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Don’t be late to pick up your kids from school…or you may be fined. An Australian school has implemented new rules to impose a fine on parents and carers who collect their children late from school.

An independent school in Victoria has implemented this policy change after students were regularly being picked up long after school had finished.

Al Siraat College in Epping are fining parents $10 per child and for every 15 minutes they are left unsupervised after school.

The Islamic school finishes at 3.45pm from Monday to Thursday and at 2.30pm on Fridays after prayer time is over.

Head of Operations of the school, Leah Hamel spoke to Daily Mail saying the new policy was put into place to keep its students as safe as possible.

“Child safety is our number one priority which is why we introduced the procedure that parents may receive a late pick up charge if their child/children stay after hours,” said Mrs Hamel.

Parents do have the option of using the after-school care facilities if they need to collect the children after school ends.

It’s Working

Mrs Hamel noted that since this new ruling was implemented in mid-July, the number of children left late after school has significantly reduced.

For logistical reasons, the school is using a log book to keep track of students and for the account department to charge parents who are late.

However, parents can call the school office if they have a legitimate reason for collecting after school hours.

“Working together is the only way forward and we welcome any suggestions that can help us to improve our procedures and processes,” Mrs Hamel said.

Do you think it’s appropriate for parents to be fined for picking up late? Tell us in the comments below.

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  • This is a brilliant idea. I work within the education system and its amazing how many slack parents there are out there. Its not that they left home within plenty of time and there was a traffic accident that held them up. Its that they were just being slack because they knew their child was being looked after. Its nothing for some parents to arrive up to 45mins after the bell and not even bother to apologise. Often its the same parents over and over again.

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  • Most schools have after school programs that children can attend if there parents can’t get to the school on time to pick them up they even have one’s before school programs for parents who start early they cost a fee . So why don’t these schools have programs like these which helps the parents out & the school makes extra $ for the school . But l don’t agree with the fines . The program’s are a better idea

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  • I think it’s fair enough. You wouldn’t be expected to stay back at work without being compensated so why should teachers or school staff. There are so many after school options around these days so no excuses really

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  • Good on them! If it works but how would the police parents not paying the fine. Oh wait maybe keep the kids.

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  • I guess it’s one way of making parents come on time rather than using the school as an unofficial baby-sitting person. Parents would soon start to come on time.

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  • I don’t know about this idea.

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  • Im sure there would be some exceptions to the rule but I actually think its a good idea if teachers are having to stay behind to make sure the children are safe.

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  • I don’t know if I agree with this. My parents had to work when I was growing up so we would sit and play by ourselves or with other children until our parents could come and pick us up at 5:30pm. I won’t be doing that with my children but I think it is a bit unreasonable when you have two working parents to expect them to be on time every single day, and then to fine parents when they aren’t. This is particularly harsh if the reason they are late is because they are working extra hours to make ends meet.

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  • Fair enough if it’s a regular thing. If everyone did it the school would run so far behind.

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  • I think if it’s a once off they should let it slide, but fair enough for those that abuse the system and are late every day. That’ll make them pick up their kids on time!

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  • 15 minutes isn’t so bad. I’m usually about 10min late once a week but on time every other day.

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  • There needs to be more parking areas available for parents who have to walk to actual classroom to pick their children up. I was with a relative one day and arrived in the area about 10 minutes before the children were due to come out of class. We had to walk three streets away (they run in the same direction as the road in front of the school does) not a nearby side street. We walked faster than normal and got there almost 5 minutes after the first of the class had gone. It was not ideal when we also had a newborn and the weather was cold and damp. It was the first time I went to the school and didn’t which classroom I had to go to either. A lot of parents now go to the close close to 1/2 early to get a park nearby.

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  • Wow…that’s new

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  • This is a school not a child minding centre …so it sounds fair enough.

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  • I think it’s great. I imagine it’s not as cut and dried and there are exceptions eg. caught in traffic etc. But I do know of many parents who use school as unpaid childcare and expect the school to look after their children.

    Reply

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