Stunned parents fined £8 every 15 minutes for showing up late to pick up kids from school
PARENTS running late to pick their children up from school have been stunned to find they will now be slapped with fines.
The independent school in Melbourne, Australia, has begun charging £8 for every 15 minutes a parent arrives late for pick up ... and are keeping a log book to keep track of students to bill tardy parents.
The fine applies to parents who are liable for leaving their children unsupervised outside of the school's opening hours.
A log book for sign in and sign out is also being used to keep track of students and to correctly bill parents and carers who arrive late.
The independent Islamic school, Al Siraat College in Epping, said the fine was imposed to keep its students as safe as possible.
The college told parents of the change in policy after they said they noticed students were regularly left in the school grounds after hours.
Classes at the school finish at 3.45pm from Monday to Thursday and at 2.30pm on Fridays after prayers are completed.
'CHILD SAFETY'
The late pick up charge was introduced on July 17.
Since the fines were implemented the number of children left awaiting pickup after school has "significantly reduced", school administrators say.
Al Siraat College Head of Operations Leah Hamel told "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."
Child safety is our number one priority which is why we introduced the procedure.
Al Siraat College Head of Operations Leah Hamel
Ms Hamel added: "The amount of children left late after school has significantly reduced."
She also noted that the school hadn't received much feedback from parents in relation to the policy change.
The college provides after school care for students in partnership with CAMP, an organisation which provides before and after school care.
Alternative channels for parents who might be running late for 'legitimate reasons' have also been offered to parents to use, including phoning the school office.
Ms Hamel said the college prides itself on providing a "duty of care" to the school, families and the greater community.
"Working together is the only way forward and we welcome any suggestions that can help us to improve our procedures and processes," she said.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Meanwhile in the UK, schools are piloting schemes to stop parents hovering in their cars at the school gates - and they face a £50 fine if they flout the ban.
The idea is designed to cut pollution, and protect kids from breathing in dangerous fumes.
And Lancashire County Council has proposed issuing penalty notices of £1,000 per child per parent for taking their child out of school for holidays during term time.
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