Asking school if my 5-year-old can leave five minutes early

[bringmethespring]

I’ve booked theatre tickets for ds(5) on Thursday. The show starts at 4 so after school but like a lot of primary schools there tends to be a lot of traffic and it can take a while to get out.

I am wondering if it would be reasonable to ask if he can leave five minutes early to miss the traffic. Or would this be too disruptive for the other children in the class? I’m going to ask tomorrow if the consensus on here is that it’s OK so need to know now.

I have don’t this several time for medical appointments. School have always been ok about it

If it’s a one off I’d say you need to collect early for an appointment.

This would be a non event at my DC's school. Pupils leave early for dental appointments and all sorts.

I would just inform the school, rather than ask.

Defo do it but keep it vague, I.e. appointment. Don't say theatre

I guess I feel that because it’s a fun activity rather than a medical appointment it’s a bit cheeky? Not sure. The school are lovely so can’t imagine it would be much of a problem. One little boy leaves five minutes early as he has autism and can’t manage crowds well so I was thinking of asking if he could leave wit him.

I can’t stop ds talking the next day though!

Yes, of course.

I can’t see it being an issue, and theatre is educational. The registration has been done, so it’s not as if it will have any impact on the school attendance data. But I’d go for fifteen minutes earlier.

If you say its for the theatre they may say yes or no. If its for a medical/dentist appointment they will let them go early - a few times I have been asked for proof.

My experience has been if you need to leave at 3.05 get there for 2.50 as the child isn't collected for you to pick them up at 3.05. Someone needs to go and collect them when you arrive. This can take a while depending on how many staff are around in the office.

@bringmethespring If you are worried about DS talking then tell the truth

You are overthinking it. 5 minutes is nothing, they'll be fine.

@itsmeits I’m so sorry I genuinely don’t understand your second paragraph, (it’s been a long day!) could you explain?

I did it at Christmas and fibbed a little and said he had an opticians appointment. To be honest the school probably would have been fine regardless but i didnt want to risk it

I'd have absolutely no issue with this in my class. 10/15 minutes would probably be less disruptive than 5, in many ways. Definitely ask.

Just be prepared for the fact that if you claim it's an appointment, they may want to see evidence that he has an appointment.

It'll be fine. I took my daughter out for a whole afternoon last year because we could only get decent tickets for the matinee. Also at her school there is one kid who misses the last 40 mins of every day because she has to get to her dance lessons. 5 mins is nothing. Enjoy your show.

I would definitely ask but I'd be honest! I doubt they'll mind and you want your DS to be able to talk about it the next day.

It’ll be absolutely fine. Go 15 minutes early- you’ll need to collect him from the school reception, so it won’t impact the other children at all.

pp is saying that when you collect them early, it can actually take a while for someone to go up and get them so give yourself a bit of time for that too.

Right! Oh, we just go in and get them at DS’s school; it’s tiny

@itsmeits is pointing out that they won't have the child standing ready, in the office. When you get there, someone will have to go down the corridor to get them, then she will have to get her coat and bag (potentially could be in PE or the library or another classroom for some reason as well), then come back down to you. You need to build in extra time for that, so don't rock up 5mins before the bell, say you need her 15mins before, and you will stand a chance of getting moving 5mins earlier.

I'm a teacher. School can't really refuse to hand over your child. It's a non-issue and they'll probably be delighted you're doing something cultured! It won't affect attendance because they'll have their register mark for the afternoon.

That might not be the case if you pick up early.

I’d make it 15 minutes. Five minutes hardly seems worth it.

Why would you even need to ask? I’d go into 15 mins early as 5 mins might be awkward. I’m not in England so the idea of having to query this is just baffling to me.

Apologies for confusion
@JustGiveMeReason post explains what I was trying to say, in a much easier way to understand