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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

opinions needed about morning lateness...

61 replies

globalmouse · 16/05/2011 10:39

ds is starting school in september, and it's all a bit of a nightmare as far as childcare is concerned. He goes to a childminder already when I work, but she has other school drop-offs to do, and so he would be late on the 2 mornings she childminds him. Only by about 10-15 mins, but still late.
I am looking into a new childminder, but there aren't any with vacancies around here! I don't know any other mums he could go with, and to be fair, I can't expect another mum to have him from 7.30 2 days a week anyway.
They don't run a breakfast club.
So he will get a late 2 days a week. Do you think this matters??

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SarkyLady · 16/05/2011 10:41

Speak to the school.

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 16/05/2011 10:43

Being 10 -15 minutes late is unacceptable in my opinion and you should look at other alternatives for those days. Also, it will not be acceptable to the school to have a pupil arriving late constantly. You as a parent have a duty to get your child to school at the correct time. Being late on a regular basis means your child is absent for regsitration plus may miss instructions for activities etc. This is also disruptive for the other children in the class. The lateness may get you referred to education/child welfare.

Is it possible for you/OH to go to work later than normal on the two days? Are there no breakfast clubs in your area which transport children to their school?

IntotheNittyGritty · 16/05/2011 10:44

Yes it will matter, so you need to discuss it with the school and have an agreed arrangement so that it doesnt become an issue.
So much information is given to the children in the first 15 minutes, so you need the teacher to be on board with your situation so that the transition is smooth and doesnt cause hassle.

I cant really offer any advise, and hope you get something sorted, but if you at least talk to the school they might put your mind at rest or offer another solution?

Original poster

globalmouse · 16/05/2011 10:52

I don't have an OH, and my family leave miles away, so they can't take him in in the morning.
There isn't a breakfast club, or any club that 'delivers' the child to the school.
I have to be at work by 8, there is no flexibility about it, there is no way I can drop him off myself.
I am looking into other childminders, but there just aren't any about!!
Just spoke to the school and they weren't helpful or sympathetic :(
I just don't know what I can do about it!

OP posts:

IndigoBell · 16/05/2011 11:01

Once you start school you will meet other parents.

Then you will have to ask one of them to drop your kid off. Maybe the childminder could drop your child off at another parent.....

Most people don't mind walking another child up to school when they're already taking their own....

You may also learn about other childminders when you are at school and part of the community.....

Also once you start being regularly late you might find school become more helpful with putting you in touch with other parents or child minders who might be able to help......

It is a total nightmare. But you will resolve it. Maybe not for the first day - but before it becomes a real issue :)

SarkyLady · 16/05/2011 11:14

Agree with Indigo that many CMs only recruit through word of mouth. You need to get into the CM network through other parents to know who else does drop offs at your school.

(FWIW We've had 3 CMs and none of them had advertised places - we found them all through other parents.)

coccyx · 16/05/2011 11:38

not surprised school were unsympathetic. coming in15 mins late would be disruptive!

mnistooaddictive · 16/05/2011 11:49

I would put an advert in the school newsletter now asking for childminders. You may get a response!

sunnyday123 · 16/05/2011 12:08

sounds a nightmare!

No other parents going to the same school that you know if its local that you can share school runs with?

have you been to any pre-reception visits to meet other parents? - although i warn many may be hesitant to commit to a child they don't know. It sounds harsh but most people i know who do this only really help out their best friends as it can cause issues over behaviour, or if one is suddenly off sick - all sort of things prop up and personally i wouldn't do it.

You can't have the child go in late, thats very unacceptable and i doubt any school would agree to an arrangement as it could be abused by parents wanting to save on childminder fees in the future..

Your employer is required by law to request flexible working hours - what basis have they refused as there are only about 8 criteria on which they can refuse?

Do you have other school options? I know it sounds OTT but i would expect to look into the care before applying to a particular school. Any vacancies in suitable schools you could use? I would certainly consider other schools if possible if you cant sort by september - i wouldnt rely on sorting it after school starts incase you can't, plus its a bit of a grey area leaving your kid with other parents you've only just met.

Original poster

globalmouse · 16/05/2011 12:22

I know, it's a complete nightmare.
No way I can be flexible about starting later than 9. The nature of my profession means I have to be there by 8.30 at the very latest.
All other schools in the area are over subscribed. I tried to get him into the same school as my childminder's other children, but I live too far away.

OP posts:

sunnyday123 · 16/05/2011 12:28

will the school not consider a breakfast club? I can't really suggest anything tbh as its such a difficult situation. I suppose the only option is finding a childminder then.

