Share
2nd February 2024
11:46am GMT
Being a parent is a constant balancing act. You're always running here, there, and everywhere, and there are never enough hours in the day.
We all try our best, but sometimes we make mistakes, sometimes we miss appointments or run late for school collection.
Being late for pick-up can be stressful for both the parent and their child, but we never mean to be. Sometimes life just gets in the way or the car stops working or the traffic decides to be particularly slow.
We can't help it because that's life, things go wrong, and we make mistakes.
However, one school in England isn't being as lenient as we are when it comes to being late for school collection.
St Peter’s Church of England Primary School is considering introducing a fee that parents will have to pay if they're late to collect their children.
It seems a little extreme, right?
No parent is perfect and being late for school pick-up is something we have all done before. We may be parents, but we're also human.
The Kent school issued a statement following a rise in parents showing up late.
"An increasing number of children are being collected late at the end of the day, without the office being informed or any apology to staff,” the school’s headteacher, Toni Browne, wrote in a letter to parents.
"Staff have work to complete once children have been dismissed.
"Arriving late to collect your child prevents staff from being able to get on with their work.
"From Term 2, children who are collected late from school on more than one occasion will be put into after school club – and a fee of £6.00 will apply."
What do you think of the school's proposal? We find it a little bit harsh but understand that teachers are under so much pressure already. Having to stay behind already makes their job even more difficult, but surely fining parents isn't the right move?
How would you feel if your child's school introduced something like this?
Explore more on these topics:
