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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be struggling with nursery only opening at 8

292 replies

humpbackwhalestail · 08/02/2018 18:28

I am a teacher and have to be at work for 8:20.

Nurseries only open at 8 which means I’ve had to choose the closest one. It still gives me a tight margin for getting to school, parking, getting into school and to morning briefing/meetings.

AIBU to wish there was a bit more flexibility with childcare?

OP posts:
expatmigrant · 09/02/2018 18:53

cherish I always liked to be in at least 30 minutes before registration, so that I would be ready for the school day, especially my form and first lesson. Most schools also have all-staff meetings twice a week which can start as early as 8:10 and you are expected to be there.
As a previous poster mentioned humpback, is there a hospital nursery near you? They usually start much earlier. I was lucky enough to have a major hospital on my way to school. Good Luck with getting something sorted.

cantkeepawayforever · 09/02/2018 18:54

(In primary, it is expected that lessons change based on the previous day's teaching, so photocopying as the week goes on is absolutely the norm. It is just about possible to get away with doing it the night before, if you have also marked all the books before that and worked out what adjustments you need to make....)

Letsmaketheworldbetter · 09/02/2018 18:55

@indierar I am very surprised your nursery allows this. I’ve never actually heard of this being allowed in any setting.

cherish123 · 09/02/2018 18:55

Can't keep away - I appreciate that but op does not have much choice. I had to make sure everything was ready and quickly get computer etc on for registration. As for being ready to chat to parents, unfortunately parents sometimes have to wait to speak to you at a time when it is convenient.

ilovesooty · 09/02/2018 18:58

Quite a few schools have registration at that time and expect teachers to be on the premises well before that.

cantkeepawayforever · 09/02/2018 19:05

As for being ready to chat to parents, unfortunately parents sometimes have to wait to speak to you at a time when it is convenient.

I suppose in primary, the expectations of the pastoral side of a class teacher's job are rather different, and may not always fit into 'convenient' boxes. Of course I would channel parents into after-school slots if the matter ISN'T urgent, but a distraught child due to a bereavement (pet or human) etc is my responsibility even if it's not convenient.

Notsunkinyet · 09/02/2018 19:05

I’m a teacher and that was one of our criteria for finding a nursery. There was an outstanding one but it didn’t open till 8am. That’s no use to anyone!
Luckily we found a nursery we love and it’s open from 7am till 6.30. They have since had OFSTED and got outstanding too.
I don’t get how 8am is useful for anybody. Everybody will be arriving at 8am to make it to work in time so it will be busy and chaotic at drop off. Then it could take 15 mins to go in drop off etc so that means not getting out of the car park till possibly 8.20!
We have briefings 2 mornings a week just after 8.30 and there’s all the setting up to do before duty at 8.50. Not possible

ElphabaTheGreen · 09/02/2018 19:14

I love it when people drop into threads 200+ posts in and make suggestions like, 'You should see if nursery staff will do private babysitting for half an hour beforehand!' Like it hasn't been suggested a bajillion times already.

Either commit to RTFT to see if you have anything useful/new to add or DON'T BASTARDING COMMENT.

Can you tell that boils my piss?

As you were Grin

Notsunkinyet · 09/02/2018 19:14

I really sympathise with you.
I don’t have any suggestions for you apart from things you’ve probably already tried -
A different nursery (not good for change for child)
A child minder before school from 7am till nursery drop off at 8am
Stay at school till 6pm at night and get everything set up for the next day - photocopied resources, marking etc then you can have a nice play with child and have breakfast together in the morning and just go into school, switch on laptop and teach in the mornings (obviously I know this rarely happens- a member of your team wants to chat, a parent is there, a phone call to be made etc)

essexgirl1967 · 09/02/2018 19:16

I’m a childminder specialising in caring for teachers children as I don’t want to work in the school holidays. I don’t charge in the school holidays and am open from 6.30am to 6pm term time, offer the 30 hours funding and do everything that outstanding nurseries do too. Maybe post on one of the well known childcare sites to see if you can find a flexible childminder that you like, or ask colleagues for recommendations. I don’t ever advertise, all my work comes from word of mouth so there probably is the perfect solution out there, they just don’t need to advertise if that makes sense. Good luck x

QuilliamCakespeare · 09/02/2018 19:20

The one I use opens at 7.30. So did my previous one.

Moncapetan · 09/02/2018 19:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

OutyMcOutface · 09/02/2018 19:26

Do you know any of the other parents at the nursery? Maybe they will be willing to take your DD if you drop her off at their house if you explain the situation and maybe offer a favour in return? Any family members nearby who could do it?

OutyMcOutface · 09/02/2018 19:28

@moncapetan don't be such a bitch. She's a single parent. That's clearly not an option for her. There's nothing wrong with it either. I don't know what kind of chip you have on your shoulder but f the hell off.

LittleMissClumsy · 09/02/2018 19:28

I’m a teacher and had a very similar problem. My nursery opened early 7:45am if you asked and booked an early space but this was not advertised. It was only for working parents who really needed this and we’re prepared to pay the extra for the staff to run the extended hours.

Buxbaum · 09/02/2018 19:30

Hey @moncapetan, meet @snacktimonious.

I think you two have a lot in common.

ilovechocolate07 · 09/02/2018 19:31

I had a feeling you were going to say you teach. Thankfully my childcare opened at 7.30 when I taught although it was a long day for the kids going after school until 6.

whataconundrum · 09/02/2018 19:34

Moncapetan what a lovely suggestion....are you always this nice?

ElphabaTheGreen · 09/02/2018 19:35

Fuck me, were invitations left under all the local bridges?

Moncapetan As the daughter of a single full-time working mother and the full time working mother of two sons, I salute you 🖕🏻

Roseandmabelshouse · 09/02/2018 19:36

Can you put in a flexiable working request

ElphabaTheGreen · 09/02/2018 19:37

Can you RTFT Roseandmabel?

ElphabaTheGreen · 09/02/2018 19:38
Coconutspongexo · 09/02/2018 19:38

I’m really baffled by the ‘being a teacher you can’t be 10 minutes late’ etc type of posts.

Most jobs you can’t be 10 minutes late..

Godsplan · 09/02/2018 19:38

All schools start at different times so you can’t generalise about what time teachers need to be in school.

I live on a road with three different schools and they all have different start times from 8.25-9.20 for pupils.

In my school there was a morning briefing every day at 8.10am and all staff were required to attend. Some staff got into school as early as 7am and almost everybody by 7.45 to set up for the day and also many staff commuted a good distance and liked to miss the traffic.

It was definitely frowned upon to rush in late for whatever reason. Hence why I said earlier in the thread I gave up my job when I became a single parent as I simply was not fulfilling my duties and would have probably been on a warning and competency procedures if I hadn’t.

manicmij · 09/02/2018 19:52

You are not alone. Not trying early enough for drop off or not open late enough for collection. Are there no other parents with children at the same nursery who would also like say a 15 min earlier opening. If enough if you may be worthwhile for them opening earlier. They may have to apply for permission from appropriate authority.