The hell of the school run

[silentcatastrophe]

Both dds go to the same school which is 5 miles away. Dd 2 is in reception and has to come home at lunch time. The headmistress is adamant that nothing will change. It is utter hell for us having to go to the school 3 times a day and I'm getting even more fed-up with the headmistress. I am wondering whether it is a good idea to move to a closer school, and hope that the headteacher was closer to being human. I frankly feel that I am being bullied by this bloody woman.

I would move schools.
Presumably you have a choice of schools to pick from in your area ?
Having to factor in travel time and arrangements would be a deal breaker for me - even without the unnecessary mid day trip

Not sure what you expect the headmistress to do
we just had to deal with dcs just doing half a day to begin with
meant I had to walk twenty minutes each way six tines a day
I just got on with it

I have had to do this as well three times. Just part of being a parent of a school age child.

Why did you choose a school that is a 10 mile round trip - is it better than those nearer to you? I'm also not sure what the HT is expected to do about this.

You will need to move schools.

FWIW HT run schools for what they think will be best for their pupils not the parents - all schools work on this policy.

Did it not cross your mind that it was rather a long way away when you chose the school?

And in what way is the HT bullying you?

Presumably it is only a lunch time finish whilst they are settling in?

I understand your frustration, having a child in Y1 and one who has started reception and going a combinations of mornings or afternoons until November...

.....however we did move them schools last year as I knew this was coming and would be a problem being miles away. It's certainly easier doing it when it's round the corner.

I would also consider what you'll do once your child might want to do afterschool clubs, etc....that can be a drag too.

Good luck!

I think half days at start of Reception is absolutely common. So the 3 times a day arrangement affects an awful lot of parents countrywide. (and would also affect presumably parents with 1 child at pre-school and 1 at school). So I don't think think your HT is asking for something out of the ordinary.

Why did you pick a school such a long way away? What will you do when (for example) one child wants to do an after school activity and the other doesn't? Or one goes to a friend's after school?

We lived in the village and the school was 5 mins walk away. When we had to move (because the (rented) house was falling down, we moved as close as we could as dd1 likes the school.

I am certainly thinking about looking into the more local school. I actually am finding the headmistress at the current school quite a problem. I am not alone in this, but have tried to get over my misgivings.

My morning run.

Ds nursery school 13 mile round trip, com home and the DD 9 mile round trip. Deal with it.

Half days completely standard - here they do half days for up to a year (potential start in nursery class the term after they are 3, then move to f/t the term after they're 4).

Thing is, by the time you get her into the nearer school, it might be xmas and she'd be full-time anyway.

Thats normal is it not? Same as if reception was 2.5hour nursery session - morning only.

What on earth do you expect the headmistress to do? She's not going to assign a teacher just to look after your dd because it's inconvenient for you to come up to school three times a day?!
Your dd will be full time soon but after that you will have different after school clubs etc to contend with. If you can't cope with the travel then you need to move schools asap and fgs stop blaming the world headteacher for not revolving around you.

I can't quite understand how one extra 10 mile round journey a day amounts to "utter hell".

There is clearly a lot more to your feeling about this school than just this.

With three children and no car one of our chief concerns when choosing schools has been the practicality of the journey either on foot or public transport. A journey that needs to be made twice a day REALLY needs to be practical for the sake of the entire family's sanity!

Can you not do something other than go home in the morning? Pick up some groceries then go to a toddler group or something? At leat a couple of days a week.

I think people who live in rural and more suburban areas cannot imagine the hell of a 5 mile school run.
Last monday, it took me 50 minutes to move 3 miles to my DD's school, and another 20 minutes to go a further mile to work afterwards.

I cannot understand this half days in reception thingy. Fair enough in nursery but reception, why????

I personally would never have chosen a school in the first place with such an inflexible policy.

What are working parents supposed to do, sned their child back to nursery for the other half day?

Well either the school is good enough to suck it up for the next few weeks until DD2 can stay all day or it isn't worth it. In which case move.

Must admit CaptainNancy I did think at first that 5 miles isn't too bad. DD is at a school 3 miles away and it takes 5 minutes, maybe 6 to get there. Hadn't thought about the hell of urban traffic jams.

Its what happens here. The primary ones (similar to reception) either go to after school club or childminder if parents work.