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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School reception was rude to me

315 replies

Avalaura · 14/05/2019 09:08

Do I have the right to be angry?
My son moved school and today I forgot to give him some money for a stall were they will be selling buns. So i went to recpetion to see if anyone could give the money to him because they always did at the other school. And she just said " I haven't got time for that I'm afraid I've got other things to do " and then when I walked away she said to other people in the corridor that she has other things to do not bother with that. Then I waited for the reception door to open because it's a lock one. Then she said the other woman that she said she could take it up for her but she can't bother with silly things like that. Im so angry should I complain?

OP posts:
GeorgiaTrotmansParachute · 15/05/2019 21:36

I'd be really unimpressed with my DCs school reception staff behaving this way.

We should be teaching kids that politeness costs nothing - school staff behaviour towards parents, kids and each other should always be polite, respectful and helpful.

I've dropped stuff for my kids many times and have never met anything other than friendly helpful reception staff.

youarenotkiddingme · 15/05/2019 21:36

Blimey.

My school reception would always pass on something a parent forgot and handed in.

But then again - they are nice and actually like the students in the school.
I've come across some that don't (ds infant school!)

ShowMeTheKittens · 15/05/2019 21:42

The school us there to educate and support the children. Staff are not required to run around after children with money for snacks. It's disrespectful and they do not have time. Staff are not personal assistants to your child. Grow up.

Original poster
Avalaura · 15/05/2019 21:54

Blimey, are you related to the person was rude to me ShowMeTheKittens hahahahaha

OP posts:
Original poster
Avalaura · 15/05/2019 21:55

She should have grown up and not acted like such a bit c h then this post would not even had been posted!

OP posts:
boobirdblue · 15/05/2019 21:58

The school us there to educate and support the children.
Staff are not required to run around after children with money for snacks. It's disrespectful and they do not have time. Staff are not personal assistants to your child. Grow up.

@ShowMeTheKittens

Does supporting the children not include helping a newcomer settle in? Ensuring they can take part in a bit of fun? Isn't that pastoral care?

Also, how ridiculous to tell a clearly adult person to "grow up", you've actually made yourself sound about 12 years old!

ASauvignonADay · 15/05/2019 21:59

I'd hate to be a school receptionist. They get so much shit. Parents are rude to them day in day out. They get the full force of every incoming issue.
It's not ok that she was rude to you, I totally agree, but I would probably forget about it and move on.

boobirdblue · 15/05/2019 21:59

@Avalaura cross posted with you, honestly the hilarious comment of "grow up" rather than a simple I don't agree with you? Says more about @ShowMeTheKittens than you I think.

Original poster
Avalaura · 15/05/2019 22:01

I ain't coming back on here. I was done with it ages ago. I suffer with depression as it is but no one cares about that do they. Just needed to vent that's all.

OP posts:
Baddit · 15/05/2019 22:02

Meh. You were forgetful. She was stressy and stroppy about it.

I doubt your complaint will help anything.

I'd let it go but try to be more organised in future.

Seaandsand83 · 15/05/2019 22:04

She was absolutely out of order! Our school are fantastic at passing on forgotten items/money, I just presumed all schools were. Maybe she was having a bad day?

gamerwidow · 15/05/2019 22:05

I don't think people understand just how busy school receptionists are. I've had to do stuff in the office occasionally to photo copy bits for the PTA and the 3 office staff do not stop all day. I had no idea how much they do until I saw it for myself.
They are constantly answering phones, dealing with staff requests, updating accounts, updating records etc.
They really don't have time to be running backwards and forwards dropping stuff off to classes. Our school has 420 children., can you imagine the chaos if everyone forgot to hand their stuff in.
It's nice if they do squeeze in the time to do this for people but it should be an exception not an expectation.

Cherrysherbet · 15/05/2019 22:08

YANBU op. She was miserable and rude. The receptionists at our school would have been happy to help.

Don’t worry about it. She was being a bitch.

