To think the school could be more accommodating.

[Anney28]

I have two children with additional needs who went back to school this week.

Staggered drop of time’s means one goes in at 8.30 and the other 9am. I know there is a reason for this of course but the letter with dates on and a senco informed me that if you had two at different times you can send them both in at the earliest time (so 8.30am) to make life easier and that you don’t have to hang around.

But the teacher has said no I have to wait half an hour. Doesn’t seem too much of a problem but.. We live a few minute walk away from the school but Dd has a mild physical disability and walking home would be a faff. Also there’s only 2 main routes from the school which are narrow pathways and we would be passing other children walking to school which goes against social distancing rules. So we could hang around outside the school but again that goes against social distancing too. Not comfortable with standing near the road. You’ll have people going to the local nursery in the area and children and their allocated slots.

It would be so much easier if Dd went in at 8.30 when ks2 go in. She wouldn’t mind going in early. She has 1-1 anyway and the letter sent home did state she could but now she can’t.

Parents are discouraged from driving to school as they have a very small car park and spaces are reserved for teachers and those who don’t live in the village and drive to school but aibu to think bugger it. I’ll drive and sit in the car with her iPad for half an hour!!

Don’t want to be hanging around outside with loads of people around!

[TabbyMumz]

I cant believe you've done a thread about this non issue. I'd just take the car and sit in it for half an hour.

[Sirzy]

Just because the 1-1 and teacher are arriving at school at 830 doesn’t mean they are set up and ready to take children straight away.

[LockdownLoppy]

The obvious thing to do is to contact the head or deputy and ask them about the contradictory advice! Sounds like a communication breakdown between the teacher and senco.

[HugeAckmansWife]

What an unhelpful response Tabby it clearly is an issue. And it may be one that many of us are facing and wondering the same, without the option of sitting in a car. OP clearly speaking to the head is option one, is there a part of the playground you could loiter in with ipad if necessarily, or a ball or something, rather than driving and taking a parking place? Otherwise it sounds like you'll have to do that, but going on my experience with y6 these rules will relax somewhat once people get used to being in.

[stealm]

Just speak to the teacher and explain the situation. If you get no joy there, speak to the head. They should be able to come up with a solution for that. While it is being sorted take the car and DD can sit in the car for half an hour.

[DominaShantotto]

My eldest's school have set times for different drop offs but have a staff member watching the gate and radio through to the classes to release or bring kids in whenever parents can get there at the moment. They know we're all juggling kids in different bubbles and arrangements and, while my daughter's bubble has a start time of 9am, they stated the staff are in the room ready from 8.30 as they know lots drop off between two schools (infant/junior split) or have children struggling going into the changed school so come in first or whatever. Likewise with pickup - they have a staff member watching for parents and radioing for children to be released as and when. OK so in that case it tends to be the head staring out of her office window in a very high tech solution but it's working relatively well.

This is a school which normally has very strict rules about when gates will be unlocked and locked and is not the most engaging with parents but they've knocked it out of the park with how they've been handling all of this.

The other school... no such joy unfortunately.

[StressedMom4]

I'd send the Head an email with genuine confusion as well as attaching a copy of the letter. My school is constantly contradicting themselves or send out really confusing letters (confusing to me at least) so your not alone!

If nothing comes from your email stick to your plan of waiting in the car.

[Streamingbannersofdawn]

Take the letter in and show the teacher. Tell her there must have been a misunderstanding as the SENCO has agreed the 8.30 drop off.

If you get no joy ask the head. You're not being difficult you have contradictory advice.

Personally I'd offer them the solution of them both going in a 9. No way would I be taking the car on a 5 minute journey to sit in it for half an hour. They are trying to achieve less people on site at any one time...that is not achieved by parents and siblings going backwards and forwards, hanging around off site or taking up car parking spaces by waiting.

Talk to them, they'll sort it.

[rc22]

I agree with @Charleyhorses ring the head teacher, explain the situation and get it sorted.

[TabbyMumz]

"What an unhelpful responseTabbyit clearly is an issue."
Oh come on. "Shall I sit in the car, or go home" or ""I know, I will ask mumsnet". Goodness me, what's the world coming to if people cant make a decision like that.

