To think that if a school early morning club says 7:45 start, that 7:50 is not acceptable?

[orangesandlemonssaythebellsofstclements]

I desperately need a job. I mean, I really really need to take what I can.

I have found one that's perfect for me, which is great, because I've been applying for any old crap tbh, so I'm excited to see something that I actually want to do and can do.

I can't drive, I'm not going into it, but learning to drive isn't an option for me.
This is fine because before I apply for any job I check that public transport routes work for me.

The job I want starts at 9am, but it's in the next town over. There is a bus that stops directly opposite my DD's school that will get me to work for 8:40, so even leaves time if the bus is late.
However, because it's in the next town over, this is the ONLY bus available to get to work as there is only one an hour (back-up plan on rare days bus is cancelled is a taxi but this can't be a regular long term plan due to cost)

This bus leaves at 7:52. Early morning club at my daughter's school starts at 7:45.

I have, on a few sporadic occasions, used this early morning club, and my experience has been that the lady who runs it will often amble casually over to the gates at 7:48, 7:50 or even something like 7:53 and start letting children in.

I absolutely need to be saying goodbye to my daughter and walking away at 7:45 (and yes, I am paying from 7:45) so that I've got enough time to cross the road and get the bus, and allow for the bus to show up a couple of minutes early.

Is it unreasonable to say to the school that I absolutely need to drop her off when it's supposed to open at 7:45 and I can't wait any longer?

The unreliability is making me question whether or not it's worth applying for the job as I may not be able to get there, nor handle the frustration of seeing my bus drive past while this woman gets her act together.

I'm just worried about coming across as petty because I don't think people that rely on public transport really appreciate how important being exactly on time is, and that two minutes does make a difference.

OP, totally get why you want to sort this out before (I would too). However, especially as it's the school holidays, I would go for the interview, do your best, and see if you get it, and then work from there.

If you don't get it, then the club isn't an issue.

If you do get it... People go for jobs all the time without having worked out the logistics! - worst comes to worst, you have to say no to it: that you had a plan/have a club/have a bus planned but it might be out of your control to be there at x time each time.
If they like you and have given it to you, they MIGHT work around that. If not, nothing ventured/nothing gained.

Meanwhile, lots of potential issues in schedule, eg as PPs have said, are other things, eg if have to sign them in and that will take time, are the buses reliable (you can log it during the holidays (although term times are different))? When is the next bus/arrival time?

I would speak to the woman first, in a “you do know that breakfast club regularly opens after 7.45. Not only are parents paying when the club is not open, but I will lose my job if this continues. Is there a reason why it regularly opens late?”

The likelihood is that you'll be late more times due to the bus being late than the drop off time. Can't another parent see her in for you?

Then I would speak to the school too. But dothink it’s important that the runner of the club is exactly aware as to why it’s an issue, rather than it being fed down as a “parent complaint”.

You haven't even applied for the job yet!

I would raise the issue with the Head and the Governors. The before school childcare option should be up and running and accepting children at 7:45 on the nose, end of, if that is the stated time you are paying from.

If you can get a childminder go for that option. It gives you so much more flexibility if, for example, you can get more hours at work.

Definitely not pointless if it means you can catch the bus! It doesnt matter if you're both in the same place at the same time, this way you can make sure you're at the bus stop in time.

But I would say its definitely worth applying for the job anyway, good luck!

I think you should apply for the job and should also raise thisissue with the school, pointing out that as the bus to Xtown leaves the bus stop next to school at 7:52, with the next one being a hour later, having an EMC that reliably guarantees to be open on the dot of 7:45 is a vital service without which they would be actively contributing to keeping the most vulnerable children in their charge in poverty. Whilst school is not childcare, the wellbeing of the children is very much their concern and structures that enable parents to work are highly beneficial to instilling a good work ethic for children.

Simultaneously, in case the school don't deal with this properly, see if there's another parent who uses the EMC with a less tight schedule (eg if they drive) and see if you can come to an arrangement where they turn up at 7:45 and allow your child to wait with theirs and check in the two kids together, while you get the bus. If they use the EMC daily anyway then this is no real bother, and you could offer perhaps £5 per week in recognition of their help.

Are you in a school WhatsApp group? Perhaps you could post your issue there and see if there are any parents who would be at the gate that time anyway who could take your child in? I had a similar arrangement and paid £20 a week. It worked well for us both.

