Anonymous wrote:Makes perfect sense to me. I think this is one of those things where it isn't the most convenient policy for you so you are having trouble thinking beyond yourself.

+1 It does seem that way.

When our kids get there early, they just go to the cafeteria and grab a box of milk. The cafeteria is open 30 minutes early for breakfast at our school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's another part of modern life, OP. When we were kids, we could do that, but now, kids are too fragile and parents are too helicopterish and litigious.

Actually, it is probably more of a concern that overly busy parents will just dump,thier kids off at school,and the poor before care people will feel responsible for watching them.

Agree. Parents weren't nearly as stupid even 27 years ago when my oldest was born. It amazes me what parents try to get by with these days. It's obvious why the school needs this rule - entitled parents trying to get out of paying for before school care.

One of the playground at our school is on the side, not close to the front door. I don't see how the staff can be guarding that playground. So kids are free to play. But i have yet to see kids playing before school.
And there is no such thing as playing 5-10 minutes in a playground. So, i would just suggest you tell them to hang out by the front door. I'm sure they will find something to do or someone to chat with closer to the front door.
And i have yet to see kids play in the playground immediately after school.

Anonymous wrote:As someone else said, this is an odd policy, since children are allowed to play on the playground at other times when school is not in session (weekends, evenings, summers, etc.). I wonder what the justification of this policy would be and what, if any, legal standing it might have. After all, a school playground is effectively a public park.....

In VA, schools can discipline your kids if they are going to or on their way home from school. The question is when do they leave your supervision and the school takes over. Obviously this isn't an issue with weekends, etc. This policy makes perfect sense to me.

Anonymous wrote:OP, just sent them to school in time and stop trying to get free before care!

This.

If you're okay with them being unsupervised, tell them to play in a park along the way if they are a little early.

OP, just sent them to school in time and stop trying to get free before care!

Anonymous wrote:As someone else said, this is an odd policy, since children are allowed to play on the playground at other times when school is not in session (weekends, evenings, summers, etc.). I wonder what the justification of this policy would be and what, if any, legal standing it might have. After all, a school playground is effectively a public park.....

and here we go, the free rangers have shown up.

Anonymous wrote:As someone else said, this is an odd policy, since children are allowed to play on the playground at other times when school is not in session (weekends, evenings, summers, etc.). I wonder what the justification of this policy would be and what, if any, legal standing it might have. After all, a school playground is effectively a public park.....

Not at all times. Schools may allow the public to use the grounds, or lock the gates. Careful what you wish for.

Anonymous wrote:As someone else said, this is an odd policy, since children are allowed to play on the playground at other times when school is not in session (weekends, evenings, summers, etc.). I wonder what the justification of this policy would be and what, if any, legal standing it might have. After all, a school playground is effectively a public park.....

I think it comes down to who has responsibility for the child, and making those lines clear. On weekends, summer and evenings when staff are not around it is clear that if a kid is using the playground a parent or caregiver is responsible for his well being. During the school day it is clear that staff members are responsible for the child.

Walking through the school doors during school hours is a clear handoff of responsibility from caregiver/parent to school. If kids show up at the playground 30 minutes before the doors open who is responsible? Plenty of parents would say that the kids are at school now, so they are safe and accounted for, and wash their hands of responsibility.

Anonymous wrote:My 4th and 5th graders want to walk the few blocks to school on their own this year. Depending on how fast they walk, they’ll possibly get to school 5-10 min before the doors open, but school is saying kids can’t be on school grounds without a parent before the doors open. Do other schools do this? This seems nuts to me.

You seem nuts to me.

As someone else said, this is an odd policy, since children are allowed to play on the playground at other times when school is not in session (weekends, evenings, summers, etc.). I wonder what the justification of this policy would be and what, if any, legal standing it might have. After all, a school playground is effectively a public park.....

Why not just pay for before-care?

Anonymous wrote:It's another part of modern life, OP. When we were kids, we could do that, but now, kids are too fragile and parents are too helicopterish and litigious.

Actually, it is probably more of a concern that overly busy parents will just dump,thier kids off at school,and the poor before care people will feel responsible for watching them.

Kids do it at our fcps.