Leaving daughter on school grounds in the morning?

[MomofAM]

Hi guys! Badly need some advice as I didn’t go to school in the UK, I grew up in America and didn’t have any issues like this because of school buses.

I have a son in reception - their class doors open at 8:40am.
I have a daughter in Year 1, their class doors open at 8:45am.

I need to be at work by 9am latest. If I leave at 8:40am, I could make it. However, if I leave at 8:45am, I won’t. I’ve said to my daughter that she can play on the school playground for like 4-5 minutes (8:40-8:45) and then when her year group goes in, she can follow. She is a very mature 6 year old and I know she would be absolutely fine.

Just wondering if this okay to do? I’m really nervous about it for some reason. Also concerned that if I ask the school about it and they say no then I’ll be stuck - I’ll probably have to quit my job then.

Its not about wanting to take responsibility, it’s about insurance.

Can you ask around to see if anyone knows a local childminder who can do the school drop offs for you if you deliver your DC to them? That then leaves you free to get to work. When my DC were at primary, there was a local childminder who would walk in with a small crowd of kids she did this for, and often would collect them after school too.

No, this would not be ok. Use breakfast club or a childminder.

In a similar situation, I paid a childminder who was doing the school drop off anyway to meet my children at the school and wait with them.

I'm afraid this is one of those things where the British schools are ridiculous.

In this age many children around the world walk themselves to school, you are accompanying her up to the school premises, but they still might drag their heels even when they probably don't have a legal framework to do that.

I'd start by getting her line up with her classmates and go in, and mentioning it to her teacher and asking them to let you know if there are any issues.

I'd hope it would placate them that the child is not walking on their own, and make you look cooperative.

The school isn't responsible for the child until they go in, when would the insurance apply?

I would take a bike (or a fold up scooter) so you can get back more quickly to start work.

Pretty sure you can't do that. No matter how sensible, she's still 6. What if she decides to wonder off during that 5 minutes? There's no one directly responsible for her at that time.

If you ask very nicely, the other class may allow her in, then send her along the corridor 5 minutes later, or another mum could keep an eye. If not it will have to be breakfast club, which is annoying for the sake of 5 minutes, bit it is what it is.

You absolutely CANNOT leave your 6 year old unattended on school property.
She would not be in schools care and who would be liable if anything happened to her? What if she fell or tripped or was taken ill??
You need a different idea.

Is anything stopping you booking a breakfast club?

Iwould ask another parent if they can keep an eye, or use a breakfast club for both of them to save you the stress or ask work for flexible working- what job do you do!

Our school parents weren’t allowed through the gate. From reception you left them at the gate

Our school wouldn’t allow an unsupervised child in the playground before their classroom door opens. However, unofficially they would allow the child to start five mins early to support a parent.

I’d try getting another parent to help out first but if not, speak to school. Otherwise it will have to be breakfast club.

But presumably not before the school gate opens and not before an adult was there to take them into school.

'Ridiculous' is a very subjective term. Personally I find it ridiculous that anyone would be happy for their 5/6 year old to get themselves to school unaccompanied anywhere in the world.

If it's overprotective to not want to risk children being abducted, run over, or goodness only knows what, then I'm proud of English schools for being overprotective. There's nothing ridiculous about keeping children safe and, in my opinion, 5/6 year olds are far too young to be unaccompanied in the playground before school (before teachers are on duty), let alone roaming the streets unaccompanied.

But they're not unsupervised, there are TAs in the playground 15/20mins before the bell. Not many parents would leave a 5/6 yr old before the bell, but plenty do for 7+.

That will vary from school to school. Not all operate in the same way.

Our staff only go out when the drop off window is open. So we are all out for 8.40 which is the earliest drop off and then whistle and in at 8.50 - no parents come onto the playground though. If a child was dropped off before then they would be unsupervised.

I would try and see if another parent will watch her for 5 mins.
just ask the person you know best, or even on WhatsApp if you know no-one.
If there’s really no-one, put an air-tag in your daughter’s bag, tell her to line up in the playground and that she must go in with the others. You can then check the location of the air-tag later to give you piece of mind she’s gone in.
Most children should be able to manage this - I played out and walked home with a friend from school aged 7, and it wasn’t unusual.

One of the reasons I left primary teaching is that it meant I could do zero school runs. I tutor now so at least I can do drop-offs.

I know how tempting it is as I’ve been in your position. They go off and play with their friends and then walk into school when doors open. How do you know she wouldn’t just walk out the playground to find you? No one would stop her necessarily unless the entrance is supervised. Can you not ask another mum to make sure she goes in?

That may be your own personal experience at your own child's school, but many schools do not have anyone on duty outside before school. Most schools can't afford to pay their TAs to start before the doors open.

Your point about children 7+ is irrelevant, as my comments were made in relation to someone else claiming it's normal for 5/6 year olds to be left unattended.

Not unless you have another parent supervising. You can’t leave a year 1 kid before they go into school.

Is there no breakfast club?

Not at my GC school.
No one can get into school until the gates open parents wait outside the school with them. As soon as the gates open the children go into the school. If a child was left unattended they would have to wait unsupervised outside the school gate.

Can you not transfer them to your school?