Hi
I work 7am - 6pm and the contracted hours are different for each child but a couple of the children are contracted from 8am. These 2 families have rarely come at 8am and I've always said I'm happy for them to drop off shortly after but that I leave for school at 8.15am so they need to be here by then, otherwise risk missing me and having to come nearer 9.30am.
One parent always tends to get here at 8.15 and has been nearly 5 minutes late (the most I'd have waited until going without them). I know 5 minutes doesn't sound much but with this particular school run, 5 mins can make a difference of 30 mins some times! The other family often come at 9.30 but I wait in until 8.15 in case they are coming before school (sometimes we're ready and would like to go at 8am but I wait in case).
Now this is my problem........they are doing pretty major gasworks right around school and the parking (which has always been a nightmare) is getting worse and worse and we've just had a letter from school confirming that from next week until Christmas, the road for school is actually closed so diversions will be in place. This is going to be an utter nightmare (can't wait!! NOT!). My concern is that if I'm late getting into school, 3 children are marked late and then because I'm late leaving, I risk being late getting back home for when the next mindee is due to arrive.
What I want to do is start leaving a bit earlier, I'd love to leave at 8am but that wouldn't be right as 2 families are contracted to arrive at that time. Would it be fair to maybe say I need to leave at 8.05 from next week? I'm still allowing 5 mins from their contracted start time, just loosing 10 minutes of their flexible drop off time? If the one who always does come before the school run (but often tight for time) isn't here by 8.05am, I'd wait until 8.10am and then go (that's if I decide to do this, obviously I'd notify them). Would that be fair?
My main questions are:
a) Is it fair that I move the flexible drop off until....time?
b) if I do change this, am I better making this a permanent change or just temporary? (bearing in mind that really, it would be nice to leave at the earlier time, even without roadworks, as the parking has been significally reduced around school and everyone struggles, but I have 5/6 children to walk to school and the younger ones get tired therefore I don't want to be TOO far away as has knock on effect to getting back in time)
Hope all that makes sense and TIA :)