[Beautiful3]

I would bring the car and sit in it for the gap between drop offs. Easiest way and no one is late.

[Scarednow12345678]

I think it sounds like a communication breakdown between the SENCO and the teacher. I would speak to the SENCO about this and hopefully you can drop both children at the same time.
I'm a teacher and if you were a parent with a child in my class, I really wouldn't want you and your DD having to wait in the car each morning for something which may well be easily sorted out.

[GreyishDays]

I’d just nicely point out to the teacher that you’re meant to drop off at 8.30. Lots of ‘oh, no it’s ok to drop off at 8.30 according to letter and SENCO’ smileyness.

[Fairymad]

If it was going to be an issue they should not have said it was OK in the letter, also taking into account they are asking a child with a physical disability which makes waiting difficult I think the teacher is being unreasonable and I would take the letter which states that they can both go in at the same time and show them.
Also I would ring the SENCO and get it clarified as somewhere it obviously hasn't been understood or communicated to other teachers

[Dieu]

Just send them both in for 9. You can't expect the teacher and TA to start half an hour earlier than their usual time. It's annoying about the letter, but not their fault.

[Dixiechickonhols]

It sounds like a a mix up, understandable with everything going on. I just call school and ask what they’d prefer you do. Both 8.30, both 9 or sit in car impacting on scare car parking. I’m sure they will say first or second option.

[HugeAckmansWife]

tabby this is a chat forum. If it's all too trivial for you, feel free not to engage.

[Brefugee]

I cant believe you've done a thread about this non issue. I'd just take the car and sit in it for half an hour.

lucky you - i wouldn't be wasting 2.5 hours a week for this. Also sit in the car for half an hour blocking a space that someone might need? also nope.

[Anney28]

Thanks all. My issue is not with having to wait as such it’s about giving false information! Being told If you have more than one child you can go at the earliest time you’ve been given! Being told one thing from one member of staff and different from another.

I don’t want to be standing around near the road with a child suspected asd (my eldest is already diagnosed), nor do I want to stand around in the rain (bad today). I don’t want to walk home as it’ll be walking home and straight out again. Also will be passing a lot of people heading towards the and school which goes against social distancing. It’s a real narrow pathway. Not too bad walking back alone as an adult as you can use the road etc but with children ideally need to stick to the paths!

I’ll drive over and sit in the car I think. Not ideal but not sure what else I can do? I sat in the car today. I’ll do that most days rather than standing around like a lemon!

[Anney28]

@NailsNeedDoing If I was told we would have to wait between drop offs from the start I would be totally fine about this as I would be expecting it.. But the emailed letter said different as did the senco! So I was expecting to be able to send Dd in early like I was told to last week. I hate not knowing what I’m meant to be doing or people saying different things. It’s a fairly small school so not loads of parents and children coming and going! But enough to not make me want to hang around outside or walk home.

[Keepdistance]

Sounds like our school. There's almost no parking here.
Just make sure you dont leave the engine on.
Also kids that are driven surely makes the uniform / clothes change daily a bit pointless

[Jak29]

Thankfully I keep my car very hygienic @Keepdistance. It’s newish so I’m very motivated to keep it clean and covid free 🤣 I only drive them to school. Thankfully the pick ups are easier timings. We get home and take off their uniform in the afternoons!

In fact the school haven’t even mentioned how often uniform should be cleaned. Mine go in with a clean set every day regardless of covid. They are the messiest children!

[Jak29]

we walk home I mean! Drive there and walk back in the afternoons!

[MintyMabel]

I hate not knowing what I’m meant to be doing or people saying different things

Yes, so many posters not getting that this is the issue. It is frustrating when you’re told one thing then when you do it, you’re told you’re doing it wrong. We have one particular support assistant who is arsey with us for doing what we’ve been told we can do. We understand there are things the schools need to do when they return but they also have to accept that kids’ disabilities haven’t disappeared and some allowances need to be made, within the parameters of the guidance.

[skylarkdescending]

Honestly just drop them both at 9am. At this point in the year, your DS is not going to miss anything mega important by being 'late'. At our school key worker children are dropped off any time between 8.30 and 9.15 and picked up between 2.30 and 3.30. Most schools understand the need to be flexible right now.