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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to drop and run at school?

330 replies

Cuppaand2biscuits · 24/01/2017 09:43

My dd is 6 years old, in year one. The school got a new head teacher in September who implemented a new morning routine that I just can't get on with.
Old morning routine = Assemble in playgroup, bell gets rung, all children into lines, teacher leads into.classroom. Parents welcome to follow if children requests or they wish to speak with teacher.

New morning routine = Everyone assemble in classroom. Some mornings we have to choose a book and read with our children for 5/10 minutes other days it's 'Wakefield Up Shake Up' where we have to dance along to a bouncy routine! Then the tambourine rings and we kiss goodbye and leave.
Obviously I don't object to the interaction with my child but there's 30 pupils in the class, each with an adult and lots with a younger sibling or 2. It's too many people, it's too hot when we're dressed for the cold. It's a bloody faff!
Anyone else successfully challenged this sort of shit?

OP posts:
Rumbaba5 · 25/01/2017 17:38

What on earth will they come up with next! Do schools not have any concept of how hard it is for working parents as it is, to then add this sort of shit in to the mix! Of course you can get out of it if you choose to, but the worst part of that is you will be in the minority as the rest of the parents will be 'guilted' into staying and then your poor DD will wonder why her Mummy is the only one who doesn't stay and join in, when in reality you just have to get to flipping work! Horrible.

Saj1988 · 25/01/2017 17:39

Sounds awful. I would have hated this. Does everyone else enjoy it- I shouldn't think so . I would try to agree with my child one or two days a week when I would join in with this and in the meantime write a letter to the head stating clearly the concerns you have over this particularly the overcrowded classrooms. This will certainly be an attempt to tick an Ofsted box to do with parental involvement. However if the room is as crowded as you say then there could be health and safety issues.There are better and more imaginative ways of involving parents with their children's education than cramming them all into the classroom at the start of the day.

Picoloangel · 25/01/2017 17:43

Our school does shared reading sessions by it's not compulsory and it's only twice a week. Now that dd is in y1 lots of parents use it as an excuse to just drop off slightly later as we usually have to have them in playground 10 mins before school starts. Every day is ridiculous imo.

stealthsquiggle · 25/01/2017 17:43

I am SO filing this in my mental collection of "reasons to be glad my DC are growing up" (to be consulted when I get delusional nostalgic about their younger selves)

Not that their school ever tried to force us to engage in such nonsense - but now youngest DC is 10, I stop the car long enough for her to jump out and grab her stuff and I am away. Means that I stand less chance of being late for work, don't have to be dressed sociable, and DC get to feel independent (ish)

bumsexatthebingo · 25/01/2017 17:45

By the look of this thread most working parents would be glad to avoid it. It's a good job that the people who 'don't have the time' don't live near me as most of the schools don't start until 9.

Butteredpars1ps · 25/01/2017 17:48

Still thinking about this thread. #overinvested.

Can I ask how many Dad's do it? I guess zero

birdsdestiny · 25/01/2017 17:48

Actually ceeveebee I think it is a bad idea, I said that in one of my posts. The point was people were repeatedly saying they had to be somewhere else so couldn't hang around. That arguement won't work with the school because no extra time has been added. So no blinkers here thanks. I work too.

jayne1976 · 25/01/2017 17:49

Perhaps say you can't make it everyday, but do need to get your child to school at the 1st available time on those days and so just want to check if all the other parents mingling into the crazy mosh pit with your child are crb checked, as with so many people in the room something could go unnoticed! Might make them think more carefully about it.

avamiah · 25/01/2017 17:50

Explain nicely that you have a job to do and if your continuously late for work you won't have a job.

Touchmybum · 25/01/2017 17:50

I do sometimes wonder why I had those dratted children charli, but I guess because I thought it was a good idea at the time ;)

Our children's primary inaugurated a much better idea (after we left) - every day they walk a mile around the playground. Sans parents!

I was already struggling to get to work by 9.30 each morning. The sooner I could get them dropped off, the better.

