Taking ds to school late

[Ces6]

DS has respiratory problems and about twice a year wakes up really wheezy and needs to do a half hour treatment to help him breathe more easily. When this happens I take him into school an hour late which has never been a problem. This morning though he was refused entry until 10.30 - new rule which was sent out yesterday and which I subsequentlyfound in the bottom of ds's bag. I had no one to leave ds with and had to take him into work. I work at university and we had exams which couldn't go ahead without me as we were already at our minimum limit of invigilators. Aibu to find the school's new rule a right pita? Do other schools do this? I can understand penalizing recurrent lateness but this just seems to be designed to make life harder for parents with children with medical needs.

It is disability discrimination. Im sure you can word an email appropriately to that effect.

That's awful. He's not late because he overslept, he's late due to requiring medical treatment.
I think the school are required to make reasonable adjustments for medical needs. I would be making a complaint.

It's not discrimination

They are not refusing him access, they are not banning him or punishing him.

The staff has better things to do than bring late children to their class throughout the morning, they just make things a bit easier for everybody.
It might not be that convenient for you, but it goes both ways. Not a big deal

Why can’t latecomers find their own way to class? I don’t understand why a staff member had to take them. We sign late child in, they get let in and off they go.

What is the school reasoning for the 10.30 line in the sand?

Is 10.30 first break?

They don't seem to have a reason except that they want to cut down on people arriving late - by making them wait to get in. I can see their point that there are kids who always arrive 10/15 minutes late which is annoying but I don't think this rule is fair. Ds has never been late except for these rare occasions (fewer than 5 in 3 years).

They don't have a break on Fridays.

I don't understand why he doesn't just go to class? Why would he need to be walked? This is really strange. No school
I know of does this, any latecomers are in class ASAP. School refusers would love that rule!

Did you phone them first thing to explain?

I told them first thing as I had to take in his sister.

@Barbie222 surely depends on age and layout. DS would have to walk down the corridor, down the steps, through heavy doors into the hall, through heavy doors into a classroom corridor (open class on either side) and then through another set of double doors. I think that's a massive ask for a 3 yo.

How bizarre. Surely you take him to the school secretary's office to say here he is, she notes why etc (for legal admin required) , he trots off to class, job done. I'd talk to Head. It's twice a year FGS. The 10.30 thing is to deter 'frequent flyers' who are often late I'd guess.

What about kids who walk to school themselves? If their parents have left for work they cant go home. Are they just left out in the cold all morning?

@Ces6 I think it's worth a quite calm chat with the head. This isn't about laziness or tardiness, it's about you trying to get your child into school despite a chronic illness. It IS discrimination when he's late due to his illness not due to feckless parenting

Get up half an hour earlier on school days. Going into school late this often will be disrupting his education.

How is that going to encourage people to not be late?

If I were the kind of person to be late, I would see that as an excuse for a lie in and just get my kids to school by 10.30! and then probably still be late!

@HopeClearwater being late 5 times I n3 years is NOT disrupting his education. Don't be so melodramatic. Some kids have more hospital appt a year than this!

It is discrimination.

I imagine it is to prevent children from disrupting the first lesson (interrupting the class by walking in late and then having to have the work explained to them by the teacher who is probably supporting children in their work at that point).

Having said that, I work in schools, it's not good practise and no school I know would do that

Primary or secondary?

I also think it is discriminatory and would be writing a strongly worded email in this instance. Your ds was denied an education today because of their stupid rules and your work commitments.

You need to speak to the home link worker. I suspect the reception/staff didn’t feel they have the authority to override the blanket rule.