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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think the school are really daft to book swimming lessons...

78 replies

HandDriedRoses · 16/01/2019 15:09

At the very end of the school day meaning the kids get back 30 minutes AFTER school ends. Every week.

Meaning that now, as I don't drive, I have to stand in the playground for at least 30 mins with DD waiting for DS class to return.

It's January, freezing. They don't have anywhere parents can wait indoors.

First week they were 10 mins late back.

DD is tired and cold and wants to go home.

It's ok for drivers who can sit in the car with radio on or even go home for 25 mins if close enough.

But AIBU for thinking it's just daft??

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 16/01/2019 15:59

Sounds a bit daft. But couldnt you learn to drive....?

Daft is one word for it. OP is on disability benefits so can't magic up money for driving lessons and a car.

Butterfly84 · 16/01/2019 15:59

@Purplecatshopaholic Learn to drive when the OP is perfectly capable of getting to the school on her two legs...learn to drive just so she can sit in a warm car when there is a massive warm building right next to her.

OP, I would just talk to the head/assistant head and ask to wait inside. Or wherever your DD's classroom is, I'm sure her teacher would allow you come to DD's classroom each week and you both wait in there.

Shitmewithyourrhythmstick · 16/01/2019 16:00

Whether there's room for everyone or not, I'd be going into the reception to wait and not moving.

ohdearmymistake · 16/01/2019 16:02

As it's due to get colder soon I would just go inside and refuse to move until the swimmers have returned, repeat every week. The school are being vu for the people without cars.

I wouldn't take the child out of swimming as they will miss out on an important life skill.

buzz91 · 16/01/2019 16:02

How long do the swimming lessons go in for? Usually they’re 10 lessons a year, it’s very unusual that they’re doing weekly lessons instead of everyday for 2 weeks

diddl · 16/01/2019 16:03

Does the office close at school pick up time?

If so, surely it's OK to wait in the reception area there?

PattiStanger · 16/01/2019 16:03

How is the OP going to get inside the school? I've never been to a school that you can just walk into and plonk yourself down.

elliejjtiny · 16/01/2019 16:05

I've been in that situation and gone for a walk with other dc. We're not allowed to wait in the school building for safeguarding reasons.

PattiStanger · 16/01/2019 16:06

How long do the swimming lessons go in for? Usually they’re 10 lessons a year, it’s very unusual that they’re doing weekly lessons instead of everyday for 2 weeks

I think what you mean that in your child's school this is what happens, why would you think this is what every school does?

There's no “usually” about schools swimming lessons, each school does it their way

Notmytelescope · 16/01/2019 16:10

Could your DD go to art club and leave early? then you could come to the school for 30 mins later and only have 10 mins to hang about. I find it really bad that they can’t provide somewhere to wait.

twosoups1972 · 16/01/2019 16:11

I'm surprised no-one else has questioned it. Suppose your child has an after school activity or you have another family commitment you have to get to?

JennyOnAPlate · 16/01/2019 16:15

My dds school do this but they let parents wait in the hall. Bypass the office and speak to the head or deputy.

Shednik · 16/01/2019 16:16

pattistanger I have NEVER heard of lessons every day for two weeks. All the schools round here do once a week for a term.

ohdearmymistake · 16/01/2019 16:26

There must be a reception area just as you go through the main doors, where do visitors go, where do you drop off/pick up children out of normal times, where do the school reception staff work?

Surely there must be an area like that that the op can wait.

BarbarianMum · 16/01/2019 16:30

Sounds really annoying and can't imagine the teachers like it either, so presume its being done then due to pool availability. The school should sort out some indoor waiting space though.

cricketmum84 · 16/01/2019 16:31

If you are on disability benefit then I really think you need to push this element with the school OP.

I wonder what local media would think to the disabled parent and young child made to wait outdoors in January every week because the school can't offer a classroom for parents to wait in for half an hour...

Perfectly1mperfect · 16/01/2019 16:38

it’s very unusual that they’re doing weekly lessons instead of everyday for 2 weeks

Is it ? Our school and local schools all do one lesson each week for a term.

Luckily our school used to do lessons in the morning so we didn't have the problem but I agree with everyone saying speak to the school and ask them to provide you with somewhere warm to wait. 40 minutes is a long time to stand around waiting in the cold.

Fairyliz · 16/01/2019 16:45

Wow this is disgusting!

I used to be the scary lady in the office but I wouldn't have let parents stand outside. I would have gone out and suggested that they wait in the Hall/classroom. No I wouldn't have asked the Head's permission (one advantage of being the scary lady was that the staff were more scared of me than the kids).

seven201 · 16/01/2019 17:03

You need to suggest a classroom is opened up for waiting parents.

FestiveGanesh · 16/01/2019 17:06

Raise with swimming teacher/class teacher
Raise with HT
If no joy, raise with Board of Governors

Make sure in all cases it is an issue raised by all affected parents/on behalf of all affected parents and not just a personal problem.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 16/01/2019 17:33

It means they aren’t travelling in school hours and so get more time to swim. Good of the teachers to do the extra half hour...

It means they travelling back at the same time as schools are finishing and parents driving home though. Parents aren’t doing any extra time, they don’t finish work at the same time that the children finish school! BUT slots in my area are allocated by the pool. I had a similar situation when my DCs were at Primary. Fortunately the library was close to the school so I used to take DS in there for half an hour.

Usually they’re 10 lessons a year, it’s very unusual that they’re doing weekly lessons instead of everyday for 2 weeks

Every school I’ve been involved in - when I was at school, when DCs were in Primary, at the primaries I have / do work in - swimming lessons are one lesson per week, the number of weeks varies according to the number of classes in the intake.

homeishere · 16/01/2019 17:43

That’s not acceptable. Just go and wait in the reception area. And if you get asked to move then refuse.

Subsequently, book a meeting with the head and request a spare classroom, corridor space (a few chairs could be plonked in a corridor from a classroom) so you can wait where it’s warm and light and your daughter can read or do homework or something.

Won’t be an issue on non-rainy days come the spring, but for now they’re in the wrong and need to be shown.

shpoot · 16/01/2019 17:49

It's not unusual to do them weekly at all! Odd.

I'd be annoyed in the cold. Can you go and browse the shops or something?

ShesAnEasyLlama · 16/01/2019 18:04

OP is your disability affected by the cold at all? If it is I would suggest this as one of your key points, especially if you don't know if any other waiting parents are in the same position as you.

I'd get ill from having to stand outside for that long at this time of year.

bookmum08 · 16/01/2019 18:18

This is bad. 30 children in a class = pretty much 30 adults waiting to collect. Plus siblings - some of whom will be babies. If school finishes at half three then the children need to be there at half three. You need to make an appoitment to talk to the head. A proper meeting - not a quick chat at the gate.
This is unfair to expect people to hang around waiting - everyone will have 101 things they need to be getting on with. You can't arrive in the morning half an hour late could you?

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