Parents are fuming as school threatens to charge them a pound for every five minutes they are late picking up their children and even ring social services if they don’t collect them by 4pm

‘Parents are fuming after a school announced they will fine them a pound for every five minutes they are late picking up their children and even ring social services if they don’t collect them by 4pm.

Holy Trinity C of E Primary, in Gravesend, Kent has brought in the new rules this week to target those picking up their children just ten minutes late – anytime after 3.40pm.

The new policy has been branded a ‘disgrace’ by outraged parents and the headteacher has been slammed for punishing less well-off families.

One parent, who did not want to be named, told Kent Online: ‘As parents of the school we were shocked and appalled to receive this notification from the school.

‘Gravesend is a deprived area and many parents struggle to work due to the cost of childcare.

Lots of schools finish around the same time and this means that it is a struggle to get kids on time.

‘The school used to let kids wait in the library then we were told the library was closed for refurbishments.

‘The school did offer an after school club a couple of years ago but this was closed by the head teacher with little notice because it didn’t make enough money.’

Read more: Parents are fuming as school threatens to charge them a pound for every five minutes they are late picking up their children and even ring social services if they don’t collect them by 4pm