Schools only allowing immediate family to drop and collect

[Snailsetssail]

Schools have absolutely no power to enforce this rule. It’s completely ridiculous for working parents and as a family with 2 key workers there is no way it can be done.

How many other schools have come up with this crazy rule?

@modgepodge it's been a rule for a few years now and it makes life really difficult. Many of my dds friends pick up siblings from nearby schools but his won't allow it. It just makes life more difficult.

Why in earth would children's services collect a child in those circumstances?! It obviously wouldn't happen.

Our school are saying only parents can pick up, no younger siblings can be with them, no wrap around care available. I have literally no idea how they think it is remotely workable...

Not allowed bags in school or any paper or anything from home in school or I would. It’s not fair but I don’t know how to solve this other than quit my job, I’m writing to my MP but I don’t think he’ll care.

I really don’t even know how to solve the issue of her physio.

It seems bizarre that schools are responding so differently to this. Our school is being really reasonable. They have staggered drop-offs and pick-up times, but siblings can be dropped off and picked up at the same time, with the class teacher then supervising them for up to 30 mins extra to ensure that all children get their full entitlement to education. I know that must be a pita for teachers, but the relationship between parents and the school is really important. It will be quite noticable which schools have burnt their bridges this year, either through poor provision during lockdown or during reopening.

I don't think schools can enforce it come September.

multiple children means multiple bubbles anyway within a family ... a childminder collecting/delivering will make fuck all difference.

What a crazy rule. Here's a scenario... single parent takes child to school. Parent has an accident at work and it taken to hospital and cannot collect the child. Grandparent goes to collect the child and is refused? What happens then? Are the school keeping the child overnight/putting the child into care? Thank goodness mine are done with school.

My MIL is a social worker so that would be interesting but our school is just one parents and sibling allowed if can't be left at home.

We usually use a local nursery for wrap around care so don't know how that will work but my husband is working from home for the foreseeable so not too much of a problem though did point out to him if we don't use it next term it might not be there when we do need it.

@CherryTreesandSeaswimming, if your child's school is saying that pupils who miss their slot to come have to be off school for the entire day, that will mean that they are imposing unlawful exclusions. The government is very keen that every pupil gets back into school full time in September. I'd suggest you take this up with the local council and the Department for Education.

There is nothing in government guidance about this so it’s not an issue for your MP. As others have said, ignore. I think it’s totally reasonable to say that only one adult collects/drops off to reduce crowds but unworkable to suggest it can only be household members only. Crack on.

@CherryTreesandSeaswimming
That is an awful situation, things sound difficult enough for you and the school is deliberately being difficult here.
A shame that the Chair Of governors was unhelpful- is there another governor you could speak to? My dh is a governor and if he heard of a situation like this he’d call up the HT immediately.

Can I ask why it’s ok that in every single working environment other then schools, there is full support from parents on here for protecting the workforce, however marginal the gains may be, but for teachers no protections are all are acceptable to parents?
Staggered starts /ends so that you come into contact with less people - no. Parents need to work, no thought whatsoever that either parent or parent’s employers should be asked to compromise/do anything differently just schools.

School focusing on delivering education and not doing child care - no. See above

Reducing transfer of equipment between home and school - no. Not fair my child needs .......

PPE for teachers - no. Children will be scared, won’t like it.

PPE for children - no they can’t/won’t etc.

Reduce or alter subjects taught to try to manage limited space/teachers crossing groups . - no - not fair on children.

And we know that children can’t/won’t socially distance.

So basically it’s ok for teacher to be the only group in the country who have no protection in the work place whatsoever ..... despite every piece of evidence showing that the most likely transmission is being in close contact with an infected person for several hours at a time.

Latest silly rule I’ve heard of is no social mixing in the two weeks before term starts. It’s completely unenforceable so I’m ignoring it.

There’s some sense in the staggered start times but it should be done so all siblings start at the same time. But the bubble thing is completely stupid, there is no such thing unless it’s a boarding school and none of the pupils or staff leave the premises. At a day school regardless of any stupidity about who picks them up, children will be mixing with parents, siblings, childminders,friends, relatives etc etc.

