Safety at the school gate when collection arrangements change

[Richard1971]

There is a web application that allows parents to upload pictures and descriptions of people authorised (and those that are not) for the school to be extra sure who can collect which child and on which days.
This application also allows adhoc/last minute changes to be made securely by parents, and gives schools confirmation of the new collection arrangements.
Its a small charge for this service by the school and free for the parents.
I think this is a good idea. Do you agree. Interested in what parents think

This would be completely unworkable in s real life school. Ae you expecting the teacher to check their list and identify each adult that is taking each individual child away?

I can see the benefits for select children where there are child protection issues because the teacher can easily hold back one child until the designated adult can collect but, IMO, that designated adult needs to be consistent.

I simply can't imagine the teacher standing at the end of the day with her -imaginary-- wireless tablet checking Approved adults off on a list.

Maybe we could tag the children, and scan them as they go through the gate, generating an automatic photo of the person allowed to pick them up.

What I am getting at, OP, is that even if something is technically doable, it has no chance of being put into practice if it is not financially and practically viable.

better to tattoo them with a barcode. Tags are so easy lost.

Surely it would solve all the problems if we tattooed them with photos of authorised collectors?
It's doable, might be a bit costly though.

just don't fall out with the authorised collectors

If you want to use MN to research your business idea perhaps you should be honest about it! I've done a a search and this appears to be your first post. I think it's a pretty crap idea tbh - successful apps simplify rather then complicate and technology isn't always the answer.

"I should add if in doubt schools don't release children until they contact the parent"

I second that. I once was picking up my DCs from school, a friend texted me while I was on the playground saying "stuck in traffic can you pick up DS for me" she did not tell the school though and when I asked for her son they refused to give him to me (which I understood totally) before having called her to check even though II have several children in that amounting to years of the school knowing me. I think teachers are not complete idiots and would not just hand a child to anyone without checking with whover has parental autority on them first. I Have seen that scenario in movies but TBH I never heard of anything like that in RL.

Richard - perhaps you could post a link to this web app, that might help people understand a bit more about what it does/how it works. I'm pretty sure that any company savvy enough to already have a web app in production would have a webpage about it as well...

I missed picking my kids up from school twice.

First time I phoned my backup buddy but she was six cars ahead in the same trafficjam as I was
so we called the school and the kids waited

second time I called school and told DS to wait with a book

updating a website from the fast lane of the motorway is never a good idea IMHO

My daughter is in P7 now. The 2 occasions I've been running late, once I called the school, the 2nd time I called my childminder who was at school to collect other children. P1-5 have the teachers come to the door and ensure each child goes to a parent and if any parents are still waiting and check the toilets. By P6/7 (age 10-12) the children are deemed responsible enough to get themselves sorted and picked up or walk home.

In nursery (age 3-5) we normally have parents tell us who will be collecting, it's written in the going home book and we ask the collector who they are there for. It's never gone wrong in 14 years!