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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:
SuperFlyHigh · 24/01/2017 10:17

DearMrDilkington neither am I a morning person!

Grin
MusicToMyEars800 · 24/01/2017 10:18

this is what happens at my dds school, I have 1 in reception and 1 in year 2, the parents have the option to stay until registration time which is 8:55am, but most just get their child settled in book change etc and then leave, I don't have time to stay as I have 2 dds to get into class and by the time my 2nd is in class it's almost time for parents to leave anyway Grin, when my youngest was in nursery and my eldest was in year 1 I used to stay look at 1 book and then get out asap lol.

MoonfaceAndSilky · 24/01/2017 10:19

I had twins in different classes, how could I split myself in two to wakey and shakey? Ridiculous idea Grin

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 24/01/2017 10:21

Oh I always thought they kept twins together

MycatsaPirate · 24/01/2017 10:22

Fuck that.

Why do new HT feel the need to stamp themselves all over the school as soon as they arrive? All they do is piss the parents off.

I've seen two dc through primary schools and never have I been told I have to come in and join in a mini zumba class.

They'll have compulsory uniform for it if you don't nip this in the bud now. You'll have to wear school uniform colours leggings and a vest top. The teacher will be checking you have your water bottle and it's not got juice in it.

Stop this madness before it escalates.

JaniceBattersby · 24/01/2017 10:23

Fuck me. Given my kids get up at 6am, they are fully awake by 9 and don't need to do any more waking, or indeed shaking.

I'd just drop and run. I'd have to anyway, tbh, as I have to get the middle child to preschool and the youngest two. home in time to watch Bing

FeelingSmurfy · 24/01/2017 10:23

No is a complete sentence?

It's crap for parents that can't do it, things that happen later in the day or for longer would be attended by less parents so it wouldn't be too bad if you couldn't go as you wouldn't the only one, but presumably a lot of parents are dropping the kids off so it will (because it's compulsory) have a higher attendance so the kids who have parents who can't stay will feel worse

It could also lead to a decline in breakfast club if your school has it, with kids who go to it through choice dropping out so that their parents are there at drop off. Something the school probably won't have thought of

People with more than one child in school must struggle to divide their time without upset, even if you went with your 5yr old yesterday he isn't going to run off happy when you are in the school but not his class and everybody (it's always everybody to kids!) else has their parent with them.

I would say maybe reading once a week but not compulsory. The wake up dance can be done every other day without parents!

Jackiebrambles · 24/01/2017 10:24

Good grief. Who are all these parents who have time for this shit??? Surely they have somewhere else to be whilst their kids are at school?

CMamaof4 · 24/01/2017 10:25

I can't believe your school does this! I couldn't imagine having to do all that with a toddler and baby as well, I wait in the playground with my kids until their doors open for school, which they go into by themselves, I hate the school run but you have just made me feel so lucky that I don't have to muck about like that in the mornings.

ElsieMc · 24/01/2017 10:25

This is my worst nightmare. At previous primary school, the head actually did this after the children went into the classroom - no parent participation. Even the kids absolutely hated it. If you did not put the required effort into it you would be punished. I later found out my gs had to sing Under my umbrella by Rhianna as a punishment in front of the class.

I suspect the governors felt pretty much the same and the Head bit the dust for spurious reasons a year or so later.

FeelingSmurfy · 24/01/2017 10:26

Moonface you would be the lucky parent dancing in the corridor between the two classes on your own Grin leaning left and right so your children could both see you

drspouse · 24/01/2017 10:26

It doesn't make a difference to people's schedule as if you can't drop till 8.55 - that doesn't vary whether you are dropping in the playground or in the classroom.

Arrive at 8.54, dawdle in the playground for 30 seconds while DC gets their coat unbuttoned, throw through door of classroom and away you go.

WonderMike · 24/01/2017 10:27

Aint no one got time for that shit Grin

What are you supposed to do if you have more than one kid? Chose your favourite to sing with?

Don't tell me they are also making the year fives and sixes also do this Grin Ooooh how they must love that Hmm

Doowappydoo · 24/01/2017 10:27

Noooo!! Sounds horrendous! This would have been a nightmare with my son who was prone to being clingy, if I'd had to go into the classroom with him and jump around he would have really struggled with me leaving again. It's also not that fair on the breakfast club kids who don't have anyone there. I'd have a polite word, otherwise the Head may just think it's hugely popular

PenguinsandPebbles · 24/01/2017 10:28

Time for a MN favourite simply put, Not so "D"HT - This does not work for me :)

Unless your a SAHP with one child, or children at the same school a bit older I cannot see how this would work for anybody.

Gazelda · 24/01/2017 10:28

Tell them you can't stay because your boss gets angry if you're late for the office team Wakey Shakey.

user1484317265 · 24/01/2017 10:28

What a load of bullshit!
I pull up in drop off zone by the gates, open the door and push let them out, and drive off. I don't even get out the car. Now thats the way to do it!

Fink · 24/01/2017 10:28

So what time do they have to be in school? 8.55 or earlier? I would definitely start a petition but in the meantime I would make sure dc weren't in school before the time they're supposed to be. If the ridiculous routine is part of the scheduled school day then I guess you'll have to put up with it for the moment, but if school doesn't officially start until 8.55 then my dc would be arriving at precisely 8.54 for the foreseeable future, even if it mean having to lurk round the corner for 5 minutes!

MoonfaceAndSilky · 24/01/2017 10:29

Oh I always thought they kept twins together

Mine were together for reception, but seperated from year 1 onwards - think it depends on the school.

Aderyn2016 · 24/01/2017 10:31

I would be really uncomfortable with dropping my dc at school and leaving her, with a bunch of random adults wandering about. The teacher won't be able to keep a proper eye on the class if there are parents and toddlers cluttering up the place.
My school does queueing(sp?) up and then the teacher leads the class inside. Much better imo. I find I can still natter to parents in the playground - have never felt the need to be inside the building to get to know other mums Hmm

MoonfaceAndSilky · 24/01/2017 10:32

Moonface you would be the lucky parent dancing in the corridor between the two classes on your own grin leaning left and right so your children could both see you

Ooh the joy, I could channel my inner Bonnie Langford Grin

lalalalyra · 24/01/2017 10:33

I'm amazed by this from a security perspective. Parents/adults wandering around the school building shouldn't be a norm to the kids. If they are they should have on a visitor badge - I bet you no-one escorts all of the parents out of the building.

[I'm not in the 'omg security security' camp - I just know how much paperwork I had to fill in to have a parent literacy class during school hours because OFSTED were 'omg security security']

liz70 · 24/01/2017 10:34

FTS. Here the parents of P1 children are allowed into the school grounds, not building, to wave their wee cherubs in. P2 onwards, you drop them at the school gates and get the fuck away from there pronto. Just as it should be.

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 24/01/2017 10:34

So are you all signing in and out on the visitors register as is usually required to meet fire regulations???

I wouldn't even entertain this. I'd be dropping off at 8:55 on the dot.

Hygellig · 24/01/2017 10:36

I much prefer the system at my children's school. Just drop them off outside the classroom between 8:45 and 8:55. From Year 2 they are expected to go in on their own from the entrance to the Foundation Stage and KS1 area. I don't think I could handle 60 people in a hot room singing a song together every morning!