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?

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

Ok welsh, if the HT talked about marking the space before why not ask again? In the meantime before it gets painted the HT could just let all of the CMs know to leave that space empty for you.

[WelshMaenad]

On the subject of the childminders access, it started off with I've, a couple of years ago when the car park was quieter, she asked the ht if she could, for her own ease, and he agreed (he's lovely but not very ballsy). Second CM, the one in question, then just started doing it, 'because x does so why shouldn't I' and nobody had the balls to say no.

[difficultpickle]

I'm really surprised that if the car has marked out spaces there are no disabled spaces marked out. I would be asking the school why and asking for that to be changed.

[QuickQuickSleigh]

YANBU but a gentle word with the CM would probably solve this, she isn't doing it intentionally.

I would be upset if my CM left DS in the car during the school run though!

[KittyFane1]

The thing is, this is easily solved. You are getting annoyed at people who are probably oblivious to the fact that they are causing you a problem. They, as are you, are focussed on collecting their charges in the easiest/ quickest way possible.

[Runoutofideas]

I am a childminder and regularly transport 6 children home from school. I would not be allowed to use the school car park, and indeed have never asked to do so. I would also never leave a child unattended in a car!

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.

[KittyFane1]

Just read your last post OP. It's not a game of top trumps FGS. Everyone needs to work together that's all.

[Gumby]

It sounds horrendous
I'd park outside school & use the wheelchair tbh

[WelshMaenad]

I think what I might do is identify a couple of spaces at the far end that could easily be demarcated as disabled spaces and make the suggestion to him. That way if she parks there again, I have legitimate cause to raise it without sounding bratty. I still don't think she should be in there but as long as I have decent access that's all I'm concerned about. Thanks for all your input.

[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.

[KittyFane1]

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

[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]

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

[KittyFane1]

Nice Eleanor.
Revenge?
Nice.

[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).

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[slartybartfast]

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

[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.