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Parenting

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Original poster

school parking

89 replies

pikosan · 01/02/2019 16:01

hi everybody,
I am not sure if this is right category for my topic so I do apologose if it isn't. I have 5yo daughter who I bring to school by car. After that I go to work which is 3 miles away in the Business Park so I do need a car. Although the school has the allocated small parking, they keep gates closed and do nt allow people park on it due to the safety. Outside of the school are very narrow streets nd double yellow line everywhere. The school head teacher keep sending letters to parents not to park on the double yellow line in front of the school gates, but honestly I do not know what else to do. Once I alsmot got a ticket for leaving my car outsude the school area on double yellow. Only by luck the parking guy let me off. Any advice? I see that couple of parents have keys as I presume they have a blue badge, but they do walk and I did not see anyone having any mobility problems.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

OddBoots · 01/02/2019 17:39

The facts as you give them are that the streets are narrow and have double yellow lines. The yellow lines are probably there because the roads are narrow so it causes an obstruction (either to the road or pavement) to park there.

You will need to park further away and walk or get a childminder or accept you will get parking tickets and piss people off.

You could try asking the council to re-think the yellow lines but I don't fancy your chances.

LyndaLaHughes · 01/02/2019 17:40

Please do not do as suggested above and speak to the HT. They really do not have time to deal with parents' parking woes. As it stands HT and senior leaders spend a ridiculous amount of time dealing with complaints from neighbours and other parents about inconsiderate and dangerous parking. If parents realised the actual impact of their selfish and entitled behaviour perhaps they might think twice as I can assure you it has a huge knock on effect. But no amount of letters seems to make a blind bit of difference.
OP you did make rather an offensive assumption about blue badge users above and the previous OPs who have pulled you up on it were right to do so. I do think an apology for that is in order.
It is sensible for you to go and do a recce and figure out a solution but you are not alone in this issue and other parents find a way. You will probably find you have to leave early in order to arrive early enough to bag a safe and convenient spot. Do you have any class whatsapp or Facebook groups where you could ask other parents where they park? It is certainly the case at my children's school that you do need to arrive early to get a space. Either that or investigate breakfast club etc option. YABU to park on yellow lines regardless of your perception of whether or not it causes an issue because if there are yellow lines they are there for a reason and that needs to be respected.

Original poster

pikosan · 01/02/2019 17:42

EyesUnderARock, what makes you think I was asking for sympathy? I was asking for some advice I got it. Have a nice day.

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HauntedPencil · 01/02/2019 17:43

I think this is true of most schools tbh.

Scope out the surrounding streets and find a spot that's close for work & not too far away.

caughtinanet · 01/02/2019 17:45

Certainly don't ask the HT, they aren't there to sort out your parking problems, all working parents have to find ways to balance work and school your issue isn't unique, get their earlier to bag a space near the school or to give you enough time to walk from a further away space

Original poster

pikosan · 01/02/2019 17:48

LyndaLaHughes, ty for the Facebook idea. I was not going to speak to HT, agree with you on that one. As an apology, I already said I did not mean it as an offence so I am not going to apologise anymore as it is getting rediculus. I will consider asking for private parking for some pay. I think this is the best option for me. But I will also explore the area.

OP posts:

OddBoots · 01/02/2019 17:52

Just because you didn't realise what you were saying was offensive it doesn't mean you don't need to say sorry. If I bump into someone by accident I say sorry, I didn't mean to bump into them but I still did it.

Original poster

pikosan · 01/02/2019 17:55

OddBoots, I already did. Have a nice day.

OP posts:

KitKat1985 · 01/02/2019 18:01

I wasn't trying to start an argument, just trying to point something out to you.

I say this as someone who has an autistic daughter and we regularly have to use the disabled toilets with her (she's doubly incontinent and there's no room to change her in a standard cubicle) and the number of times I get 'the look' or sarky comments because she doesn't immediately look disabled and can walk is exhausting and makes me feel so uncomfortable, and adds another stress to my life. I know several people who have blue badges for non visible illnesses (such a shortness of breath meaning they struggle to walk far) and they experience similar issues. So I'm just pointing out that you can't always tell by a quick glance what is going on for someone using a blue badge or a disabled toilet etc.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 01/02/2019 18:04

You don't have to be a dck just because it's a forum and you can't be seen.

You didn't have to mention other peoples disabilities, but you did.

You don't have to park illegally, but you do....

Original poster

pikosan · 01/02/2019 18:08

KitKat1985, I understand that. And I also mentioned that I only saw what I saw. But I do not judge people whether they are disabled or not. I just mentioned it because of the topic. Some people are getting offended and love the chance to victimize others for something that they did not intend to do. ( do not mean you). Anyway, have a good day.