Carriecakes80 · 25/01/2017 17:54

Lmao Oh I am glad I home-educate my lot! I bloody hated the school run as it was, let alone have to surrender to that load of bollocks! But no, you ain't unreasonable at all! x

merrymouse · 25/01/2017 17:54

It does add extra time to the day if for instance you have two or more children who have to be in two different places (nursery school, junior department, a completely different school) and you time your drop off so that you take your child to their class room and go.

febel · 25/01/2017 17:55

Borrow a badly behaved toddler /noisy baby and do it......! You may find you outstay your welcome pretty quickly.

RubyRedRobin · 25/01/2017 17:56

Jees, I'd be turning up at 08:54:59

paxillin · 25/01/2017 18:06

Of course it takes extra time. You shaking what you have with a tambourine until 8:55, then leave the classroom, scramble for coats, walk down four flights of stairs, wait in line to leave through the single door (gates closed by now). Easy ten minutes lost. Ten minutes are valuable around 9am. Alternative: be outside the school at 8:55, out by 8:56

It is also ridiculous, bet it takes 20 min to settle after, it is embarrassing (there is a reason why nightclubs are dark for dancing), it is mean for the breakfast club kids and it is super-patronising. I dance or play sports when I want, not when my kids' school want, thank you.

nattygk · 25/01/2017 18:16

What if you work I'd email the school tell them you are not available

anotherdayanothersquabble · 25/01/2017 18:17

Bonkers!!!!

BoneyBackJefferson · 25/01/2017 18:25

liz70

Teachers, we need YOU to do YOUR job, and stop fucking expecting the parents to do it for you!

ODFOD

Want2bSupermum · 25/01/2017 18:33

I know others have touched on this but I would imagine the other kids whose parents are not there might be miffed. I would be raising a little point in a very sweet way that you don't feel comfortable with some of the other kids not having their parents there to dance to the tambourine with.

If they continue to insist on it I would just tell the teacher you can't stay as last week you put your back out dancing to the damn tambourine.

If they still insist get your OH to do drop off!

Teepish · 25/01/2017 18:41

I am AGOG at this. Agog Grin

I had no idea this Wake Up Shake Up thing existed, never mind involving parents!

Thank the Good Lord Above dd's school doesn't have time for this bizarreness Grin

LightastheBreeze · 25/01/2017 18:56

Thank goodness DS was at school many years ago, I think he would have hated wakey shaky and I certainly used to drop and run.
How times change, when I went to school at six, my DM said goodbye at the house and I went to school myself, when DS went, I dropped at the playground, now it seems you have to go in with them and join in. It is just less and less independence as time goes on

Nomorechickens · 25/01/2017 19:00

Draft a letter to the head, chair of governors and PTA listing the reasons why this is a bad idea. Offer the other parents gathered around at 8:55 the option to sign too. These nutty heads should be challenged.
GCs school, after the first week - reception, drop off at the reception area gate to be welcomed by a member of staff, year 1, drop off outside classroom, kids go straight inside. Arrive between 8:40 and 8:55 for a 'relaxed start', kids can chat, read or whatever. Nothing relaxed about trying to get GC to school for 8:40 instead of 8:55! But fortunately it's optional. All works very well.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 25/01/2017 19:03

Draft a letter to the head, chair of governors and PTA listing the reasons why this is a bad idea

Yes,please do that OP because it'll give the staff a right old laugh seeing as you are late 2-3 times a weekGrin

In fact if you're late so frequently I'm not even sure why this is a problem as you must miss all the waking and shaking.

Mumof51971 · 25/01/2017 19:05

Think that's a bit unfair on the teachers. Essentially your moaning about taking some time out of your day to play with your kids in their school environment and because it doesn't suit your image etc then blame the teachers of you read the original post they are not asking you to spend extra time with your little darlings they've just changed the routine

TheLastDrop · 25/01/2017 19:13

I am AGOG at this. Agog Grin

Me too, never heard anything like it. I chuck mine in the gate at 8.30am and he plays with his friends for 20 minutes until the bell goes. It sounds most bizarre.