Doingitmyway · 15/05/2019 22:29

As a school receptionist at a school with around 500 children, it can be extremely frustrating when parents “forget” things and expect the receptionist to deliver said items, and not to mention the fact that nothing is ever labelled with said child’s name. Parents (I also have children) seem to forget that they might be asking for items to be taken to their child but what they don’t realise is the 20 other parents who’ve been to the desk before them asking for the same thing. The amount of time wasted with me having to label things (sorry but I don’t know whose the unicorn lunch bag is from memory) and then trying to ascertain which class the child is in or heaven forbid which teacher your child has...if you don’t know and you have 1, 2, 3 children, how on earth am I supposed to know with 500 pupils and not 1 of them mine! And then having to run around school delivering the items. While I’m doing that, who’s doing my job? If I’m not there to answer the phone or welcome visitors and let them in or out, parents start complaining and quite rightly so. I don’t mean to rant but if you could just spare a thought for the receptionist if she doesn’t have a permanent smile on her face when you’re the umpteenth parent to forget something! Come on guys, it’s not that difficult, I’ve got children at different schools, work full time and still manage to label their uniforms, bags etc and put reminders in my phone so I don’t “forget”

Original poster
Avalaura · 15/05/2019 22:32

So you think it was acceptable for her rudeness then and childish behaviour. Hm.

OP posts:
FedUpMum40 · 15/05/2019 22:36

It was never a problem with things like this at my child's school!
People forget things, it's really no big deal, receptionist was rude imo, you don't nothing wrong

BlueEyedPersephone · 15/05/2019 22:39

Yanbu she was a witch, it is the support offices job to support the school of which you and your child are stakeholders. If she could not do it she could have been apologetic and not rude.
Not everyone one is perfect and being helpful is kind.

ConstantGravy · 15/05/2019 22:52

Wow. My DS forgot one of his school books this morning and school had phoned me by 8:45 asking if I could bring it in, which I duly did. Even if I'm not phoned, if I find something he needs and has forgotten I know I can always take it in and they make sure it gets to him. It's something they do for all students, but is especially helpful for DS who has ADHD and tries his hardest but still forgets things. His school is strict and issues detention for lost or missing equipment, so they have to make it possible for parents to rectify things if they can.

DS primary also made sure he got stuff, usually his glasses. The receptionist was rather rude to say that to you, then to say it to others in earshot of you. We all make mistakes, hope your DS wasnt penalised for it, as you did try to sort it out. Ignore the Perfect Pollys on here.

Wannabeyorkshirelass · 15/05/2019 22:53

Well I think she was horribly rude and petty and you have every right to be annoyed, and should complain.

SimplySteveRedux · 15/05/2019 22:54

She was extremely rude to you.

When my two were in school, the receptionist would often see my kids received things that were forgotten, which happened a lot due to the kids, and my, medical problems.

Doingitmyway · 15/05/2019 22:54

OP no I don’t think it’s acceptable her being rude...in fact my colleague who works in the office is particularly rude to parents and I often wish they would complain to those higher up but they never do. My point was that as a school receptionist I don’t just sit there all day doing nothing, from the moment I start working to the minute I leave (apart from lunchtime) I’m stacked with jobs to do as well as the usual answering phone, signing visitors in and out etc

phoenixrosehere · 15/05/2019 23:13

Yanbu.

It doesn’t matter whether she had time or not, her attitude and actions were rude and unnecessary. It would have taken less than 30 seconds for her to politely say she couldn’t or see if someone else could and if there were some type of rule, could have told you. What makes it worse is her talking about you afterwards and someone offering to do it for her and her refusing them.

ferrier · 16/05/2019 00:18

At primary level YADNBU. Especially with your child being new to the school. The child should never be 'punished' for the parent's mistake.
At secondary level, much less clear cut as the children there should be learning to remember things for themselves and part of learning to remember things is suffering the consequences when they forget. However, reception staff can always use discretion for eg. new pupils or exceptional circumstances.

Marshmallow91 · 16/05/2019 00:19

It's not their job, especially since they do everything else. They should have been less rude, but all in all...

School reception was rude to me
Praguemum · 16/05/2019 07:45

I work in a school with 2400 students aged 13 to 18. Despite the fact that they are old enough to remember their own stuff, parents often drop off forgotten lunches and sports kit at reception. If we can take the time to let the kids know it's there for them to pick up by sending a note to one of our 100+ classrooms, I'm damn sure a small primary school can. Tell her to stop whining and being so self important and do her fucking job, which is to work as part of a team and ensure the welfare of the kids in the school's care.

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