to be annoyed about headmistress closing school car park?

[Pagetta]

My son goes to breakfast/after school club 7.30 until 6. I work full time and husband is based 200 miles away (military) so the extended clubs are an absolute godsend.

The headmistress has asked that parents don't use the teachers carpark (directly in front of the school) for pick-ups drop-offs. However I must admit that if I drop off before 7.45 I do use it because I have the two year old with me and I can leave him in the car while I drop off. It’s not just a time and convenience thing, it’s also that the other option is to park opposite the school over the road, which although not super busy at that time is a fast country road. Crossing it with a toddler and 6 year old is not easy before lollipop lady starts!

At that time there are generally only two cars parked in the car park, and it is very very rare I see another teacher arriving during drop-off. If I get there after 7.45 when teachers start arriving I don't use it so as not to get in their way, and if I don't have toddler with me I don't use it as its unnecessary.
If I’m honest I really don't see the harm.

However the headmistress has obviously got annoyed - whether it’s just with me or with lots of people I'm not sure (there are only 3-4 parents drop off before 7.45) - as this morning when I got there she had closed the gate so you couldn’t pull in.

This has really annoyed me as I understand it’s a teachers car park, but when no teachers are there what's the issue?
Also, there is a Pilates class at 5.45pm in the school hall every night, and they use the car park. So its ok for them to use the car park AFTER teachers go home, but not me and a few others for 5 minutes before they start?

I don't want to be THAT parent that kicks up a stink - maybe I am being precious? I do get that at the end of the day it’s my problem not theirs – rules are rules – but this does seem likes rules for rules sake. Could they not say "its a teacher's car park from 7.45 until 5.30"?
This is mostly just a rant as I know I’ve not really a leg to stand on – but AIBU to be a bit hacked off about this??!

Sorry but you need to adhere to the rules - you are thinking you are an exception

It’s annoying. I understand. Dds school used to let me park on school grounds due to my disability. But then reconfigured meaning pedestrians frequently cross the car park. Some parents used to be cf’s and just park there for their own convenience meaning that I couldn’t always park there. After the refurb there was a blanket ban for all parents due to H&S.

Unfortunately due to piss taking parents or h&s issues the only thing, which works is a blanket ban.

Mostly rules around parents cars on school grounds are for the safety of children with cars driving up and down school drives where children walk or over parking meaning vision difficulty in manoeuvring cars, again, danger for children.

If the teachers arrive after 7.45 and you drop off your child before that, who is in school minding him?

This is Mumsnet land - where an unattended child in a car might spontaneously combust... or unclip their restraints, climb over the car, hotwire the car and drive off merrily round town.
Or in the few minutes you are out of the car, pterodactyl might swoop down and whisk you away, thus leaving a child in the car... and you unable to return

Don't forget all the lions breaking out the zoo, coming straight to EAT YOUR CHILD ALIVE

No state school would employ a headmistress or a headmaster. They would advertise and recruit for a headteacher. Their job title would be headteacher or Principal

This made me properly laugh. Did you do the lips when you typed that? fuck me man!

OP you know the score, the head doesn't want parents to use the carpark at any time. Annoying yes but there it is.

It is very simple. It is a staff car park. You are not staff. Hth

Adding my vote to the yabu lot. If ever parent did that.....

Talk to the school, explain the problems and whether it's ok to use the car park early before the lollipop-lady arrives as Its dangerous - it's not an unreasonable request, she can only say no and explain why which lets you know her viewpoint.

That's standard in every school I've come across down to my primary nearly 40 years ago.

It's totally reasonable.

Op I don't think yabu. I can see a logic in banning cars from the carpark when the majority of the school are going in / coming out. My bet is the majority of wrap around parents are using cars.

I think a word with the school wouldn't go a miss.

I did laugh at the use a childminder comment - seriously who would use a childminder because of issues trying to drop another child off.

Our school car park is strictly staff only. Actually I don't know a single school around here with parking for parents. It wouldn't enter my head to think that I am entitled to use the car park, I totally get how annoying it is especially as I have a younger child as well.

If the gate was closed for the first time this morning, how do you know it’s going to be an ongoing thing?
*And how do you know it was the headmistress?
I could have been a delivery person closing it after themselves, or maybe they needed to keep the carpark free today for a specific reason. *
It may well be open again tomorrow.

Yeah, I don't get how you know it was the head and know this is a permanent state of affairs, unless you've posted that you've spoken to the head and she's confirmed it and I missed the update

It's a health and safety issue. What if you had an accident on their premises?

@wafflyversatile
"Actually I think they could make the rule to be 'before the lollipop lady starts it's ok'. That is a clear line that can be drawn"

But then you'd get people going "Erm but i was held up by a chicken crossing the road, and i would have made it here by 8, but as it's only 8.04 I thought it's near enough to 8 to be OK"

so its just easier to say no-one can park there, as people will always push boundaries and argue the toss.

And then you'd need someone to police the carpark, and that means a teacher getting the hassle of being out there, sending people away, and parents arguing "but I'm just...."

sod that!

Could they not say "its a teacher's car park from 7.45 until 5.30

Just so it fits in perfectly with your life!

God some people need to get a bigger problem.

Headmistress? Is it independent?

Do your nits feel better for that picking??