Mums and dads who can’t be bothered to pick their kids up from school on time deserve to be fined – it’s lazy parenting

ONE school plans to penalise mums and dads who arrive late.

Alice McIntyre asks whether parents should be fined for not picking their kids on time.

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YES, says security manager LOUISE COLE PARKER

Louise, 49, a single mum of three from Higham Ferrers, Northants, says: “If children end up stuck at school because their parents are late, then of course the parents should be fined.

“They simply need to be more organised.

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“Fines are a great idea. Parents should be fined if kids are late in the mornings, too. When my teens — Michael, 16, Christian, 14, and Heather, 13 were at primary, I dropped and collected them on time.

“They’re now at different schools but I still drive Christian daily.

“I appreciate how tricky and chaotic life can be, but if most people can get to their kids on time, everyone can.

“Being late occasionally, if the bus breaks down or if there’s an accident, is OK.

“But persistent lateness needs to be stopped and fining parents might work.

“If they refuse to pay, perhaps their kids should be excluded from extra-curricular activities. It seems cruel but it might be the only way.

“Picking up your children late is unfair on teachers, who are forced to stay on to look after them.

“Kids want to fit in, so just as they would feel embarrassed walking into class late, they may become anxious if parents don’t pick them up on time.

Can’t be bothered

“Fines need to be affordable but tough enough to scare parents into getting organised, say £6 a time.

“Getting kids to school on time can be challenging, so I make sure they are all sorted the night before.

“Homework is done, forms are signed and uniforms are ready.

“I also get them to help. One makes breakfast, one does packed lunches and another puts the bins out.

“I taught them young, now it’s second nature. Just as I make sure I leave plenty of time when picking up Christian, I also leave early every morning.

“That way, he is still on time if we get stuck in traffic.

“Some parents just can’t be bothered to drop off and collect their children on time.

“As a single mum, I have a second job in a pub and often see kids up late with their parents. No wonder they can’t get up in the mornings.

“Parents might not mind being fined for taking their children out of school for a holiday because the fines can be less than the money they have saved.

“But they won’t want to be paying out on a weekly basis for being late.

“There are obviously some exceptions to the rule and teachers usually know if a family is having problems at home.

“But if parents can’t be bothered? Then it’s time they are fined.”

NO, says broadcaster, author and former teacher VICKI BROADBENT

Vicki and her software developer husband Peter, both 43, and their three children, live in Harrogate, North Yorks.

She says: “As an ex-teacher, I know how important a good education is. But fining parents for collecting children late is ridiculous.

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“Kids would be late in the morning sometimes and parents would sometimes be late to collect them.

“But rather than berate them, I’d think about why they had struggled to get into school on time and ask if I could help in any way.

“Perhaps there was something going on at home and they needed to talk?

“At parents’ evenings, I saw that some were facing challenges, often for reasons out of their control.

“Punishing people who are already struggling, be it emotionally or financially, won’t help. It will make things worse.

“The majority of parents do their very best to make sure their children get to school and are picked up on time.

“But life often gets in the way. Not every school has wraparound care, such as breakfast clubs or after-school activities.

“That means working parents have to juggle their schedules or leave work early and dash to pick up their kids.

Stop judging them

“I’m mum to Oliver, 14, Alexander, 11. and Florence, two.

“At Alexander’s school, in a small village, traffic gets backed up and there isn’t enough parking.

“It’s a challenge to get there on time, even if I leave early.

“I’ve been late a few times, but the school kept him in reception for me for 15 minutes.

“I always call to let them know I’ll be late — parents should definitely do that.

“Schools want to work with families to improve attendance — they don’t need despondent parents who feel punished.

“With the cost-of-living crisis hurting families, adding more financial strain isn’t the solution.

“Schools need to use a compassionate approach, not a draconian one.

“Most secondary school children make their own way to school, so it wouldn’t be fair to fine parents for their kids’ behaviour.

“At Oliver’s school, after being late three times they are given detention.

“That gives the kids an incentive to be on time, but sometimes they can’t help being late.

“Some travel long distances and are at the mercy of public transport, so fining them wouldn’t be fair.

“We need to stop piling extra pressure on families — particularly mums, who more often than not tend to do the school run.

“Let’s stop judging parents and start supporting them instead.”