@CherryTreesandSeaswimming, if your child's school is saying that pupils who miss their slot to come have to be off school for the entire day, that will mean that they are imposing unlawful exclusions. The government is very keen that every pupil gets back into school full time in September. I'd suggest you take this up with the local council and the Department for Education

@Pobblebonk It definitely is an unlawful exclusion but according to the school it's to control who is entering the building. It's ridiculous because my DD just in her bubble will be exposed to 59 other children (her entire year group), 6 members of staff (Teachers for both classes, the TAs for both classes, the HT and DHT) so that's 65 contacts without adding in siblings, teachers children who attend other schools etc.

@CherryTreesandSeaswimming**
That is an awful situation, things sound difficult enough for you and the school is deliberately being difficult here.
A shame that the Chair Of governors was unhelpful- is there another governor you could speak to? My dh is a governor and if he heard of a situation like this he’d call up the HT immediately.

@Frazzled2207 I don't know how to find out who the govenrors are, they're all listed in the school reception office but no-one is allowed in there at the moment and they only list the COG on their website. If I could find the parent governor/s I'd contact them.

@Disillusioned11

Can I ask why it’s ok that in every single working environment other then schools, there is full support from parents on here for protecting the workforce, however marginal the gains may be, but for teachers no protections are all are acceptable to parents? Staggered starts /ends so that you come into contact with less people - no. Parents need to work, no thought whatsoever that either parent or parent’s employers should be asked to compromise/do anything differently just schools.

School focusing on delivering education and not doing child care - no. See above

Reducing transfer of equipment between home and school - no. Not fair my child needs .......

PPE for teachers - no. Children will be scared, won’t like it.

PPE for children - no they can’t/won’t etc.

Reduce or alter subjects taught to try to manage limited space/teachers crossing groups . - no - not fair on children.

And we know that children can’t/won’t socially distance.

So basically it’s ok for teacher to be the only group in the country who have no protection in the work place whatsoever ..... despite every piece of evidence showing that the most likely transmission is being in close contact with an infected person for several hours at a time.

I’m a teacher. I think I’d much rather be a teacher with no PPE than a doctor on a covid ward with PPE.

Currently 1/3900 people is estimated to have Covid. The chances of one of my class having it is tiny. I will be distancing from them, encouraging regular hand washing and so on. Schools returned in June when it was estimated 1/400 was infected (so 10x more prevalent). I’d be interested to know how many teachers caught it as a result. I don’t imagine it’s many or it would be all over the news and schools would have been shut again.

I don’t see how not allowing childminders lesson grandparents to collect protects teachers either. Under that rule, parent could collect, drop child at grandparent and return to work. No difference.

I don’t see how not allowing childminders lesson grandparents to collect protects teachers either. Under that rule, parent could collect, drop child at grandparent and return to work. No difference.

Yeah you could very well end up adding more people to the equation that way. This is the problem with any kind of interference with the arrangements that parents normally have for their children while they work. It makes it more likely that people will cobble together imperfect solutions where they can, out of desperation, which potentially increases the risk to everyone including teachers.

@CherryTreesandSeaswimming
are you friendly with other parents? I'd be surprised if none of them had contact details for a governor. The school will have several contact details. But I'm staggered that the CoG is sticking up for the HT on this.

ours has a no bags rule

Your poor son :-( I don't actually understand the no bags rule, ours had the same but they were still allowed to take in coats, drinks bottles, hats etc.

@Pobblebonk It definitely is an unlawful exclusion but according to the school it's to control who is entering the building.

But really, now hard would it be to control who enters the building if you tell them that your child will be coming in at a specified time after the physio session? If you chose to take judicial review proceedings (and you could, with the help of legal aid in your child's name) I can't see that excuse holding any water at all. If your child has to have physio due to a disability, there is also the serious issue of disability discrimination.

If you write to the governors care of the school, communications should get through to them.