EMA stopped for being a late for school

baza52

Hi, My daughter has had 3 of her weekly payments stopped recently due to lateness.
The school are saying even if she is 10 mins late for any reason they will stop her money for the whole of that week.
I had read somewhere on the net that you were allowed to be late twice in a week unless it was deemed a "very late" for arriving after 10.30am or 2.30pm.
I also phoned the EMA helpline and they said the same tho the girl did seem to be just agreeing with me.
The school are saying it is up to them if they withold payment and that they "closely" follow the EMA guidelines.
I have told the school that as she has to use public transport to get there its not allways her fault. Sometimes the bus is full and dosent even stop to let anyone on. leaving earlier just catches more of the rush hour.

any suggestions?

[Deleted User]

Contact your local education authority as each authority has different guidlines.

Or ask the school to provide you with a copy of the guidlines to read.

Lateness for "any reason" is not acceptable to stop the EMA but there do have to be some rules.

Leaving earlier wouldnt mean she is later than the next bus so maybe it would help.

[Deleted User]

Section 12 is from one local educational authority (in Scotland)

http://www.pkc.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/ABAB5D60-DEE1-4B63-BBB0-56DC4556A448/0/EMATermsandConditions20082009.pdf

2 lates or 1 very late = no EMA
(and it doesnt give any information about reasons for lateness - maybe one is acceptable but making other arrangements would be expected to stop further lateness)

bestpud

Tell her to leave earlier, or walk at least part of the way as this is clearly going to crop up again otherwise.

Having said that though, dd's college allow one girl to leave a little early so she can catch public transport, but then she lives about 20 miles away and in a rural area! She is on time in the morning though as far as I am aware.

baza52

subsoniccoyote wrote: »

Section 12 is from one local educational authority (in Scotland)

http://www.pkc.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/ABAB5D60-DEE1-4B63-BBB0-56DC4556A448/0/EMATermsandConditions20082009.pdf

2 lates or 1 very late = no EMA
(and it doesnt give any information about reasons for lateness - maybe one is acceptable but making other arrangements would be expected to stop further lateness)

I had also found the "late" "very late" reasons but the school said they followed their own guidelines regarding lateness.
We are talking 5 or 10 mins at most and this is for registration not lessons.
I did point out to the school that a major building works are taking place in our towns high street and traffic is disrupted as a result.

Its not about the reason she is late but the way the school just stop payment for any pupil arriving late.
Im sure some pupils would think whats the point of going in for the rest of the week if ive allready lost my money.

Can schools make their own rules regarding EMA or are guidelines supposed to be followed?

bestpud

baza52 wrote: »

I had also found the "late" "very late" reasons but the school said they followed their own guidelines regarding lateness.
We are talking 5 or 10 mins at most and this is for registration not lessons.
I did point out to the school that a major building works are taking place in our towns high street and traffic is disrupted as a result.

Its not about the reason she is late but the way the school just stop payment for any pupil arriving late.
Im sure some pupils would think whats the point of going in for the rest of the week if ive allready lost my money.

Can schools make their own rules regarding EMA or are guidelines supposed to be followed?

I'm sure you are right but I'd be giving my dd a toe up the rear if she thought like that!

I thought they could pretty much set their own rules, within reason, of course.

poet123

The problem with lateness(speaking from a College POV) is that often lots of kids come from the same area,yet only one or two are late......traffic is the same for everyone of them but there are some who are just habitually 10/15 mins late. This may not seem a lot but imagine you havel lots of info to impart to 30 students at registration,you begin,and begin again,and again as they trickle in in dribs and drabs,it is very frustrating.

So you have to lay down rules and 10 mins is a reasonable time limit,after which you are late. We use 10 mins at our college and although there is some leeway,if it is becoming an issue it is then strictly enforced. If traffic is an issue then catch an earlier bus,get up earlier,do less chatting to friends in the corridors and get there on time.

Conor_3

Let's put it this way. Would an employer tolerate her being late on a regular basis? No. They'd quite rightly say it's not their problem.

baza52

Conor wrote: »

Let's put it this way. Would an employer tolerate her being late on a regular basis? No. They'd quite rightly say it's not their problem.

No they wouldnt. but the also wouldnt stop her weeks money.

Ok so your on a bus going to school when the driver decides to switch the engine off cos other kids are playing up on the bus and sits there untill its sorted and this then makes you late for school/etc. or when the bus is full with commuters so it doesnt stop to pick you up. leaving earlier still wont gaurantee you getting on an earlier bus.

All im asking is can the school make their own guidelines or do they have to follow set guidelines.

Edinburghlass_2

As far as I know it is up to the school or college as to how they administer EMA.

SomeBozo

No they wouldnt. but the also wouldnt stop her weeks money.

No, after a few warnings (verbal and written) they would sack her! Then no money at all!

Bozo