school have changed school start time by default

[chocoholic05]

My dc are in reception and year 2. They have lways started at 845. They wait in the playground outside their classrooms and at 845 their teacher opens the classroom doors calls them in and the parents go back through the playground and the gates are closed. Has always been this way. We are never late. We live over a mile away and until halfterm we caught a direct bus which were every ten minutes.
At halfterm this all changed. The bus outside the school closed. Bus routes have been drastically changed. Not only do I have to walk further when we get off the bus but the buses are now every twenty minutes not ten.Theirs been campaigns petitions etc all sorts so far to no avail. Despite this they still get their for quarter to every day. A few minutes before that most days.
Last Friday we got a letter saying that from Monday the school bell will go at twenty to nine the children will be collected by their teacher at that time and then the gate will close at quarter to! So now despite the fact we aren't arriving there any later this week than last everythings changed. We are fighting against a sea of parents leaving the playground the playground is empty of children and I rush them off quickly and hurriedly and the starts in this stressed fashion! It's awful and ds2 says he misses going into school with his friends. It's awful :(

[Fakebook]

Leave earlier. Not really much else anyone can suggest.

[MrsLouisTheroux]

It's aPITA but easy to solve the problem. Get the bus 20 mins earlier and take your time on the walk from the bus stop, chat in the playground and have a relaxing start to the day. :)

[HildaOgden]

Give feedback directly to the principal.You'd be suprised how many of the other parents are possibly feeling the same way,venting about it...but not actually saying anything to the person who is ultimately responsible for it.

If they realise it isn't working for parents,they may well change it back.After all,they changed it once already,they can change it back again.

Otherwise,I think you will need to get the earlier bus.(I wouldn't fancy a 30 minute walk in the pissing rain with reluctant kids either).

[Permanentlyexhausted]

Alemci - oh, don't get me wrong! Of course time is precious. I can assure you that every second of my time is just as precious as every second of yours. But that is exactly the point, isn't it. Everyone's time is precious, not just one mothers. It is no-one else's problem that the OPs home and school location and travel-to-school arrangements are such that a 5 minute change to the start of the school day seems to cause such a problem. I wonder if you and she have considered that there may now be other parents thanking their lucky stars they no longer have to wait around for 15 minutes before the start of the school day. Time is precious and not just to a chosen few.

[alemci]

Permanent - I thought it was only 5 mins difference between the original start and the new start. OP had to get there 5 mins earlier. you cannot just drop the kids in the playground at 8.20 and go unless things have changed.

I was very fortunate and lived near DCs primary so I was sympathetic to the OP. Mine go to secondary now and make their own way.

[Permanentlyexhausted]

Yes, Alemci, a 5 minute difference but part of the OPs complaint is that the new bus/school times mean the early bus that would definitely get her there on time is too early and she would have to wait around for 15 minutes or so before the start of school. I'm suggesting that maybe other parents were having to do that before and have benefitted from this new start time. There was nothing about dropping kids off and leaving them.

We live 30 mins walk from DS's school and he has to be there at 8.25. DD's school is a further 15 minute walk after that. Perhaps that's why I'm not seeing the big problem.

[alemci]

yes I see Permanently. Just seemed such a struggle having to get a bus etc and OP seemed quite hassled which I remember feeling myself with 3 kids under 4.

You must be very healthy and fit with all that walking :)

[chocoholic05]

Today we set off just past ten past eight and got there Just before twenty to. My reception child's teacher called hers in a minute or so before the bell went. No idea why! ds2s teacher called them in a minute or so after the bell. The gate opens at 835 that bit hasn't changed. Then I walked home as wasn't prepared to wait twenty minutes for a bus when its not much more walking. I'm MUCH quicker than my boys! Will also walk to pick them up - same reason!
Basically I'm tired!!!

[SallyCinnamonandNutmeg]

I am going slightly against the grain here. I don't think you are being unreasonable with being slightly annoyed with the school for changing the start time as it seems as if they have not given a specific reason for this. There is probably not a lot you can do except walk or get earlier bus as has been suggested here ad nauseum. But I would just ask the school the reason why things have changed and perhaps let them know that it's had an impact on your day.

[jazzandh]

Think how amazingly fit you will be though! I hate public transport would much rather walk and predict my arrival time than stress about a bus arriving....and I always took DS1 into school early so that he could run around and let some steam off before being cooped up in a classroom....

Mornings are stressful enough though without having to adjust your routine by a large amiount and leave earlier due to an arbitary school decision.

[DontmindifIdo]

well that sounds much better, and walking that way and back each day will give you lovely thighs. And you'll save money with not paying bus fares. And your DCs are arriving a nice 5 minutes before they need too. I see no downsides to this development...

[cumfy]

Hope you're all enjoying the fresh air.

DCs' minds should be settled and receptive after a good 30 minute walk.