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AIBU?

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Original poster

Leaving school 10 minutes early each week for swimming lesson

114 replies

PattyPower · 02/10/2021 15:05

Hi all

Just wondering if it’s unreasonable to ask headmistress if I can pick up my year 2 DC 10 mins early for a swim lesson every week? He is academically able but is very unsure in the water.

He has been having some 1-2-1s with a swim teacher he loves and is getting his confidence - it would be a shame to stop. Unfortunately she now only has availability at 3.30pm - which would mean DC pickup at 3.05. Normally DC finishes at 3.15 and is in playground for pickup.

Weekend lessons seem to be booked solid...

I think it wouldn’t be that unreasonable but really grateful for thoughts. Thanks!

OP posts:
NotQuiteHere · 02/10/2021 16:36

Smartiepants79
It utterly undermines the importance of school

...which is highly overrated Smile

ikeepseeingit · 02/10/2021 16:38

I don't see the harm in asking the school! If they don't agree then you won't go. YANBU to ask, I don't know why everyone is so worked up tbh.

Floralnomad · 02/10/2021 16:39

The way I see it is how happy would everyone be if the teacher decided to pack up 10/15 minutes early once a week to go somewhere . Your child leaving will disrupt the class to a degree .

Wondergirl100 · 02/10/2021 16:42

Isn't it a bit sad that school is so rigid? These are little kids with lives and other skills they need that they can't get in the school day - I think we have all been a bit brainwashed by the one size fits all approach of modern education.

itsgettingwierd · 02/10/2021 16:43

They won't be doing a lesson the last 10 minutes at that age.
And you can always say if he misses work you'll take it home.

No harm in asking.

My ds finishes college 15 minutes early one day a week for his swim training because it starts at 5pm and he doesn't finish until 4.30 that day.

He just finishes any work at home.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 02/10/2021 16:46

It wouldn't work at DDs school because the gate would still be locked, and the only access through the school office. Its not as simple as just picking them up from the usual place a little early.

Vickim03 · 02/10/2021 16:47

You can only ask. But in our most recent news letter this week our head has made a point to ask parents to arrange after school clubs/lessons to be at a time that doesn’t mean picking kids up a little earlier.

DoctorSnortles · 02/10/2021 16:47

@NotQuiteHere

Smartiepants79 It utterly undermines the importance of school

...which is highly overrated Smile

I won’t bother turning up to teach next week, then. I’ve other things I’d rather do, too.
BoredZelda · 02/10/2021 16:48

Why does she leave early every day?

Because she needs to.

BoredZelda · 02/10/2021 16:51

What if everyone did this?

What if they don’t? (Which is always the case when everyone starts with this kind of whataboutery.)

BoredZelda · 02/10/2021 16:53

Why does she do this?

@GreyhoundG1rl why does that matter? Is it so you can judge whether it is acceptable or not?

Cosyblankets · 02/10/2021 16:53

====People answering aren’t teachers===
I am
For me it wouldn't be the distruption as such, it would be the precedent.
Where do we draw the line? 15 min? 20? Once a week? Twice a week?

Turtles4543 · 02/10/2021 16:55

I’ve done this before. Our school had no problem with it.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 02/10/2021 16:56

It will a right pain in the arse to the teacher and the TA.

Every week, one of them has to remember that little Johnny needs to get his stuff, just as everyone else is clearing up or is listening to the teacher read to the class, or is holding a class assembly, and then has to take him to the gate or the office or wherever when they should be supervising the end of the day, washing up paint trays, whatever.

Music lessons in school are a different matter: the teacher usually comes to the door of the classroom to fetch the child and the disruption is minimal.

I work in a school, and it would annoy me.

BoredZelda · 02/10/2021 16:58

Where do we draw the line? 15 min? 20? Once a week? Twice a week?

You would draw the line at an appropriate place on an individual basis. If you are incapable of creating a policy or looking at exceptions, that’s not the fault of someone who is making a reasonable request.

JoborPlay · 02/10/2021 16:58

Our school allows it for all extra curricular activities. No harm in asking.

BoredZelda · 02/10/2021 16:59

I work in a school, and it would annoy me.

As a…..?

Cosyblankets · 02/10/2021 17:05

@BoredZelda

Where do we draw the line? 15 min? 20? Once a week? Twice a week?

You would draw the line at an appropriate place on an individual basis. If you are incapable of creating a policy or looking at exceptions, that’s not the fault of someone who is making a reasonable request.

So if there's, say, 30 in a class and 5 need to leave early would that be OK? Or if 3 leave 10 minutes early and 3 leave 20 minutes early would this be OK?
DietrichandDiMaggio · 02/10/2021 17:05

@Hobnobswantshernameback

Wasn't there an absolutely identical thread to this recently or am I losing my mind Hmm
Yes, but when I searched for it I couldn't find it, but I know there was and am pretty sure the wording was identical. Hmm
DotsandCo · 02/10/2021 17:06

Hi OP...as a teacher, this wouldn't bother me at all...I'd be happy to facilitate this vital skill for you and hope your DC enjoys his swimming lessons ♥️

ilovesushi · 02/10/2021 17:07

When my DC were in juniors there were lots of people who would arrange a 5 or 10 minutes early pick up to get kids to various activities. I never did, not realising it was allowed and used to have a stressful time getting them there and changed at warp speed and still arriving late each time. Ask permission from the teacher and see if it is okay. You will save your sanity and the kids from a lot of stress.

BoredZelda · 02/10/2021 17:07

So if there's, say, 30 in a class and 5 need to leave early would that be OK? Or if 3 leave 10 minutes early and 3 leave 20 minutes early would this be OK?

It would depend on the individual requirements of the children.

ilovesushi · 02/10/2021 17:10

@Cosyblankets In my DD's class one day a week there would be a mass early exodus for the kids doing gymnastics club. They were allowed to change in school and a mum would shuttle the lot to the gym in the nearby town.

DietrichandDiMaggio · 02/10/2021 17:13

@JoborPlay

Our school allows it for all extra curricular activities. No harm in asking.
So somebody finds a teacher whose only available slot is 11 am on Wednesdays, is the child going to nip out of school for an hour, missing maths, every Wednesday morning?
GreyhoundG1rl · 02/10/2021 17:13

@BoredZelda

Why does she do this?

@GreyhoundG1rl why does that matter? Is it so you can judge whether it is acceptable or not?

No. It's clearly outside the norm and you introduced it into the conversation, so I presumed it wasn't a state secret 🤷🏻‍♀️ I was clearly wrong 😂