to ask for a bit of support and backup?

[WorriedMummy73]

We have serious parking issues at our school (mostly because the spineless Head won't tackle the problem and the parents responsible) and the reckless driving and parking all over pavements is constantly putting children's lives at risk. Me (and maybe three other parents) now pull people (very politely, I might add) when they park where they shouldn't (and know they shouldn't) and especially when they start driving towards/reversing into people crossing the road. This invariably leads to verbal abuse (one woman wound down her window to call me a stupid bitch), usually in front of our own dc.

The majority of other parents just walk by, watching all this unfold, but some have started congratulating me on standing up to people and saying things like 'ooh, good for you, someone's got to do it, haven't they?'.

I'm at the point now where I'm tired of my kids witnessing me getting verbally abused and feel like saying nothing unless it's actually MY kids at risk. However, I also feel this makes me as bad as the 'screw you Jack, I'll park where I like, as long as MY kids get in and out of school ok' brigade.

I'm really sick of the whole situation and dealing with it, but am also worried that a child is going to get seriously hurt. What would you advise?

You could inform the local police or traffic wardens about the situation. Parking outside our old school was terrible with people parking where they knew they shouldn't be. When the local Community Police Officers and Traffic wardens started turning up (not all at the same time!) it did help things considerably. I cannot believe the head teacher will not address this issue ...

Another idea might be to get in touch with one of the school Governors and raise it through them if no-one will take it to the HT? Good luck!

YANBU - it is a massive problem. People would rather park like selfish dicks than walk 200 metres to the school.

Our school have this problem. We have a traffic warden now who will come and ticket cars as well as that little smart car with the periscope thing. Can you speak to the local police and see if they can do anything??

I have to say that whilst the wardens are around parking is fine, then you don't see them for a while and the dicks are back.

We regularly have it on newsletters as well....I personally think naming and shaming is a good way to stop the repeat offenders. name and shame them on the school newsletter, bet that would stop them. Can you talk to school about that?

we've had this problem for ever in our school.....
you need to get the governors on board and set up a working party to address the road safety around school. You should also enlist the help of the community beat officers - if the police start giving out tickets etc then that may frighten the parents off. Log every incident of poor parking, dangerous driving etc and take registration numbers. Keep copies for yourself and also in the school.
Get a group of parents together then you can make more of a difference.

oh - and contact other schools to find out how they manage - go through the PAs or the governors

Your not in essex are you?
i just moved my daughters school on monday and noticed on the weekly newsletter that this school has serious problems with parking , i experienced this for myself yest and today and it is pretty horrendous (her old school there was a very large community centre car park)

Apparently there have been a few very near misses of cars hitting children, but the headmaster is apparently issueing a seperate letter on what can be done (dont know if i have already missed this though as i say she only started monday)

I have no option but to drive as live in next village and its not walkable, otherwise i would walk.

i dont know how my dd's school can possibly resolve this issue as everyone has to park along road and then turn around and try to get out of road again which is impossible when cars are lined one side of road and traffic coming the other way!

will be interested if anyone has any advice/ideas also.

I would also reccommend getting the local PSCO or community police officer out. This is something the HT should be doing, but if he won't contact them yourselves.

A few tickets and the problem will not be so big.

The police were out a few weeks back - and they literally waved a 'naughty, naughty' finger out of their window at people and drove off! Traffic warden comes once in a blue moon, but only warns people - who then park there again the next day. It has been much, much worse since September (and getting worse) because we have two school entrances - and the Head is at the secondary walkway every morning, saying 'good morning' to people. That leads to the Junior playground. The main entrance (to the infants (so the very smallest children in the school) and the staff car park, is where the trouble is. The Head has not been on that playground or at that entrance ONCE the entire academic year! He does not do confrontation, and is concerned with being everyone's bestest fwend ever! He doesn't seem to realise that his job includes keeping the 450+ children safe as well as making them laugh. I despise him and think he's weak. My 4 year-old was missed by inches by a large van (driven by a Dad) before Christmas - and school said they would put it in the newsletter. I hope they have an obituary column cos they're going to need one soon.

be prepared for a long haul
we had a very organised team together and eventually got the local councillor who also happened to be the budget man on the council in to a meeting and he really shook up the council employers who had had the temerity to tell us that the junction where our school is "is not dangerous as no fatalities had occurred there" - there have been many many near misses but they have finally changed the sequencing of the lights to make it safer.
People power is really important - keep at it and get the HT on board - go above him to governors if he is not helpful