OP posts:

NGC2017 · 01/02/2019 18:09

I never understand why parents want to park that close to the school. Battling all those cars on small roads just to drop him off and collect him, no thank you! We park at the end of the next street, a few minutes walk away. He loves it. He would walk the whole way if we could but due to times we can't. He goes to breakfast club and 10 mins later I begin work. I leave work and have 10 minutes to drive to school to collect him. I would never ever consider getting us closer. Walking is good for us all. If we had the time to i woukd walk him every day instead of the car

Original poster

pikosan · 01/02/2019 18:12

NGC2017, I wish we had a breakfast club. That would sort the whole problem.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 01/02/2019 18:17

The only ones being a dick are the idiots who park illegally round schools. Blocking drives and parking on yellow lines. Leaving their car so people can’t see to get out of a junction or even blocking the whole pavement. That’s dickish.

Original poster

pikosan · 01/02/2019 18:21

Wolfiefan, no comment.

OP posts:

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 01/02/2019 18:23

You could ask if the school might have a wider drop off time frame. Some schools say you can drop from 8.35-8.50 - children can go in and get settled in their own time. Those whose parents have to get to work go in and hang their coats up, read a book etc as others wander in. This helps because two parents can park in the same legal space.

Suggest a walking bus - find somewhere a 10min walk away with some parking and drop off possibilities- local pub/ church might be willing. Parents take it in turns to be 'on duty you then need to negotiate a later start date one or two days a week when you are on duty, but the rest of the week you drop her at 8.30.

You say if will be worse when you move - not sure why as you will presumably just drive over earlier, however this could be an opportunity to move to a school with parking or breakfast club.

Remember it might be the child with a disability which the school recognises makes it hard for them to get to school safely.

There are options, you need to be creative.

Original poster

pikosan · 01/02/2019 18:34

shouldwestayorshouldwego, thank you very much for you comment. I will ask, but the school police is doors open at 8.50. We did walk couple of times when I was off sick and all the parents were outside in the yard area waiting, so unlikely they will do an exemption for me. I know there should be a park somewhere. Maybe there.. the thing is I don't really know the area much as we moved recently from another town. So lately my move is all the same hime-school-work and back.

OP posts:

MrsCurly · 01/02/2019 18:41

You could cycle - your work is only three miles away. It would take you 15 - 20 mins. It's a no brainer.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 01/02/2019 18:44

It's not as an exception for you It is a different philosophy which some schools adopt so that children are more relaxed coming into the classroom rather than having to get them all to line up waste time waiting for Jonny to face the right way and for Amelia who is running up two minutes late at the end of the queue. Also if the school lets them in at 8.35 it gives parents an incentive to get their dc there early so reduces the number of pupils who are late. If they aim to be there at 8.50 sometimes they will be late and get there at 9. If instead they aim to be there at 8.35 then if they are ten minutes late they are still actually early.

mummmy2017 · 01/02/2019 18:47

Do Google maps, see if there are any short cuts, also on street view you can see if lines on road..

Original poster

pikosan · 01/02/2019 18:47

shouldwestayorshouldwego, ok thanks. I'll find out.

OP posts:

NGC2017 · 01/02/2019 18:53

I was going to say, my sons school opened up the drop off time. For us it made no difference but I imagine that helps a lot of parents. I live by 2 schools, a primary and a secondary. The struggle just to get us home is unreal. I get sworn at and spoken to like shit when all i am trying to do is get me and my child home. I have nothing against parents collecting their kids HOWEVER the general lack of consideration for residents of the roads around the school is appalling. They seem to have this idea that they have more of a right than anyone else to be there. Totally off subject I know but school parking makes me mad lol.
It's shame there is no breakfast club. I would be lost without it. But I am lucky to have a boss who has been flexible with my working hours. Could adjusting your hours help at all?

SoupDragon · 01/02/2019 18:59

I am not going to apologise anymore

Or at all. Which says a lot.

I do not judge people whether they are disabled or not.

You judged the people who you think can't be disabled enough to use the disabled parking.

caughtinanet · 01/02/2019 19:00

You could cycle - your work is only three miles away. It would take you 15 - 20 mins. It's a no brainer

So you know where the OP works? There is always someone who can't comprehend that just because you have a shortish commute you can cycle, do you really not get that cycling simply isn't an option for loads of people?

I used to have a job that wasn't too far from me but involved driving on a motorway for one junction, I lived on one side and worked on the other - how would I have cycled?

Original poster

pikosan · 01/02/2019 19:09

SoupDragon, no comment

OP posts:

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