Getting Fined by a School for Missing Kids Pick up Time
Ask a Question
A school is fining £6 for late pick ups
Do you think it’s an acceptable form of punishment?
Hi no i dont as sonetimes things happen cars break down accidents etc as long as the school is informed and its not too much of a regular occurrence i cant see that a fine is fine
I am absolutely against this. As I have said loads of times (so please forgive the repetition) I take children to and from parental contact and our drivers are under immense pressure to get children to and from contacts on time.
This is just one example: we have to collect a preschool child well over half an hour drive away, bring her back and collect her brother from school at 3pm and then drop them at contact. We then do the hour return trip to take them home after. We have lots of other work during the day and although we leave in time to do this job we can never factor in the time wasted at road works (springing up everywhere) and the odd hold up for an rta or other delaying problems. We are probably between 10 and 15 minutes late 25% of the time and you only need one job to be delayed to have a knock on effect on the rest.
School staff do not all put their coats on and leave when the bell goes so it is not out of order to ask if the child can sit in the office with a book for a few minutes.
However, I expect there are many parents who are regularly late for no good reason.
I believe that was why the school chose to do this, but with a school of hundreds of kids, it’s unlikely every kid would be picked up on time. Usually the parents get friendly with each other and make arrangements to help each other out to make sure the kids aren’t left hanging, but I understand that society isn’t quite like that these days
I am totally against children being left at a school in the care of the staff, on a regular basis, by their parents but what about the parent who is overdue because their boss has given them something else to clear before finishing? Circumstances change within a few hours and as long as the parent has kept the school informed of a problem I don't think their wage should be taken away with a fine. Any head worth their salary would schedule a meeting with a serial offender - there are many after-school clubs as well as early breakfast clubs so there are alternatives for hard pushed parents. I just don't think a blanket fine would be fair.
Lol funnily enough, I don’t think I've ever experienced that myself - I know all the teachers in my schools start at least an hour before school officially opens, perhaps is something they’re supposed to do to ensure classes are not disrupted. I have heard that in other professions, particularly in retail, staff will get penalised for lateness
Yes I do. They are your children you make sure you pick them up on time. You allow time to get stuck in traffic and set of early why should someone else be made to stay at work later to look after your child? plus when you are late this can leave a child with anxiety and make them nervous thinking someone isn’t picking them up, thinking something has happened to you. I’m sure £6 to make sure your child is safe and looked after after school finishes isn’t a lot, they could leave your child on the street till you get there if you was late, surely that would be worse?
If you don't pick them up you get fined, if you don't take them in you get fined surely if you make a call to them saying you are running 5 minutes late as there is such a lot going on nowadays buses trains always late (I was stuck in a lift once) you can never tell what's going to happen, there was a stabbing in our little town centre and we had to wait in the shops till police had caught and arrested them, so it's no good people saying pick them up on time. Unless 1 of the parents stay home every day, just incase my kids are all in there 20s but have 5 grandkids
This is shocking. You cant help being late if your car breaks down or you end up in hospital.
That sounds really harsh but, if you have a teacher waiting for an hour or so, then that's a lot more to pay them that £6. Obviously there are accidents where you can't get there, but, not just because you are too lazy to get a move on, perhaps it should be on an individual basis?
Yeah I would even pay it because you make time they your responsibility but I don't think they should fine if under 5 mins late most parents get older kids from junior department before collecting others and they seam to open doors at exactly same time
I wonder as to whether or not those that agree with this, have ever been late for anything in their entire lives due to circumstances beyond their control?
RegularComper90 I dont think this is what it is meant for if so then absolutely I disagree, We all have lives and with all the best planning etc things happen which mean that occasionally we may be late in this instance a fine is ridiculous. However I think it is totally acceptable like stated if you are a serial cuprit without any arrangement with the school- such as with Lynibis where its a tough ask to always be on time because of the commuting/collection that comes with a job. By repeat action you are showing a lack of respect for the educator and your child. Im sure if you had a teacher who was routinely cutting a lesson short by an hour every day parents would be rioting and the teacher would lose their job- rightly so. Parents need to accept responsibility and lead by example.
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter