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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Is school being unrassonable?

87 replies

Vickibee · 20/04/2013 13:13

We got a letter home friday stating we must collect our children at 315 instead of the usual 330 . This is because they are starting parents eve apps at 315. My work finishes at 3pm planned to fit school finishes and the earliest I can arrive is 325 as it is a 10 mile journey. My boss is really finicky over time and will not be happy about me leaving early but what else am I meant to do
Would parents be within their rights to complain about this to the LEA?

OP posts:

mybelovedmonster · 20/04/2013 13:56

I can't imagine the local childminders and afterschool clubs are too amused at all this either - its really going to mess up all their pick-ups.

Original poster

Vickibee · 20/04/2013 13:56

Dh is SE so he has more flexibility than me but e is working in Leeds next week which is 30 miles away so he would have to leave at 2ish

OP posts:

NoWayPedro · 20/04/2013 13:57

"Why should they (teachers) have to sort out childcare to stay late for your lot"

[Hmm]

Errrrr because parents evening is a core part of the role that would have been made clear from the v outset and they would have months notice.

Original poster

Vickibee · 20/04/2013 13:58

The
Last appt is 430 so they are not staying late anyway

OP posts:

kim147 · 20/04/2013 13:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Jinsei · 20/04/2013 13:59

I do have a flexible job and wouldn't be able to re-arrange my diary for 5 days with so little notice.

Same here. I can always rearrange my schedule if needs be, but would generally need at least a couple of weeks notice. Even if it's only fifteen minutes. The school is at fault for failing to communicate the changes in a timely way.

TheFallenMadonna · 20/04/2013 14:00

School is being unreasonable. I simply wouldn't be able to pick up my child early (she goes to after school club). Because I'm a teacher.

mybelovedmonster · 20/04/2013 14:03

God... My work is infinitely flexible, v understanding boss etc but they would still be pissed off if I asked to leave 15 mins early for a whole week.

McNewPants2013 · 20/04/2013 14:10

Yanbu, there is no time really to arrange childcare.

AmIthatSpringy · 20/04/2013 14:12

My job too is incredibly flexible, but here's the thing

I keep that flexibility for emergencies, when DD is sick, if she has medical appointments.

As far as the school is concerned I would just ask what alternative provision they have put in place for parents who can't pick up early.

And as other posters have pointed out, changes to school times need consultation and are NOT enforceable in cases like this (or in Scotland any way)

Pozzled · 20/04/2013 14:22

School are being completely unreasonable here. Teachers expect to have to stay reasonably late on parents' evening; it's part of the role. It's taking the piss to expect parents to alter their schedule for a whole week- to do it with so little notice is ridiculous.

Op, can I clarify something? Is each teacher seeing parents every afternoon? So instead of staying late one evening, they're doing an hour and 15 minutes every day?

WorraLiberty · 20/04/2013 14:27

It's a bit of a non issue really. They aren't going to send him out to walk home. He will stay with a TA or out by the school secretary until you collect him at normal time.

Exactly this ^^

No need to complain, no need for letters...just tell them you personally can't arrange pick up at that time.

That still leaves many many more parents who can...and that is what the school is aiming for.

It's the same as when you get a text during the winter saying 'school is closing early due to snow'.

It doesn't mean any kids left on the premises will be clamped or towed away....

kim147 · 20/04/2013 14:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BlackeyedSusan · 20/04/2013 14:29

no. thaay are being unreasonaable to give you so little notice. (ex teacher.) i would not have been happy to have fielded the parents complaints because of the head teacher. having parents evenings at that time is unrealistic, though it would be nice not to have them til 8.30 in the evening, but finishing at 4.15?

landofsoapandglory · 20/04/2013 14:41

I would just turn up at 3.30 as normal. They won't send him off home on his own.

lljkk · 20/04/2013 14:50

ime just let the school know you'll be running 15 min. late & it won't be a big deal to anyone. Child can wait on a chair outside HT's office.

SwishSwoshSwoosh · 20/04/2013 14:51

I would ask them what arrangements are for parents who cannot do this.

I would create a massive stink tbh, this is seriously rude. Parents need to be able to work.

Startail · 20/04/2013 14:54

Just be late, most of us take DCs to parents evening anyway so there's always a gang of kids banking about chatting in the corridor.

Pozzled · 20/04/2013 14:54

I wonder if anyone mentioned there might be a problem in the staff meeting to discuss this?

kim147 At my school this kind of thing would be decided by the SMT, with very little discussion. I suspect though that the school have made plans for the children who can't be collected early, but don't wish to advertise this. If parents think it's optional they won't do it.

Jinty64 · 20/04/2013 15:49

Could you not work through lunch and leave early?

MrsMelons · 20/04/2013 15:54

YANBU, I don't think its the same thing as teachers arranging for childcare on parents evening as that is a scheduled part of the job.

This sounds a very odd thing to do - if school finishes at 330 it should finish at 330 unless a one off, I like you have arranged to finish work at a particular time to fit around the school runs so would be a bit irritated if I had to change a whole weeks hours for the sake of parents evening finishing 15 minutes earlier. DSs school do parents evening till 7pm when they do it and provide normal after care for the children.

Theas18 · 20/04/2013 15:58

Don't worry, just let school know you can't collect before the end of a normal school day. This is a daft last minute ill planned change which will be an issue for many parents, so they'll have to have them in the hall watching a DVD or something.

It is not actually unusual for parents to work till the lady minute to get to primary school pick up.I used to. It was already working across lunch.there isn't spare capacity to suddenly change hours like this.

If they'd given notice at the same time parents evening dates were given then it might be ok but I think not.

Original poster

Vickibee · 20/04/2013 16:41

Thanks for replies, I will get there as quick as I can and do my best

OP posts:

spanieleyes · 20/04/2013 16:43

But it's not every night in the week for you is it, just the Thursday when it is your daughter's class ( unless you have 5 daughters, one in each class!)

Pozzled · 20/04/2013 16:54

spanieleyes I assumed that all classes are finishing early every day, so teachers can see parents after school and not have to stay late. Vickibee is that what's happening?

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