A Reasonable Request?

[Ice Queen Elsa]

I'm hoping for some advice about the school run. I know this can be a volatile subject for some and I admit I've preached in the past about "walking to school" however life often throws in a few curve balls and they're not always easy to dodge.

Basically we periodically have to collect our grandchildren from school. It's few and far between as my husband is quite ill. He's awaiting plasmapheresis at the moment (if anyone has had this I'd be interested to hear from you) and if the plasmapheresis doesn't work the only alternative is a stem cell transplant.

I no longer drive, I have cataracts, glaucoma and double vision and problems with walking.

My husband's problems are much worse. He can drive but he cannot walk any distance.

It's only when it's absolutely necessary that we collect the grandchildren from school. As in our daughter is either at the hospital or an in patient in hospital. She always attempts to get appointments within the school day but sometimes when you've to travel to hospitals out of the local area, it can be a little awkward ensuring you're home in time from the appointment to collect the children from school.

Our grandchildren are now at different schools. One is fortunate that they can walk up to the car and get in the car without our help. We park a few streets away from the school so as to avoid the congestion.

Our second grandchild however is only just 5 years old so this is not so simple.

In the past we have driven to the school and parked in the Disabled Bay (when you can actually get in the Disabled bay as this has often been used by non Disabled teaching staff or relatives of school staff) however, school staff are not happy with us using the Disabled parking bay to collect our grandchild as they say children often walk through the car park. There is a pavement for the children to walk on but some of the parents walk on the road. Therefore school do not want us using the car park, at the beginning or the end of the day which makes it virtually impossible for either dropping our grandchild at school or collecting them, in view of their age.

The distance to walk should we park away from the school is virtually impossible and would be hazardous due to the risk of falls.

Would you consider it a reasonable request to ask if we can collect our grandchild 10 minutes early at the end of the day (should we have to collect her from school?). Could we ask to access the car park prior to children walking through it? It's not a regular occurrence so wouldn't mean her missing much school. I know it may be a slight inconvenience at the end of the day but would you consider this the safest and most convenient option?

School have not been very supportive in the past. I'd even go as far as to say, they have, at times, been obstructive. If they do not want us to use the car park, would it be a reasonable request to ask that she comes out of school a few minutes early to enable her safe collection and be of no risk to other children if we are using the car park prior to home time?

Any thoughts or suggestions of a suitable compromise would be welcome.

Thank you

[BevS97]

Speak to school and ask them what they suggest.

We walk some children out to meet a parent offsite.
We have also had a parent who drove into the staff carpark.

Neither are ideal but sometimes there isn’t an ideal solution so you have to find the best compromise.

Would they be willing to keep her for 10 minutes and you could collect after the other children have gone?

[Blue nose]

In my experience school stop car park access for safety of the children and other pedestrians. With 100 or more exiting it's easier to stop the traffic than try and control the kids.

The school may be more likely to hold the child back for 10 mins rather than disrupt the class by someone leaving early. Probably best to have a chat and see what they can do. Do they offer an after school club that would give you/DD more time?

An alternative could be a childminder for the days your DD cannot make it. I know you want to help but getting someone else to collect may be easier.

[Bootrip2]

Do you have a blue badge to use?

[sully301]

I would ask the school for ideas of how they can support you. They should have some sort of policy on this. We need to make things accessible for everyone as far as possible. Please don't feel that you have to justify why you need to use a car to pick kids up

[Dayle]

Sure in our school you would be able to pick child up 10 minutes early on the odd occasion although you would have to come into reception for that but it would be frowned upon if it became too regular.
Does the school have an after school club your grandchild could attend on those days and you could pick them up from there a little later, likely to be less busy.

[jndt]

Our school shuts the car park gates about 20 minutes before the children finish and doesn't open it until all the children have left (which can take 20 mins).

I think it would be easier for your daughter to ask another parent to walk your grandchild to your car.

[Floridatilly]

I am in a similar position (although completely different circumstances). We have two schools next to one another so drop off and collection times are completely manic regarding parking. This is all new to me because I have always walked the school run but thats out of the question at the moment. I do have a blue badge but every single space is taken up, disabled spots, one yellow line spots, illegal parking, it’s absolutely madness. The school gates to the car park are closed because its a drop off and collation point. I have turned up 30 minutes early and still no joy. The only option is to park streets away which is completely problematic.
I spoke to school to request if I can drop my son off 15 mins late. They need to have a meeting to discuss and decide on this 🤨
But I am not sure about home time because its still madness 30 minutes before collection time so I might have to turn up an hour beforehand and and wait.

[Floridatilly]

Originally Posted by Blue nose

In my experience school stop car park access for safety of the children and other pedestrians. With 100 or more exiting it's easier to stop the traffic than try and control the kids.

The school may be more likely to hold the child back for 10 mins rather than disrupt the class by someone leaving early. Probably best to have a chat and see what they can do. Do they offer an after school club that would give you/DD more time?

An alternative could be a childminder for the days your DD cannot make it. I know you want to help but getting someone else to collect may be easier.

See more...

This is spot on with our school 👍🏻
Its a very large school and the car park is closed for an hour, 30 minutes before drop off/collection and 30 minutes afterwards as its used for predestinations if that makes sense.

[loola30]

Could a friend of your daughter's not walk your grandchild up to you in the car perhaps?