Today she was not collected from atrium. She along with 6 other children were missed off the bus. The first I knew of this was when I received a call from person meeting her to say she hadn't arrived at collection point.

I rang school - for twenty mins I couldn't get through. After twenty mins the answer phone indicating the school office was now closed kicked in.

There is a second bus that runs to deal with DC's who do after school activities so I asked the person due to collect her to wait in case she was on that one. It usually arrives at 3:50. It eventually arrived at 4:15 and thank goodness DD was on it but I am fuming.

For almost an hour and a half I had no idea where she was or if she was safe.

The school obviously became aware at some point that she missed the bus but didn't think to call me to let me know all was ok.

I'm minded to head to school first thing tomorrow to let the HT have it with both barrels -AIBU

genuine a since I may have lost perspective due to another incident

I would definitely make a complaint. Why was she not collected from the Atrium? Some individual must be at fault here.

I would be furious and be asking for a very thorough and speedy review of procedures. I can't imagine how you felt all that time no knowing where your DD was. School should have called you, never mind you having to constantly phone them and not get through.

I would seriously be
It's my nightmare situation with dd1 who gets bus

Before "let the HT have it with both barrels" at least ask if he / she knows about it!

Are you writing this from the future?

What's an atrium?

In which case Fakebook, there is still time to do something about it, but hopefully without interfering in the workings of time dr who style.. Back on topic, I would be absolutely furious.

perhaps from a different time zone...

Is there not a list on the bus to check everyone who should be there is there before the bus leaves. This is the protocol at DD's school.

I would go and speak to them.

Someone missed your dd and no one bothered to call you - i would be bloody furious!

HECthehalls..you are clever....darn, no wonder I never win at quiz nights

Both barrels. As the head, she is ultimately responsible for the children in her school.
Both barrels and reload.

Ladybeagles, an atrium is a chamber in the heart. I think.

Ah crwp. Bloody time zones.

I'm normally pretty laid back about this sort of thing but I think that is really sloppy and troubling. Defintely let them now how unacceptable it is and how frightened you were

Or Ladybeagles her daughter might have been asked to wait in an actual building and not someone's heart chamber!

Sorry not dr who style time travel - just a different time zone.

pendeen ultimately I don't actually care if the HT knows or not. He is responsible for ensuring that the proper policies and procedures are in place and that they are adhered to by his staff.

Not only did they fail to account for DD on the bus, they subsequently failed to notify me as soon as they became aware that she wasn't and in fact when a member of staff noticed (some 40 mins after the bus left) they were hanging around when they were taken to reception they were spare y berated by reception staff for not coming and notifying them earlier

Doesn't matter if you "don't care", you are likely to fare better if you are civilised rather than "rip the headteacher a new one"

I'd be livid BUT I'd ask questions before storming in and ripping new arseholes. If the answers are not satisfactory and no apology is forthcoming, I'd commence the slaughter of the arseholes in spectacular style.

Answers first, actions later (if necessary)

Well yes it does matter that I don't care whether he knows, because I won't be accepting a lack of knowledge on his part as an acceptable reason for the breach of procedures. In fact if by tomorrow he doesn't know I will consider it an additional failing that the matter hasn't been properly escalated to him internally.

I don't think I suggested I would be "ripping him a new one" did I ?

I agree you need to speak to them but it is never productive to go in screaming and shouting or in an aggressive manner. Clearly mistakes were made and they need to be addressed but if you are unpleasant and confrontational you will put yourself in the wrong also and perhaps accomplish less. What is your aim, to improve the system so this doesn't happen again or just pick a fight?

YANBU. Sloppy procedures - quite a few failings by the sound of it. How could they just put your dd on another bus but not phone? How could they assume someone would still be waiting, and what would have happened if no-one was?

Get there early - the parents of the other six kids are likely to be lined up and looking for blood too.

Are you in the US? Because this sounds more likely to happen there than in the UK.