To be cheesed off with the childminder cars?

[WelshMaenad]

Bit of background - dd is in primary, she's six. She has CP and mobility issues. School is set on quite a steep hill and very busy road outside often resulting in a long walk to gates then very steep hill then steps to infant door. Very early in in dd's school career we established that this was really hard on dd and was causing her a lot of discomfort so we were given permission to bring the car into school grounds so she only had the steps to tackle. This has been a godsend.

The staff car park where we park is quite busy. I have quite a large estate car, out if necessity as dd sometimes uses a wheelchair. We need quite a large area to open the door to get her in, I was told before they marked out spaces that they were going to designate a couple of disabled spaces but they didn't, and the spaces are so ridiculously narrow that I can't park in them if I want to get her in the car. However, I've been using a spot at the far end which is wider, and this is fine as long as nobody parks opposite it, because I then can't get out! There area couple of other parents (both themselves disabled) that also drive into school and we all try to be considerate of one another.

However, the HT has taken to allowing childminders into the car park. No mobility issues, just 'easier' as they can leave their small mindees in the car whilst they pick up. One in particular (one small mindee plus two school pickups, no more than many parents manage!) has taken to abandoning her people carrier at the far end if the car park do I can't get into the accessible space. Yesterday there was literally nowhere for me to park, luckily DH was with me and went to get dd whilst I waited in the middle if the car park then reversed out (bloody awkward) as I couldn't even turn around.

It is fucking me off to the far end if fuck that mine and dd's lives are being made awkward for the sake of sheer laziness. However, I don't know how to brunch this with anyone without sounding churlish and entitled, and I really don't mean to sound churlish and entitled, I just want to be able to get my kid into school safely and painlessly without it being a complete nightmare. AIBU?

[DayShiftDoris]

Definitely speak to the HT and I would take along the OFSTED regulations for CM which state they shouldn't be out of sight.

If it continues or he can not see your point then I would escalate it to the Governing body.

[thebody]

Hi op. I was a cm for years and its absolutely not acceptable for a cm to leave children unattended in a car for ANY amount if time.

The cm could loose her ofsted reg if this is what she is doing and I am amazed that the HT is colluding in this.

I think the school is legally required to provide disabled parking space and you need to put this in writing to the HT and governors.

Your child is entitled to priority here as its her legal right to revive an education and to access this.

You shouldn't have to beg, leave early or negotiate for this.

Hope you get this sorted op and your daughter is ok.

[BackforGood]

I'm with those who would not be happy about the CM leaving LOs in the car while she went into the playground. What I choose for my own children is my risk assessment, but when you are caring for other peoples children, you HAVE to follow the rules. I would not be happy if I found any CM employed by me was doing this.
Nor can I see why the CM should feel entitled to a parking space because she's a CM, as opposed to being "just" a parent who is just as likely to have other younger siblings there.
You do need to talk to the HT though about the issues that are occurring, as otherwise he's not going to know is he ?
That said, I can't see why you all need a parking space ina staff car park, if you are just there at drop off / collection, surely you can just block the teachers' cars in, as they are not likely to be moving at that time of day.

[threesocksfullofchocs]

I would speak to the school and get them to have a couple of disabled bays, i have a feeling that they should anyway.

[quoteunquote]

www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/messageboards/NF2322273?thread=6396109

uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081022014103AAFDuIG

[Rudolphstolemycarrots]

get there earlier?

[Rudolphstolemycarrots]

speak tot he secretary who can tell CM where to park.

[Journey]

I don't think you should speak to the childminder. It is the ht you need to speak to. I think it is shocking that schools don't all have a disabled space.

[Journey]

I think the school needs a disabled space and also a few spaces for nursery drop offs.

I don't understand why priority is given to staff car parking. Why do staff need the privilege of being able to park at the school? Why can't they walk a small distance to the school? I think it is a bit contrary when they go on about how kids need exercise but take their car right up to the school door. Surely a couple of staff spaces could go towards a disabled space.

[festivelyfocussed]

i think you should speak to the HT. Maybe they can arrnge for you to have a protected space. I would hope that's available for a child with a physical disability.

[threepiecesuite]

IS it not the law to have at least one disabled space marked out? They had to when we moved to our new-build school.

[slartybartfast]

i thik you shoudl dspeak to the head, and get the head to reverse the decision on the childminder.

[kitsmummy]

I don't understand why you're getting all up in arms about this when you haven't even spoken to the childminder and explained the problem. This could probably be resolved by a short, polite conversation.

[difficultpickle]

If the CM does have mobility issues then I assume she would have her blue badge on display. Ds's previous school had a car park with two disabled spaces. One was always occupied by non-disabled people and the other's entrance was blocked by non-disabled people. It meant that my mum (who is disabled) could not use either space when she went to collect ds and instead had to park in the staff car park and wait for a member of staff to bring ds to her. The school regularly reminded parents not to park there but it was always ignored. If I saw someone blocking the space or parked in the disabled space I'd always report it to the office.

It must be hard enough to cope with a child who is disabled let alone having this daily issue to deal with due to someone else's selfish and inconsiderate behaviour. My mum certainly used to worry every time she had to collect ds and it would affect her entire day, making her feel very anxious. Hence the school came up with an alternative solution which made more work for the teaching staff due to inconsiderate parents.

[ImperialSantaKnickers]

The real problem is the failure of the school to provide any disabled spaces. You need to raise this with the governors. That completely bypasses the issue of CMs, their parking habits, and leaving other people's children unattended, which is a completely different matter.

[Bumply]

You need to ask the school if the slot you use can be marked for disabled use. Ther seems easier than remarking the area with wider access which would presumably lose a space.
Not the cm fault if they've been given permission and don't know get re causing an issue

[honeytea]

Maybe the child mider had mobility issues herself?

I can't see any reason to leave a small child in a car alone, especially if it is only one small child.

[WelshMaenad]

I wouldn't do that. I don't want to be vindictive or cost her her registration. It would also be deeply hypocritical as I leave my toddler in the car when I run up to get dd. the cars are in full view if the playground I personally deem it perfectly safe (that's my call as a parent and I don't really want to get into the whys and wherefores of a cm doing it, I just wouldn't choose to report her for doing something I do myself).

[KittyFane1]

Nice Eleanor.
Revenge?
Nice.

[KittyFane1]

Insurance? You just don't want her there. She has been given permission. Live and let live.

[WelshMaenad]

I am we'll aware of that, kitty. I also know the children concerned, they are my dd's friends. They don't need to be closer for access. When she doesn't have the baby she doesn't park there. It's a simple case if not wanting to have to walk the baby up from the main road.

[KittyFane1]

I still don't think she should be in there
Not your call OP.

[KittyFane1]

However, you cannot be sure that none of the children has additional needs, or a legitimate reason for needing the space. I would speak to the head. Agree. Not all disabilities require a wheelchair.