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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Childrens School Open. TABU!

25 replies

EcoMouse · 07/01/2010 07:39

Pretty much the only school in the county which is opening today! All surrounding schools are certainly closed. It's in a rural area, no main roads lead to it.

AIBU to choose not to risk driving them in? Because I don't believe for one minute the roads will be remotely safe. A little irked that I'm at risk of incurring truancy marks TBH

OP posts:

Eve4Walle · 07/01/2010 07:44

YANBU. Our school issued guidelines which said that even if the school was closed, use your own discretion over whether it's safe to drive your children in.

My school is closed anyway, but I wouldn't be taking them in this weather.

Eve4Walle · 07/01/2010 07:45

Was open, sorry!

Scotia · 07/01/2010 07:46

YANBU. I'm not takind ds today because I can't push ds2's pram through the snow and I can't drive the car out of our untreated street either. I don't think they'll put it down to truancy, this is extreme circumstances.

Original poster

EcoMouse · 07/01/2010 07:50

Thanks Eve and Scotia. Another driver wrote my vehicle off on the school run last winter. Not worth the risk IMO!

OP posts:

sarah293 · 07/01/2010 07:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

whyme2 · 07/01/2010 07:53

Just because the school is open it doesn't mean you have to go.
Our schools are closed today, again, but even if they were open we wouldn't get there. I couldn't physically get there with the toddler and baby plus it is a good walk through snow and icy pavements. just not sensible imo.
We walked there yesterday (park next to school) but I had Dh with me and I had baby in sling and he carried/pulled toddler. It still took us 1 hour and 10 minutes. I would have really struggled on my own.

MrsMorgan · 07/01/2010 07:55

Both of my childrens schools are open too, despite most around them being closed because of trecherous roads/pavements.

Original poster

EcoMouse · 07/01/2010 07:55

Thing is, I did incur truancy marks last winter following crash. Maybe a little over caution on my part!

OP posts:

MrsMorgan · 07/01/2010 08:42

My younger two are now off, as conditions at their school are too hazardous for staff and pupils.

Dd1's school backs onto theirs but thats open. She just rang me and said that apparently their school website says they can go home if they like lol.

I said, try again dear, it actually says that if parents choose to keep their child off, they are expected to do homework.

Morloth · 07/01/2010 09:38

I just bailed on the school run. A bus slid towards me and smashed into a car a couple of feet away as we jumped out of the way. We started up the road but it is like a skating rink.

School is open, but are quite understanding that at 30 weeks pregnant I have zero interest in trying to get there and back a couple of times today. If it is like it again tomorrow will do the same.

Couldn't care less what it is written down as, but our school are pretty relaxed.

NoahAndTheWhale · 07/01/2010 09:41

Our school is open but says if you are worried about getting in there will be no unauthorised absences.

Hulababy · 07/01/2010 09:41

Schools can't win. So many people on here and in RL complaining that (a) school is open or (b) school is closed.

DD's school is open and has been all week. She went in Tuesday (not back Mon) and today. Stayed home yesterday as couldn't easily get her there.

Just because school is open you don't have to send them.

cantmummyhaveabreak · 07/01/2010 09:57

DC's school is also open today (DS in reception and DD1 in nursery), but i have a 10-15min walk each way. Have DD2 in a pram to take along too (dont even think it'd be able to cope with the trip anyway).

Have decided not to risk it as the pavement is just a sheet of, 1 inch thick, ice now.

I could attempt to take DD2 in the sling so i had both hands free for the LO's but if i fell over we'd all fall and i'd risk squashing DD2.

I just hope there are others doing the same as me. I'm a little gutted they can't go as i'm under the weather and the time with only the baby would be ideal for some sleep to recover slightly... but at the same time it means i dont need to do the 3 school runs!!

claw3 · 07/01/2010 10:01

I wouldnt bother to be honest. Ds's school was open yesterday, drove them to school. Only to get a text 2 hours later from the school that the school was closing and kids were being sent home.

Ds tells me their were only a handful of kids in school and his teacher told him 'why did you bother coming in'!

claw3 · 07/01/2010 10:02

there rather!

Maleeka · 07/01/2010 10:04

My eldest had a half day yesterday but her younger siblings had to go in. Cue lots of "haha" from her.

Today tables are turned and her school is open all day and the younger ones school is closed due to treacherous conditions.

They cant wait till she comes home to get their revenge

The nursery i work in has been open but i'm tempted to call in and say i cant come in cos of the specially as i dont fancy having the drag the younger ones with me!

hormonalmum · 07/01/2010 10:29

I have been having a debate with myself about whether I was being unreasonable not sending dd (reception age) to school because I cannot get there safely.
Neighbour offered to take me and her (and younger ds) in his 4x4 and take us to collect her again later when school finishes.
I wanted to take him up on offer (mainly cos she wanted to go and has not been back after christmas break due to road / snow conditions) but decided it was not going to be as easy as I thought as the paths and roads are still so icy (not had any grit in this area for weeks)
As I am pregnant, I didnt want to risk falling or either dc falling.
I have spoken to the head and he said to travel only if it was safe. Am feeling fairly bad though.

Phoenix4725 · 07/01/2010 10:35

ds wont eb able to go to school even when it reopens till either snow has gone , ice gone or someone can collect him in 4x4 roads not gritted here .Ds wheelchair will just not move need some mini snowchains

missmapp · 07/01/2010 10:38

The school i work at always opens on snowy days as a lot of staff can walk in, but any child who does not attend does not get an absence mark, but a' special day' mark as we realise those who need to drive will be unable to get to school safely.

ImSoNotTelling · 07/01/2010 10:41

How strange claw3 I thought you advice on the other thread was don't be so ridiculous worrying about driving, it's only a bit of snow.

claw3 · 07/01/2010 10:57

Imsonottelling, my comment on the 'i dont want my husband to go to work because it is snowing' thread was:-

'Oh for crying out loud, these are grown men and a bit of snow we are talking about here, not children! Bah!'

This thread is about children! Bah!

sarah293 · 07/01/2010 11:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Hando · 07/01/2010 12:02

I called the school yesterday and finanally got through at 8.30am! SO I had to have got us both up early, bathed, dd in uniform, packed lunch made and her sat waiting at the door. They said the school was open but requesting only parents who had to work to bring kids in as the roads were dodgy plus some teacher wouldn't make it in.

This morning I couldn't get through to school, parent mail didn't "work" - nothing, and their website is rubbish and was down. I didn't want to do the 1/2 hour walk slipping and sliding to school only to have to come home - So We got up and ready and went to play in the snow. They have just called (near midday now) and been arsey with me. The snow is worse today yet the school office lady said it was better (school 1/2 hr walk). There is more forcast for tonight but she just assured me school was definitely open as normal tomorrow. I'm not sure how she can predict how much snow we will have tonight. Today will go down as unauthorised absence.

PeedOffWithNits · 07/01/2010 12:06

riven - unauthorised absence is what counts against their attendance figures (for ofsted/league tables and that)

claw3 · 07/01/2010 12:14

Riven, 'unauthorised absence' as oppose to 'authorised absence' implies that you have taken your child out of school without their consent and went against what is in the best interests of your childs education.

What does it 'do' exactly, makes no difference unless you are reported to the local authority attendance officer for having too much time of school and then the 'unauthorised absence' is like a black mark against you which you are expected to improve on or resolve. As far as i am aware anyhow.

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