To complain to 6th form about a timetable change?

[AGurneyAunt]

DS is in Yr13 at the "local" 6th form to do A levels (it's part of the closest secondary school to us but is still 7 miles away). He gets the school bus there and back every day because I work and also have a younger child with disabilities who isn't in school.

He went back today for the first time since before Christmas (Wales). At the start of this term, one of his subject teachers was replaced great timing so today was the first time he met the new teacher. Said teacher has told the class that he is moving their Wednesday morning lesson to 7th period for the rest of their time at the school. This means it will finish at 4, which is 40 minutes after the school bus leaves.

There used to be late buses for those doing extra curricular activities/clubs, which students who had 7th period lessons (usually only those doing 4 A levels or extra classes, or of course detention 🙄) could also use. But they don't run any more, because all clubs are off due to covid.

There also used to be a public bus that served our village and passed the school at 4.15. But the service has been temporarily suspended, because covid.

So. DS now can't get home after the lesson. I can't pick him up because Wednesday is one of the two days a week I pay for childcare for my younger disabled child so I can work. This is non negotiable. DS is pissed off because he feels he needs to attend all the lessons, due to having missed so much and having very poor online lesson provision for the last year (it has been shocking but that's another thread altogether!).

AIBU to complain?

(And yes, I will probably end up paying for a bloody taxi, but that's a pita and cost that I don't need. This is Buttfuck Nowheresville, taxis are £££, there isn't even a proper taxi firm here and it's not as easy as just calling a cab when you need one).

This is very unfair for a mid year change, especially given at least some local buses have been cancelled. Your DS is probably not the only one affected.

Yanbu. I would follow up the phone call with an email- you might find you get a better response to something tracable. If the driving lesson plan doesn't work out, is there anyone who would be able to wait in your house with your younger child so they would be less disrupted whilst you fetch your older child? Good luck

If all else fails, would it be possible for him to stay overnight with a friend one night per week after that late class? Not sure if that's allowed

Or could you change your working hours, on a temp basis?

Driving lesson sounds a good option, if that's feasible

But the obvious sensible option seems to be the teacher rwcording the lesson. Might be worth asking school why that's not an option. I expect they're concerned about setting a precedent. If they do it for you, I suppose it would be difficult not to do it for someone else

@AGurneyAunt

Cafe? They're all closed. Ditto the library.... I guess he could sit and wait outside somewhere but it's frankly a massive pita for me to load an unwilling autistic child who's routine is being disturbed into the car and trundle out after a day's work when I should be sorting a meal out.

Ultimately, this is the life of a parent for those of us who live rurally and have children with additional needs.

The situation is what it is.

My suggestion, really, is to make life as easy as possible. So that night have leftovers or takeaway for dinner.

At the end of the day, worst case scenario this is until May/June if he's y13. By my calculations probably 10 to 12 trips.

For a school so local, that's not bad going if the bus service has always been available. Out nearest secondary is 22 miles away and a 50 minute drive. The teens in the family who go there, have needed the taxi of Mum on countless occasions since Sept, including those also have other children with additional needs.

Talk to the school, and see what solution can be found. Going back to the original timetable time probably isn't an option - a replacement teacher mid-year often means swapping the timetable around a bit in order to make sure that exam groups have an experienced teacher - the replacement teacher may not have A-level experience, for example, and to expect them to cover revision of a course they've never taught is not going to be helpful to anyone. The lesson that moved probably clashes with a year 11 lesson. So saying "put it back" is unlikely to get you anywhere; you need to work with them to find a new solution.

It sounds as if a different day might be manageable for you, so that's one thing to suggest. Failing that, the school might be able to come up with a transport solution - perhaps they could provide a taxi. If late buses have previously been in the budget, then a few taxi fares could come out of that. Another option might be to take that one lesson online, holding it later in the day to allow everyone to get home first, providing they can actually make online work now it's just the odd lesson. At worst, they might be able to find an alternative slot to go over the work with your son if no solution can be found that gets him to the lesson.