One thing you could do which is drastic is see if you have any neighbours who dont work who you could pay! Mad idea i know but i have a few old ladies near me who love walking and if the schools not too far may appreciate the extra cash! :) May work if you know them well enough.

upahill · 16/05/2011 12:30

I don't know if things have changed but I found my childminder (years ago!) through Social Services.

I rang up the main Council desk who asked what department I wanted. When I said i was looking for the department that held the list of names of people who were registered as childminders they put me through. That department then emailed names and address of childminders in my area.
The list also said how many children they could look after, whether they took them to school, nursery, whether they could have children before and after school only and so on.

Maybe worth a call.

mossi · 16/05/2011 13:55

There's a dc at the school my dc goes to who is 15 minutes late every day. I don't think it causes a problem in reception but I'm sure it would by year 1. I guess it just depends on the structure of the day. It would be a shame to miss the carpet time at the beginning of the day where the teacher welcomes everyone, asks them for their news and lets them know what's happening today.

mossi · 16/05/2011 13:56

I would also add that some of the other mums are extremely judgmental about it.

coccyx · 16/05/2011 15:36

You may find a childminder who can help out once you get to know a few mums there. Do they have a school notice board/ newsletter

hocuspontas · 16/05/2011 15:41

Did you ask the school if they hold a list of childminders who drop off at the school? There may be some that you aren't aware of.

ragged · 16/05/2011 18:40

Are you a single parent? Does your other half have such strict hours? You could employ a nanny or a sensible teen to babysit for you in the missing hour (someone who already works in a nursery would be ideal). You'd have to advertise at Job centre, and could directly contact local nurseries/preschools to find somebody.

Sorry but at the poster who implied you'll find a helpful fellow parent to regularly drop off for you. Yeah right.

Goblinchild · 16/05/2011 18:48

It's a horrible situation to be in and I hope you find an answer.
However, I have to disagree with mossi about it not being an issue in reception. Our EY classes do their phonics input fort e first 15 minutes of each day, and missing that twice a week would cause serious problems.

geraldinetheluckygoat · 16/05/2011 19:01

Would it be legal to advertise for a nursery nurse student to do the school run two mornings a week? I know a babysitter who would probably have done this for the extra cash when she was training (shes a nanny now, but runs ababy sitting service too)...

geraldinetheluckygoat · 16/05/2011 19:01

or mothers help?

diabolo · 16/05/2011 19:53

It will matter to the school whatever your circumstances. You have a legal responsibility to ensure your child attends school, on time, every day.

sunnyday123 · 16/05/2011 20:20

i've just though you could ask at private nurseries about paying someone of the record so to speak. Lots of the nursery staff at my DC nursery will babysit (£10 an hour) out of nursery hours to top up their wage. You coudl somehow ask around staff who work at these places as i think most would be glad of it. Near me nursery staff stagger their start times so the nursery has 7-6 coverage so that may work?

missmapp · 16/05/2011 20:24

Does the school have a FLO ( family Liason Officer? This is a great person to talk to about problems like this, if not contact the council children services as they should be able to provide a list of childminders in your area. I had a similar problem when ds1 started school, but after many months searching finally found a childminder( another childminder I phoned gave me her number) and she has been fantastic.

Good luck, it is a stressful search!!

create · 16/05/2011 20:49

The school will know of children who are dropped off/ collected by a childminder. Could they put you in touch? Once you find one CM who is doing drop-offs at that school, she will know of others as they often seem to know each other.

Is there a retired neighbour who might have him for breakfast and take him to school? Could be a great way to get you some support locally generally and they might enjoy it too.

It really will matter if he's late 2 days a week. It will matter to the school, to other children in the class and most of all to your DS. He will miss the settling time, often the key sessions of the day (e.g. phonics) and be embarassed and (mildly) told off each time. They also get stickers etc for good attendcance and promptness (to try and avoid this kind of thing) which he'll miss out on. In reception stickers matter

Also, a huge bugbear of teacher is that childcare is the parent's problem, not theirs so, unfortunately, whatever your circumstances they will very much see it as your responsibility to get him to school on time and will judge if you don't.

DrNortherner · 16/05/2011 20:52

Sorry, but if OP has no partner and school does not operate a breakfast club then what can she do?!

I would simply TELL them that ds will be late 2 mornings a week, untill you operate a breakfast club to support working parents. Tough titties if they don't like it. What are they going to do, arrest you?!

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