A primary school in London has told parents that staff may call social services if children are not picked up on time.
Fox Primary School in Kensington issued the warning to parents in a letter recently.
The letter read: "If your child has still not been collected by 4pm, the member of staff responsible will then notify the designated safeguarding lead/ child protection officer. This may lead to social services involvement.”
The school is one of the UK’s top performing schools in exam league tables and has one of the smallest catchment areas for a school – students must live within 107 yards of the school gates. The school is in an affluent neighbourhood with homes in the area selling for up to £4million.
Parents were shocked by the announcement with one mum telling The Mail Online: "I’m guessing it’s because they’ve had a problem with certain children."
Meanwhile, another mum said: “It won’t be a problem for me because I pick my son up on time.”
A spokesman for the local council said: “This is a school-led initiative to help ensure children are safe at all times.
“The school has ample after-school provision and activities available for both working and non-working parents.
“If a parent does not arrange for their child to be collected after school, it can put the school in a difficult position.”
The school has 303 pupils and has been ranked as “outstanding” by Ofsted. It came top of exam league tables for two years in a row.
Many schools are now taking a tough stance against parents who drop off or pick up children late.
Recently a primary school in Essex warned parents that they could face fines if their children are repeatedly late for school. Winter Gardens Academy in Canvey Island issued a warning in their newsletter to parents, according to The Sun.
Headteacher Catherine Stalham warned: “Any children arriving after 9am will be marked as late on the register as from April 1. Continuous late comers may be issued with a fixed penalty notice.”
If their children miss 9am registration, parents will have to stump up a £60 fine from the local council.
Anyone who fails to pay the £60 fixed penalty notice promptly will have their fine doubled, much like parking ticket fines.
What do you think of these measures mums? Are they too extreme or do you think they might be necessary in some cases? Let us know your thoughts on the issue.
