School not letting my child from the school

[Kutika]

I have read numerous discussions where people mention that schools cannot legally prevent a child from leaving, yet I find myself in this exact situation. The school is refusing to allow my child to leave, despite my clear instructions. I've sent an email, filed a complaint with the trust, and even contacted the police, but to my surprise, none of these actions have resolved the issue. I was told by the head teacher that the law does not apply to them. Any ideas on who to contact?

Did you get that in writing?

If you work from home and you are in the meeting it is unreasonable to pick up.

make it absolutely clear that you will not be paying for after school club and don’t pick them up.

The rules are the rules and in this particular instance they are there for a reason - safeguarding . Until the child leaves the school grounds it is the schools responsibility and if they want it to leave the grounds accompanied by a responsible person that is their prerogative. Do you know someone else who picks up who could escort her home ?

But there’s no law against leaving her home alone….

‘There is no legal age limit for leaving a child on their own, but it's an offence to leave a child alone if this puts them at risk. Parents/carers can be prosecuted for neglect if it is judged that they placed a child at risk by leaving them home alone.’ (NI Direct)

When middle school existed, we walked home from year 5 either alone or with friends. It was the done thing that when you went into year 5, you went home independently.

Whilst the school might have a policy for not walking until 3rd term of yr 5, there’s something to be said for a case by case approach - because you would be able to walk home as a year 6 child but could in theory be completely incompetent at walking home alone, but the school wouldn’t care because the policy allows it 🤔

Nope, it was during the conversation with the school head office. I sent a complain to them stating all the facts.

@Kutika your husband can block out his diary so he doesn't have meetings at the end of his work day, and then go and get her.

This

Get the older child to pick your younger child up or your husband after he's finished.

Send your child to school on their own.

You need to be more bloody minded than them.

The school cannot legally prevent your child from leaving unless they call social services who will tell them to let your child leave. Tell her to walk out of the school. They are acting unlawfully and no policy trumps the law.

What are they going to do when ASC finishes? Call social services or let her walk home?

Could your dh agree to phone the headteacher every afternoon to confirm that he is at home to safely receive the child and he absolves the headteacher of responsibility should something happen on the 300yd walk home.

And then do it. Every afternoon. They'll soon get sick of it.

The school are being ridiculous but people do get entrenched in a decision and feel that they can't back down. If you can give anything to them to let them save face you might be able to swing it.

All i can say is you have children they are your responsibility just go pick her up its 300 yards i dont get why you cant do it.

Just go get your child…or get your DH to?

Lol I'd get the sack if I did that.

My meetings go on until the minute I stop being paid.

The OP is the one who clearly works out of the house so she can't do it.

However her husband and older child can.

This was noted in the email chain that was sent to their head office. During today's meeting, I did say that all the costs will be denied. If there is an issue we will go the the small claims court.

Unless they can name a specific concern relevant to your DD, they should mind their own business. That's plenty old enough to walk a short distance to an occupied home. Keep insisting. Do not pay for after school club.

I will have to agree with you on this one.

Most people would arrange the meeting to avoid 10 minutes they'd be unavailable while picking up...
How have you managed pick ups for the rest of your child's school life? Why is it only a problem this year?

Then send the husband they both have responsibility.

I totally agree that a 9 year old should be able to walk themselves home from school if they live so close by. Society has gone mad!

Of course your nine year old can't leave school on their own ffs!!

If they say it's fine because it's "just 300 yards" then what stops someone saying "well it's only 350 yards", or "it's only 500 yards"? Pick your kid up from school.

@SaffronsMadAboutMe so if the DH's work is not flexible, they will have to pay for ASC or find another way to collect her. Or he could submit a flexible working request, or an informal request to start 15 mins earlier and finish 15 min earlier. So many options.

I just don't see the point in getting into an official complaint set to about this. How did they collect her last year? Either the DH or the OP must have collected her then.

Surely they need your written consent to put her in after school club?

How can a school override a parental decision for outside school hours AND charge you money when you havent signed a contract?

I am trying to keep it up and I won't be paying. I am reporting them to the department of education once the complain process is implemented from their head office.