Mum slams ‘free for all’ school run
PARENTS ARE GATHERING OUTSIDE GATES
A HULL mum says she does not feel safe dropping her children off as the school run has turned into a “free for all” with other parents at the gates.
The mum, who does not wish to be named, described the lack of social distancing among parents and pupils outside Chiltern Primary School in west Hull, as “a joke.”
She says the parents have no option but for the entire school to all arrive at once, because there are no staggered start and finish times.
The mum says she’s now caught in a catch 22 situation because she has no choice but to do the “unsafe” school run, because if she kept her children at home she would be fined.
The school, which has asked parents to wear masks on the school run since reopening fully in September says it initially introduced staggered start times, but having different times for different year groups did not work for parents with more than one child.
The school says it operates a “soft opening” plan, which gives parents a 15 minute window from 8.40am to drop their children off, with a one-way system around the grounds, and has urged parents to use the full window available to them, instead of all turning up at 8.40am.
The mum says the system does not work, and says the situation at arrival and pick up is “a joke”, every day.
She has spoken out after a third coronavirus case was reported at the school since September.
She said: “No staggered start times and all you get is a text from the school reminding you to wear a mask, it’s a joke.
“No wonder the virus is spreading like wildfire in Hull. The school is not being Covid secure and since September has had Reception, Year One and Year Two off on self-isolation.
“I have two children in the school and I don’t feel safe taking them anymore, yet if I keep them off I would receive a fine.
“I feel as though there is no choice but to close the school, as clearly they cannot adhere to the government requirements of staggered start times or enforce social distancing, it’s just a free for all.”
The mum said she has complained to the school, which has messaged parents several times to remind them about social distancing, but “nothing changes.”
She added: “I, as have a number of parents, have complained to the school in regards to this with the only outcome of more texts in regards to mask wearing.
“Sending a text message isn’t alleviating the problem and discussions with the school don’t change anything.”
The school is one of 160 schools across the region which has reported at least one coronavirus case.
Kath Roe, executive headteacher at Chiltern primary school said: “We have a great school community here at Chiltern and it was considering feedback from parents, after we reopened in September, that we returned to the 15-minute drop off and collection time we had used previously.
“Parents have commented very positively on this and I thank all parents for being accommodating with the constant challenges the Covid-19 pandemic presents schools with.
“In addition we have made our site one-way and staff continue to be on duty at drop off and collection times.
“It is absolutely everyone’s responsibility to follow national guidance to keep a distance and wear a face covering and we really appreciate parents and carers doing this.
“There is no need for parents and carers to gather in the walkway before the gates open as they can use the whole of the 15 minutes available for dropping and collecting children.”