Is there another parent you know that could wait with your daughter and their own child until the gates opened in the morning? I know I wouldn’t mind doing that for anyone to be honest. It’s not inconveniencing me any further if your little one is already there.

I had a similar predicament and spoke to the school. They the spoke to the person who opened up breakfast club and her own other commitments meant she couldn’t actually reliably be there until 7.50. They dealt with this by changing the opening time to 7.50 which didn’t help me but was at least representative of what was happening. It also meant there was less grumbling as people knew it wasn’t going to open until 7.50.

Or just talk to the head. Teachers are just people. Overly formal letters like this don't make you sound clever and serious, they make you sound like someone who struggles to communicate. You can be polite and firm but the head will most likely sort it if made aware by a simple conversation. I'd get the job first then see if the problem actually arises, then complain.

That is an unacceptable, unprofessional attitude from the person running the club.

If your job starts at 7.45 then you are not walking in the door at 7.45, you are ready to start work at 7.45. Even if that means you walk in at 7.30 in order to put your coat away, go to the loo, make a cup of tea, have a good morning chat with colleagues as you pass them on your way to your workspace, open your windows, and whatever else you need to do to feel ready.

Same applies to the person running the club as to the parents of the children attending the club. Particularly as it is a club specifically set up to enable parents to work.

My view is that for a 7.45 opening, staff should be there by 7.30 latest to check, unlock etc- they shouldn’t be arriving at 7.45. When nursery opened at 8, staff were there ready to open on the dot,

There's no need to go straight to the head as some people are suggesting. Explain to the woman who opens the club. If that gets you nowhere, THEN escalate.

As someone who uses buses regularly and a teen who uses them to get to college, bus timetables usually change at least twice a year. Keep this in mind.

So the first few days you rely on others standing there waiting or a taxi. Then you have ammunition so to speak about why it needs to open on time. Try speaking to the woman then. She should get how important it is to you when you tell her the consequences of her opening late and the inappropriateness of leaving dd with other parents. If she still does it, escalate to the HT and then governors.

You have to think carefully about how you are going to get there and be on time. If the school lets them in at 7:50am and your bus arrives then what? You'll be thinking you should have found that childminder. The employer may not like the idea you don't drive they will ask how do you plan on getting to work. Finally, are you going to tell them you have a child?

I agree that you should be able to rely on a 7.45 start if that is what you are paying for, but maybe mention it to the lady who runs the club before speaking to the Headmaster?

It is her job and she might not realise it is causing such a problem for anyone, perhaps because, at the moment, it isn't. You say that there are only two or three other parents at 7.45 who don't seem to have complained, and your new job hasn't started yet. I am not justifying her being late, but I would give her a chance to get it right once she knows someone is relying on the gates being open at 7.45 on the dot rather than 7.45-ish, before reporting her to her boss.

Of course if you make too big a fuss there is a risk that they will change the pre-school club to a 7.50 or 8.00 start, which would not help at all!

Good luck with the new job and let us know how it goes.

Ask a friend or some classmates. I would happily have an extra dropped with me at 7:30 and walk both kids along for breakfast club if I was taking mine anyway. If you could do pick up some days or offer to cover an inset day then you could suggest a swap?

If it was a free breakfast club provided by the school I would say it’s unreasonable but as it’s a paid service then you are 100% not being unreasonable. If they open at 745 then surely they should already be inside setting up at that time not arriving at the same time as the children .

However, I would say that it’s likely this won’t work for you and will be so stressful . You have 7 minutes - and the bus could always be early. All it takes is your daughter to be feeling a bit unwell or sad in the morning , or the staff needing to talk to you and you’re delayed. Even if you stress you need them to be there at 745 , I would say there are still chances they won’t and realistically if they continued to be a few minutes late then what will you do? It’s unfair , as it’s so hard to work as a parent and I really sympathise , I’ve been there , but your complaint won’t go anywhere and they could well say they will open at 8 just to stop this .

Have you checked if there are childminders serving the school ? Usually , schools have them and they take children into school - it may not be much in a price difference and would take so much pressure off you .

Good luck , I hope you sort it out x

Apply for the job and work from there.
This should be possible, without a childminder, as the club is meant to be open, so I hope you can work with one of the solutions suggested above.

Someone above has just mentioned bus timetable changes. Our local buses have just changed, it's a small tweak but something like that could affect you as well.

Good luck, OP.

No, it's run by the school, the lady is definitely a school employee.

Indeed but I wonder whether she is relying on public transport, as is OP? Things happen. All the best for the job.