Schoolgate Covidiot

[heydoggee]

DC goes to a large special school. They have a lot of vulnerable and immuno compromised kids in the building. School obvs know this and are absolutely militant about bubbles, staggered drop offs and appropriate staff in PPE. It's an absolutely huge exercise to get all the kids in and out every day as many are bussed or taxied in from all over our borough. They manage it really well, for the most part.

The line for pickup is spaced and separated out by year group. Parents picking up by car wait by the car and the child is brought to the vehicle. This is obvs to minimise contact between the parents and the bubbles.

But one parent, I will call them Sal, has absolutely no understanding or appreciation of this. Prior to COVID Sal was one of the parents holding court in a bit of a posse at the gates, someone I would nod to say hello to but not stop to chat to. Sal's kid is in my kid's class.

Sal does not want to lose out on their chat time, so now Sal wanders up and down the line with the DC that has been brought out to them, chatting to all the other parents. Their kid runs up to all the kids from other classes and hugs them (not their fault, remember this is a special school and the children have little understanding of social distancing). Sal encourages this. Sal seems to have little understanding of social distancing too.

I am a car picker upper because I feel it's safer, mainly because of parents like Sal. But honestly what is the point of bubbles if Sal and their kid are all over all these other kids and their parents at pickup?

AIBU to dob Sal in, well I wouldn't name them, but to point out to the headteacher how the bubbles are being compromised right in front of our noses? Would I then be THAT parent? I hate that COVID is doing this to everyone.

I have come across a few “Sals” through school, work and children’s activities since covid.

Generally everyone is fairly sensible, keeping distance, wearing masks when needed, but the Sals don’t seem to feel the same and it is really awkward. I tend to find myself back stepping.

I’d love to know why people are like this!

I agree with the consensus, tell the school.

You're all assuming Sal is a woman...

Have emailed and not named but suspect they will have an idea who I am talking about.

I just couldn't watch children being wheeled into their taxis today and not say something, for their sake. My DC is vulnerable too but not in the same category as those kids.

You say your school has been militant

Actually... the school sounds crap.

Say something if you feel you should but try to avoid phrases like 'Holding court' and 'Posse'.

It makes you sound a bit ridiculous to describe a parent talking to other parents that way.

* You're all assuming Sal is a woman*

Only because I think “Sally”

I'd speak to the Head. It's unfair that staff are going above and beyond and one twat parent could ruin the system.

They're vulnerable kids, ffs! One idiot parent doesn't get to raise risk for other people's kids.

@WorraLiberty

Say something if you feel you should but try to avoid phrases like 'Holding court' and 'Posse'.

It makes you sound a bit ridiculous to describe a parent talking to other parents that way.

I didn't use either of those phrases in my email.

Salvatore? That's quite outing OP.

I emailed a school recently because I saw a parent hawk up a massive gobber and spit it on the pavement.

@Mashingthecompost - please tell me you used the phrase "hawk up a massive gobber" in your email!

@Jroseforever

You say your school has been militant

Actually... the school sounds crap.

Not true. They are at the limit of what they can do, and I do know this. I think the issue is just the more general nationwide issue we have going on of a few people not understanding social distancing or thinking it doesn't apply to them.

I do know that there's only so much policing school can do of that.

Hope you also managed to refrain from using the term “covidiot”

@Sitt

Hope you also managed to refrain from using the term “covidiot”

Of course.

There are some extremely vulnerable children in special school,s I would be more concerned that the Op gets their point across than the actual wording .

I can’t believe the school haven’t noticed, if children are being brought out to the cars, but if they haven’t dealt with the behaviour, yes definitely mention it. It’s pointless otherwise, if the policy isn’t adhered too.

We've got similar twats at our school. Despite the school asking 3 times that only one parent picks up/drops off, especially the p1 parents that are allowed in the playgrpund, one of my neighbours goes every day with her husband and quite often either her mum or friend. It's really beginning to boil my piss.

Let school know. Some people are being dicks everywhere in most areas of our lives I think unfortunately.

Op
The school does sound poor

A decent school would have noticed this and shut it down on day 1.

* I do know that there's only so much policing school can do of that.*

This isn’t discrete. This is a very blatant disregard of the rules. And yet the school hasn’t done anything

You aren't being that parent. You could save a life but getting this idiot stopped.

How has no one at the school noticed this going on?

Do no teachers go outside at the end of the day or look out of the window, I'm surprised they have already seen Sally/Salvatore doing it

I pick up my sons alone, my older boy is fine but my younger son needs me to be there in the morning to see him in & after school to the car. I’d really rather not but it is what it is and another mother had a ‘word’ with me about it the other day. I did email the school as I don’t think it’s appropriate other parents Asking why you’re taking your child in and out etc in front of the child also. Only one person goes and I stand far away from other parents/kids and wear my mask and have checked with class teacher and head teacher that this is ok which it is under the circumstances. I think op you’ve done the right thing for your child and probably the other kids whose parents maybe felt they didn’t know what to do or say. I look after a lot of vulnerable children at work and their parents are very careful just now re social distancing and school a lot haven’t gone back yet.

We have a Sal. Sal just can’t resist stroking any ones dog that’s been brought to school with them.

Sal knows everybody.

I wouldn’t mention it to our head as the school are already sending shitty emails out and teachers check to see if we are SD.

But in your case I would.

@TheCanyon

We've got similar twats at our school. Despite the school asking 3 times that only one parent picks up/drops off, especially the p1 parents that are allowed in the playgrpund, one of my neighbours goes every day with her husband and quite often either her mum or friend. It's really beginning to boil my piss.

Same here! What is that all about? It’s like they’re on a day out or something!

Do it - 1. lots of vulnerable families 2. parents with kids with additional needs struggle with work enough without having to isolate because of this mare