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

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

Primary education

Will I be in trouble for sending my child into school late?

39 replies

wools · 10/10/2009 07:22

DS1(Yr 2)has just started a new school last week. DS2(Reception) is in a school 7 miles away from his brother. Most of the time DH and I are able to drop and pick up both boys on time by doing one school run each. Next week, however, DH won't be able to help with the drop offs on two occasions so I have two school runs to do at exactly the same time. Clearly I can't be in two places at once so was hoping to drop DS2 first and then DS1 - he could be late by 30 minutes. My main worry is this may happen again from time to time as DH cannot always be around to help. We have recently moved to the area and I don't know anybody well enough to ask to help. My question is could I get into trouble for this?

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MrsMagnolia · 11/10/2009 19:33

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cat64 · 10/10/2009 21:59

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jemart · 10/10/2009 16:11

Could one of them move schools so they can be dropped off together?

Feenie · 10/10/2009 16:02

That's quite unusual though, peanutbutterkid - teachers are working at that time, and are not childminders!

katiestar · 10/10/2009 15:55

Explain the problem to the school and they'll probably keep the register open for him.

peanutbutterkid · 10/10/2009 15:08

Apologies if this is already said: in the past, before our school had a breakfast club, some of the children were dropped off a half hour early for this very kind of reason; they hung out in the classroom with their usual teacher who was already on site and preparing. The school was accommodating, is what I mean.

wools · 10/10/2009 14:38

Thanks to you all for your input - will let you know how I get on.

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Bumblingbovine · 10/10/2009 13:57

Book the breakfast club anyway and pay for it for a term. Then you can use it when you need it. Then use the time to get to know other parents and see if you can set up a reciprocal arrangement. By then you might have a place for ds2 anyway.

juuule · 10/10/2009 13:48

Wools, I wouldn't worry too much. Explain the situation to the schools and maybe ask what they would suggest. It's not going to be all the time and you are doing your best. I would hope that the schools could be accommodating of this temporary problem.

Good idea to get to know some of the parents in the playground whose children are in your child's class. Someone will probably be willing to stand with your son and see him in okay if you need to dash off.

Hopefully another place will come up soon.

franklymydear · 10/10/2009 13:40

speak to the office / head at the school. don't just do it

StealthPolarBear · 10/10/2009 13:40

Can you not send him to the breakfast club anyway? That way only one of you needs to be doing the drop off at all times, which is surely less stressful?

roisin · 10/10/2009 13:31

Summersoon - why wouldn't you send a child in a taxi? ds2 had piano lessons in the next town, and from time to time (from age 6 or 7) when I had lots of things to juggle, I would order a taxi and send him in that. It really wasn't a problem. I paid before he set off, and asked the taxi driver to ensure he was getting out safely from the best side of the car.

primarymum · 10/10/2009 13:00

We have 4 year olds that come to school on their own in taxis, they are however arranged via the LEA rather than privately.

MollieO · 10/10/2009 12:57

7 miles can easily take half an hour where we live. At ds's school you can drop off and leave from 8.30am even though school start time is 8.50am. You could check to see if your ds1's school does something similar. Means you might still be late but not 30 mins late. We only get marked absent if dcs miss registration bell at 9am.

littlerach · 10/10/2009 12:40

Dd1 had a friend that this happened to.

Her siblings were at a school the other side of town, then they moved over this side and the older sibligs couldn't move ot our school as there was no room.

The mum had an agreement that her daughter could be picked up 10 mins early each day, and she was usually a few minutes late to arrive.

In the end, they moved the girl to the other school, as it got a bit much.

purepurple · 10/10/2009 12:32

Summerson, lots of children go to school by taxi, by themselves.
There are taxi companies that have contracts with the LEA and their drivers have CRB checks.

Summersoon · 10/10/2009 12:06

No way would I send I primary age school child in a taxi by himself - and I sort of doubt that a reputable cab company would agree to accept him. The only way I can see for you to do this (short of cajoling the breakfast club) is to get a taxi (I assume you don't have a car yourself, otherwise 7 miles would not take 1/2 hour), get the first child to whichever of the two schools opens first, keep the cab waiting while you drop of DC1 and then go on to 2nd school.

The other thing is: are you sure you can't ask another parent to help? If you DS1 has made any new friends could you not ask whether you can drop him off there 15 minutes or so early? I know that I really wouldn't mind at all especially if this was only on a very occasional basis. Of course, you would immediately offer to return the favour.

wools · 10/10/2009 11:59

Gerontius - ds1 and ds 2 start school within 5 minutes of each other. The reason it can take up to half an hour to drive 7 miles is the traffic at that time of day.

Cat64 - I do agree it is unsettling and of course I have to try and find a solution.

The mildmanneredjanitor - that is very interesting - only 5 minutes late on one occasion .

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themildmanneredjanitor · 10/10/2009 11:25

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gerontius · 10/10/2009 11:21

If the teacher appears at 8.50 surely you could drop DS2 then and then go to DS1's school? Even if you didn't do that why does it take you half an hour to go 7 miles to DS1's school?

cat64 · 10/10/2009 11:14

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wools · 10/10/2009 10:57

Thanks Pfft and Clarabel. My youngest isn't 5 yet - just not keen to get on the wrong side of either school. I will call the Breakfast club again to see if they can be more accomodating. I really do hope a place comes up at DS1's school soon. Thanks for your advice.

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Clarabel22 · 10/10/2009 10:50

I agree with the above suggestion -surely it makes sense to drop your youngest off first, as your loyalty is going to be with the nearer school soon. Also, if your youngest is not yet 5 and therefore doesn't legally have to be at school yet, you won't be breaking the law by turning up late, just irritating the school.

I'd be surprised if Breakfast club weren't prepared to accommodate your needs on a PAYG basis.

Good luck with getting a place soon.

wools · 10/10/2009 10:02

I agree Roisin - it is unacceptable. Of course I will try and get to know other parents who may be able to help. I only recently find myself in this position hence my dilemma. Thank you for your suggestions - I hadn't thought of a taxi firm.

Purepurple - the teacher appears at 8.50. Until then the parents supervise their children. Thanks for your help.

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PfftTheMagicDragon · 10/10/2009 09:57

If you have no choice but to drop one late then IMO it makes sense to dropt he reception child late and get your Y2 child in on time.

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