that school won’t cut me any slack for double drop offs?

[Polkadotdash]

We moved house in the summer and we’ve ended up with three kids at two different primary schools. I accept that it is what it is and we have to just fit in where there are places. However, after a month of nearly killing myself to drop kids off at both schools, two miles apart who start at exactly the same time, I’ve asked both schools if they can help to take the pressure off me by accepting one child five mins early and maybe dropping the late mark drama for the other children. Neither school will budge. One school has a breakfast club which they’ve suggested I use for £5 a day. £25 per week, nearly £1000 per school year for five mins care (no food required). I can’t afford this.
It’s all been capped off today by one parent (who I don’t know) shouting something at me about the importance of not being late when I was trying to make my four year old run up the hill to school. I can’t put up with this for the next 5 years. What should I do? Should the school be more caring?

@Oliversmumsarmy actually they have to keep spaces open for children moving into the area, these spaces can be applied for ahead of time. I know this as we were meant to move and my daughter was allocated a place which ultimately we didn't take as the sale fell through

Our LA won't even entertain you before you have an address.

Tessabelle1 is this a universal thing? Because that is so far removed from my experience it's not even funny. What are you basing your assertion that 'they' have to do this on?

How would keeping spaces open for children moving in even work? It's not like they could say "sorry child resident in area a, you can't have a school place as we have to keep some open in case another child moves here".

No spaces left open here either. When the class gets to 30 (KS1) it's deemed full. You have to go through an appeal process after that and there have to be pretty strong grounds for the appeal to be successful.

ferrier
When that happens in our area there are pretty much 2 things that will win an appeal:

1. An EHCP stating that a named school (and only the named school which usually offers enhanced provision for that particular SEND need)
2. A child in care who has the right to attend an outstanding school and there are no other outstanding school spaces available

If it's not one of those 2 reasons then the appeal would probably be a no.

Both my schools start at 8.55. but there are staff on the playground at 8.40.
I have to leave my 4 year old to line up by himself when the bell goes at 8.55 otherwise I would not be able to drop my other child at his Sen school for 8.55.
What is different apart from me leaving my child and the op not?

Luckily there is a teacher stood at the gate so ds can't leave the playground and he now knows how to line up independently. Not ideal but DC can't be late.

have to leave my 4 year old to line up by himself when the bell goes at 8.55 otherwise I would not be able to drop my other child at his Sen school for 8.55.
What is different apart from me leaving my child and the op not

Because both schools open the gates at 8.40 and start at 8.50 not 8.55 hence why op dropping at one school at 8.40 then driving the 15minutes to second school for a 8.50 start so one lot of children is always late.

If school started at 8.55 then the OP wouldn't be posting.

Im aware they wouldn't have allocated a space but OP would have at least had an insight into the situation and nothing changes the fact OP chose to move so OP has to deal with the consequences and trust me I really do sympathise as I'm in the same predicament - 3 kids 3 locations but it's my problem not the schools.

Tessabelle1 - can you explain what you mean by schools keeping places. That's not how it works unless the school isn't full and you get a place wherever you live. They don't keep places to one side if that's what you mean.

tootiredtofunction nothing changes the fact OP chose to move so OP has to deal with the consequences and trust me I really do sympathise as I'm in the same predicament - 3 kids 3 locations but it's my problem not the schools."

Did you choose for your 3 to be at different schools or is that the places you could get? Because if the latter, how is it your fault?

If she rents sometimes it’s not a choice

Italian We moved and there was only space for one of them in the local school the other is still on the waiting list (youngest not at school yet but in day care due to work) so am travelling between the 2 and having to use breakfast club everyday I didn't want to put my child in the position of being late every day.

There are loads of reasons people move. Not all of them because they just decide to move into a different area.

Work, divorce, money are just a few.

tootiredtofunction so it is not your fault. It's not the school's fault either but it is not your fault.