DC at different primary schools - can it be done?

[thedollyridesout]

Has anyone managed to do this successfully?

The schools are 20 minutes apart and the morning start times are 8.30am and 8.50am. So, that bit is OK.

The finishing times are 3.30pm and 3.20pm. Not so good.

Am I mad to even consider this?

The 8.50-3.20 school is for DS1 (YR 3)
The 8.30-3.30 school is for DS2 (pre prep Rec)

It gets tricky if you are held up for some reason. Pity the finishing times aren't the other way around!

I had to have my DSs at 2 different schools due to a house move. Luckily it lasted only half a term (which we didn't know at the time). DS1 was in Y5 and had to walk down to the house alone with a key and a mobile 'just in case'! IF he was super quick out of school, AT 3pm we could run to the car and get to the other school JUST in time for the 3.20 pick up of DS2, Y3!

At least you only had to do it for half a term. This would be for 2 years.

It would mean the little one would be waiting but in reality the whole pick up thing at the pre prep goes on for about 15 minutes. There are lots of parking spaces etc so people tend to hang around.

Anyone else?

I have a variation on the problem DS2 gets dropped home at anytime between 3.30 and 4.15.
It was fine when DD finished at 3.00 but in year one is went to 3.30.
I initially tried to make it but the stress nearly killed me. In the end I made other arrangements.
Fortunately at her school she has gym twice a week until 6.00 and the other times there is a late room I can send her to. I just have to suck up the cost but I prefer that to the stress

Do you know any mums that could help if you are held up - does your school not have any cover for 10 mins or so

I am thinking ahead pagwatch. DS2 will start nursery this Sept. and just do a few mornings so that will be OK. It will be the following year that it will all kick in. I may well know some more mums by then that could help with DS1.

I think the pre prep would have cover for 10 mins but it would need to be formalised in the sense that it would be an every day thing. Do you think it would make the process of settling in harder for the little one if I'm 'late' to pick him up every day?

I did it for 2 years. The first year I put both DC's into after shcool club...DS1 2 days, DS2 3 days. The following year DS1 was old enough to wait by the school gate for me, or walk home by himself.

I hadn't thought of splitting the after school clubs Lynette - thanks for that.

How old is old enough to wait by the school gate? I've also got a DD who will be in YR6. I'm hoping she can just kill a bit of time at the end of the school day playing her instruments or reading in the library. Do schools allow this?

Does anyone else do this and have the school (one or other or even both) on side?

Although my DS's are at the same primary, they go in at the same time, it's a huge school (18 classrooms) and my DS's classrooms are at the two furthest points from each other, so I have no choice but to deposit DS1 (7yo, Y3) outside his classroom in the morning and take DS2(6yo, Y1) round to his classroom or one of them would always be late in. Don't like doing it as DS1's classroom door is at the front of the school, right by the gate and the road, but he seems to be managing fine, and now he's a term into it, he waits outside his classroom for me to get back round to him in the afternoon (which if DS2 has had PE, and is 10 minutes late out when he does), which can be between 10-15 minutes with how slow DS2 is at the end of the day, and he's fine with it, he says it makes him feel trusted and quite grown up.

And when DS2 was at pre-school, the pre-school was a 25 minute journey from the primary school. There was only a 15 minute difference in the finishing times....So I was perpetually 10 minutes late...(at least, if DD and DS1 were both let out on time), was sometimes up to 15 minutes. It was a bit hairy to start with, but in the end, it was agreed with the pre-school that I was GOING to be late, and with the school that on DS2's pre-school days, they HAD to let DD & DS1 out on time. It was stressful, but was only for 2 years, and tbh...it's a distant memory now they're all at school!

Thanks for that Loudlass. So it can be done. Nearer the time I think I will have a chat with both schools to see if we can make it as stress free as possible for all concerned - especially me .