To politely ask you not to linger outside school once you've picked up your kids?

[CrunchyNutNC]

It's chaos outside our primary school at home time with groups of parents standing around the gate but I understand that you need to wait somewhere and we're all just doing our best.

However what really gets my goat are the parents, with children collected, standing chatting on the fairly narrow pavements immediately next to the school so that nobody else can pass. Every afternoon I've had to step out onto the road with a 5yo DS in order to pass people. It's ordinarily not a busy road but it becomes so at school pickup.

There's just no need, if you want to chat why not you stand in the road and leave the pavement for people who just want to get home safely, or go further away to an area where you can stop safely.

@Newjobnewstart

My kids school is a nightmare for folk congregating at the gates. P4-7 parents not allowed in the playground so everyone blocks the entrances. My neighbours and i have decided that they can walk to a fro themselves since they will be in a group earlier than i would like but it takes a bunch of us away from the gates. Its an 8 minute walk with no busy roads.

How about a walking bus? One parent (or one at front and one at back) walks all the children. Different parent/s on different days. Might help reassure you if they're otherwise walking on their own at a younger age than you are comfortable with.

Aren’t parents allowed to wait inside the school ground? They are here, keeps the pavements free for all pedestrians non school related.

Nope, due to Covid. Schools are limiting numbers allowed on premises. The idea of staggered drop off/pick up times is also to limit numbers.

So anyone saying "but we like to chat" or wanting to arrange playdates (which it is dubious whether or not should even be allowed imo) is undoing the school's efforts to try to make it safer for staff and pupils (yes, they do get it!) Chat and arrange dates via phone.

"Christ, I loathe these mealy-mouthed 'public service' announcements.

Say something to the people actually creating the problem, instead of passive-aggressively issuing a scatter-gun online chastisement to people who have nothing to do with the issue."

Yep, this.

I’d like to tell all the people in the city I live in to stop crowding the pavements and justing standing there gormlessly. I need to get past!

OP you sound like you live a sheltered life if walking out of a school is so stressful.

Just practice crossing the road with a 5 year old a few more times and you will soon get the hang of it.

@Butterybiscuitbase12

Aren’t parents allowed to wait inside the school ground? They are here, keeps the pavements free for all pedestrians non school related.

At our school they are only allowed in for the youngest kids at the moment. No other parents on school grounds without an appointment. So yes, lots of crowding on the pavement.

Buttery our school have set aside an area in the grounds for people to wait but have asked parents that can to leave (the list was those without mobility difficulties, pre-school age siblings etc) the grounds between collection times if possible.

Selfish people will always be selfish people regardless of staggered collection times, narrow pavements or pandemics. Just firmly and politely say excuse me and if they don’t move just keep walking and say coming through. I’ve lost all patience for nobheads like this.

I stand chatting while I wait the 20 sodding minutes for the time my other child is leaving

Mine were like this. Youngest was on of the first classes out. Eldest was always the last class and last child 20 mins later... then I had to send him back in because he’d forgotten his book, his PE kit, his coat or he needed the toilet. At least the school traffic was calmer by the time I got to the car. (No I couldn’t walk to school, miles away)

We’re social creatures OP and while I understand your frustration I also understand why they’re chatting. As the path is narrow perhaps have a word with school so they can ask parents to stop congregating there in their next school letter?

DC's school have said parents can no longer wait on the yard but shouldn't congregate on the street either and due to new staggered timings there's 10 mins between my two entering/leaving the building either side of the school day. I don't drive so can't sit in the car.
Not sure exactly where I should wait

@Butterybiscuitbase12

Aren’t parents allowed to wait inside the school ground? They are here, keeps the pavements free for all pedestrians non school related.

Not here either, we have to wait in the street and gaze into the totally empty, massive playground. It’s mad, but we (the parents) are trying to work with the school to sort something out, it’s complete chaos just now because they’re not staggering pickup times.

Who's going to the the theatre? Chance would be a fine thing. Anyone who works in the theatre is up shit creek with not even a hint of a paddle.

I don't know anyone who is actually going to the theatre or bowling but I'm aware that these are now permitted.

Our school sent out a letter that while not exactly saying 'Fuck off out of the way' managed to say just that.
Some people just think that they are very special and that the rules just don't apply and they will be the first to complain if we have to lockdown again.