Preschool threatening to charge for late arrival

[KurtRussel]

I'm interested to know what people's thoughts are on the below message I received from my boys preschool (he is 3).

I've recently started maternity leave and not in a rush to leave the house in the morning as I've got the chance to spend a bit more time with my 3 year old. Once I have both kids ready we then take a walk to school which I couldn't do previously as I needed to get to work. We often arrive at school between 9/9.30.

Good Morning,
Just a reminder about session times.
Breakfast club is 7.30am-8.35am
Morning session 8.35am-11.35am
Lunch 11.35am -12.15pm
Afternoon session 12.15pm-3.15pm
Afterschool club 3.15pm-6pm.
We follow a routine and start learning straight away through circle times and play. This is key part of your child's education and starting early is a key opportunity.
Please ensure your child is dropped off and collected at the correct times. If you are late this will affect your child's attendance at school and you may incur a late charge. We follow the same procedure as if your child was of school age. Also just to make you aware that if you are continuously late or absent then this may affect your child's funding and the council may stop it this will then mean you will be charged for the sessions.
Many Thanks

What a pain @KurtRussel. We have done school based nursery class, private nursery and private childminder- they all had their own different approaches to timings and so it’s not obvious if they haven’t told you. I’d probably see if he can be dropped off before lunch to extend my morning.

Important part of their education? They're 3!

Wouldn't send a child there at any time, tbh.

I have worked in a setting like this.The problem is when you come late it disturbs the activites that are planned or already taking place.It can be disturbing for the children who are already there when one kid comes in later.Sometimes it's not great for your child to be the last.
I do understand why you do it, time with own child.
It is always a problem in this sort of setting.

I know it used to annoy me when I worked in this area.I know why it happens as well.

Education isn't just about academic learning. Pre-school is great for teaching children about how to interact with their peers, sitting still and listening for short periods of time, socialisation and picking up on any potential social or learning issues as soon as possible. It also provides the foundations for early academic learning in reception.

In my experience children who go straight into reception without having some sort of pre-school (and some private nurseries do a great job of this too) have a lot of catching up to do when they do arrive in reception.

The government wouldn't be funding pre-school education (or extending it to two-year olds!) if there wasn't evidence of it having clear benefits for the children.

Preschool is not compulsory. Your child doesn't have to go. But if they do go please be on time. You can always have whole days off so long as you tell them. But children arriving in dribs and drabs beig late for register or small groups and taking a member of staff away to answer the door is really annoying.

If you want flexibility use a day nursery or a childminder.

This is a very British attitude.

I would presume that by 09.00/09.30 the doors would be shut and he would need to miss that day.
Imagine if every parent arrived when they felt like it.

Arriving at half an hour after arrivals is disruptive.
it takes a key worker away from their activities with a group of children to welcome your child properly.

they don’t really want your money. They want your timely attendance.
if you want you could do afternoons only and do stay and plays/play groups in the morning if 8.30 is too early .

You should be there for the morning session starting.

It seems fairly straight forward. Get there on time. You are disruting the sessions by rocking up thirty minutes to an hour late.

Don't they mean a charge if you are late collecting? That's what I read.
But no, you can't just turn up to a school based pre school half an hour late.