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?

Whilst it seems like the OP is just complaining about the school I don’t believe for one minute that the school doesn’t have very good reasons for not allowing this and I’m pretty sure they would have had a conversation with the child which is why they are sending them to afterschool club.
if it’s a such a big issue that involves conversations with many people and an online post I think that less effort approach would be for the husband (who gets in around the same time) collects the child on his way home.

it sounds like the school has the child’s best interest at heart and maybe we should be grateful for that.

My son has just started in year 5, and goes to school on a school bus, alongside a number of other kids the same age. All of them walk to and from the bus stop. We live in a village so have limited traffic etc.
It’s depends on the child and their maturity, my son is 10 at the end Sept and after a few supported run throughs - he can manage the trip to/from the bus stop confidently.
This seems ridiculous to me if there is limited risk.

I don't know why you think that. I had a similar issue with my stepdaughter's school and so have others.

Do you suggest the OP doesn't have her child's best interest at heart?

If the school has good reasons, shouldn't they be able to share them?

If the school is saying they need to escalate to social services, then surely this is the logical next step?

They make a record that you have assessed that child is safe to walk home 300m along a single stretch of pavement, and that someone will always be at home to let her in.

School represents that they feel she is not mature enough to make that journey unaccompanied.

Social services take into account any information not represented here. Then presumably tell the school they are being ridiculous and have no grounds not to let child walk home as they have received parental permission.

Social services has a case note on file, so if child is found home alone after 3 days of having to feed themselves with no adult around, appropriate action can be taken. Similarly if they are discovered roaming the streets 2 hours after school kicking out time because either no-one was home to let them in or they are latchkey but decided to walk elsewhere instead of going home.

I don't think social services has the time or resources to be dealing with this - but if the school can't take parental permission as adequate justification, then yes, it seems like the logical next step!

If they have a good reason for not thinking it safe for a child who is nearly ten to walk 300m home to their parents they need to give it.

It sounds that the school is invoking the name of social services hoping it will scare the parents and force them into obedience, but isn't really willing to do so, because they know their position wouldn't stand the test.

Law trumps policy!

Tell them she is to leave as you expect and it is still light at 3-3:30pm it does not go dark until 4pm+ so safe to walk home that ridiculously short distance. Most schools allow children to walk home from year 5 from the start of the year when parents confirm this.

make it clear to the trust that you ask them to sack the head for being incompetent and that you are looking into legal action and will ask for compensation in your complaint! Report to ofsted and ask for the head to be removed and have the schools and her finances looked into as you fear she is doing something with the funds she isn’t meant to. Word it carefully but firmly that you think she might have personal interest in where some of the schools funding goes!

you could also report her to police for black mail and extortion which is exactly what she is doing by refusing to adhere to the law and putting your child in after school club.

also try and get it in writing that she believes to be above the law!

refuse to have on door step or phone conversations to ensure you have a paper trail of her bat shittery.

When she tries to corner you or dh simply say you feel uncomfortable discussing this in public she is to email you.

Also cite GDPR and privacy laws as discussing this in front of others is not acceptable practice ever!

ONLY DEAL WITH HER IN WRITING!

Also report her to social services for being cruel to the child and threatening to make a malicious report!

You can also put heads name into companies house to see if she is registered with any businesses and if it shows she has interest in the after school club you have proof she is doing this for her own financial gain! Then share this info as it is publicly available to anyone and report her to trust and maybe even take of further.

Wow.

This is such an unhinged thread.

OP and family are clearly not home or someone would collect her a few yards away. Notice how they collect her from the afterschool club.

Why don't they have the same interest in the children's best interests for children born in May, June, July and August who will be younger than the OPs child is now when they are allowed to walk home in April?

But there isn’t a policy on this, it has been asked for but there isn’t one. Basically the school is just making rules up as and when they feel like it.

Skim read the thread.

The school has said that children can only leave the site with an adult. If no adult arrives, children will be placed in ASC which is chargeable. Not collecting the child is acceptance of the charge for ASC.

I don't think the fact they can't collect her at 3.30 p.m means they are not at home. I find it really odd the some posters think that would be okay in every job. Do you have job yourself?

I very much doubt a small claims court would see it that way.

Oh sweet Lord! You sound unhinged! OP don’t take this advice!

Then you have to use wrap around care or make other plans! P

Why should people use wrap around care when it's not actually required because the child is of an age when they can walk home from school perfectly safely? That's not in the best interest of the child if they'd rather be at home than in an after school club. The cost of paying for the club will also reduce the family income so again not in the best interest of the child if it's not required.

I stopped using wrap around care when my children got to Year 5 and my childrens' school were perfectly happy for children in Year 5 to walk home by themselves. DC were really pleased because they hated going to after school club.

Yes I do have a job, but I either pick my child up from school at pick up time, arrange another adult to, or use the after school clubs...

I think I see her point. I was working from home and the village school was about the same distance away. Probably 4 days of the week I was stuck in teams meetings that I would never be allowed to miss even 5 minutes of. So if my daughter was 9 or 10 I'd probably see if she could walk home too.

(We now live in the US and I can't imagine her leaving on her own until she is at least 17....but thats a different story)

They've made a plan. It's a good one. The child walks home, which is where they want to be. The parents save money on ASC.

How old is your child? Do you live close to the school?

There is someone at home, but they don't finish work in time for end-of-school pick-up. However the child will not alone at home as a parent is in the house (older sibling also gets home at roughly the same time).

They are available to do pick-up post-AFC as they have finished work by then. OP used to use this option but no longer feels it is necessary as they feel the child is old enough to walk home.

What the school feels about this plan is irrelevant as the school does not get to override parental wishes unless there is a safeguarding issue relating to this specific child.

Ok. I disagree, but it’s not really my problem. My child isn’t 9 yet, but that’s still quite young. And I can’t bear it when parents let their gripes impact the child (eg the child potentially not knowing if she’s allowed to leave/ is she a burden on teachers at the end of the day if she is waiting to be collected and not booked into wrap around care.) We ALL want to save money on childcare (who doesn’t?) but be realistic when planning childcare arrangements.
I prefer to keep a decent relationship with my child’s school, but that’s just my preference, oh, and to not waste police time with the trivial nonsense!

OP is getting herself riled up over something that essentially has a few options:

1. if she doesn’t like the school’s policy, move schools

2. the husband negotiates some sort of work arrangement to collect

3. OP sorts someone trusted for the child to walk home with (another parent who walks that way, for example)

4. suck it up and pay the fees until April.

But either way, it’s not my problem, just saying what I think!