Dear Parents/Guardians,
This email is an urgent communication regarding the use of the school car park during drop-off and collection times.
The car park on school grounds is designated exclusively for staff use only. It is not a public car park, nor is it to be used for the drop-off or collection of students at any time of the day. The only exception is for those who display a blue disability badge for the adult entering the site of the pupil themselves.
This policy is in place for several critical reasons, including:
Staff Access: Today, several members of staff arriving for work were severely delayed or completely blocked from accessing the school site due to parents using the car park for turning, waiting, or parking. This is unacceptable and directly impacts staff attendance and preparation for the school day.
Child Safety: The car park is an active area of vehicle movement by staff throughout the day, not just at peak times. Allowing multiple parents' vehicles into this area at the same time significantly increases the risk of an accident involving a child.
Legal Compliance: The car park is private property. Unauthorised parking or blocking access constitutes trespass and a breach of our school’s safety and property rules.
Effective immediately, we must insist that all parents and guardians adhere strictly to this rule and use designated public roads or drop-off points away from the school gates to ensure the safety and smooth operation of the school.
You are advised to check local road signage to ascertain your parking access.
For clarity, the school reserves the right to take a number of legal actions against vehicles that continue to misuse the staff car park, as this is private land. These actions may include:
Issuing Parking Charge Notices (PCNs): While private clamping is illegal, the school can engage an accredited parking enforcement company to issue PCNs (fines) for unauthorised parking.
Civil Action for Trespass: Persistent misuse of the private property may lead to the school pursuing civil action.
Reporting to Relevant Authorities: In cases where vehicles are blocking access for emergency services or causing a clear and present danger, the school may contact the police for their assistance.
The safety of your children and the operational effectiveness of the school are our highest priorities. We appreciate your cooperation in respecting this vital school policy.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.