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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder how the heck schools expect working parents to cope with this?

627 replies

Worriedaboutdog · 21/06/2018 21:56

Apologies this may be a rant. DS1 is due to start school in September. We have therefore put childcare plans in place based on him starting school on the first day of term in September. School have just announced that:

a) reception start a week later
And
b) as a summer birthday, DS actually will do half days for another week after that, and ‘must be picked up at 1.30pm’.

No mention of either of these things was made when we looked round the school. We have already juggled the time off we have available to look after him over the summer. As it happens it’s probably easier for us than most parents as DH is a shift worker so can cover some days, but we were relying on him going to school at the beginning of September, and being in after-school club on days DH isn’t at home until I can get there to pick him up. Wtf are parents who both work Monday-Friday meant to do about two extra weeks?! This was all announced today in a meeting (I couldn’t go, because it was at 3.30pm, but DH did), and when he asked the class teacher if they had to go home at lunchtime or could stay and then go to after school club, she said they had to go home and we’d have to get ‘a grandparent or someone’ to pick them up. So we’ll just magic up a grandparent physically fit and willing enough to do a whole week of half days childcare, who is actually able to drive to the school, then. Hmm

He can possibly go back to his current nursery for the week he isn’t in school at all, but the half days are stumping me. I think I probably am being unreasonable to be cross - I realise school is not designed to be childcare, and therefore not run for the convenience of the parents, BUT they must know that parents make assumptions (based on the information on their website!) about the dates of terms and the length of the school day, and make arrangements accordingly. And that this just isn’t feasible for everyone, and if they don’t bloody tell you about it until June then plans (and budgets) for September childcare are already in place! Argh.

OP posts:
Troika · 27/06/2018 10:04

That’s a good point actually, my childminder wasn’t someone I was only using for the half days, it was the same childminder my children were going to go to after school.

Must be harder if you’re not otherwise using wraparound care.

sarcasmisnotthelowestformofwit · 27/06/2018 11:07

Hi OP. Ignore the judgy PPs on here who are the only right parents! W all do what we do to get through the week

I just wanted to give you some advice as I too was shocked at how much Things changed when DCs went to school. Having had 7.30 to 6 nursery, all through holidays, since they were 1 it was a huge adjustment as to how much harder it is. School plays, sports day, swim gala, impromptu ballet displays, cake sales, mufti days, no drop off until 8.20 when they moved up to y1 (which I found out the day before! Reception was 8 which allowed me to get my train).

But it does all become normal and natural and you find ways to cope, swapping with other mums, play dates, childminders. It all becomes easier. Large excel spreadsheets are my best friend!! So it will be massive at first but then you find a way through. As you always have.

Good luck!!

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