Need advice on getting 3yo to nursery pls

Hopeless123

I'm not sure which board to put this on, sorry if I'm in the wrong place - mods feel free to move it!

My son and d-i-l live in a rural village 2 miles from the nearest town and neither of them drive. They need to get my grandson to nursery but there is no bus until late morning, by which time the nursery is almost over. They are shelling out £25 a week to get him there, thankfully there is a bus back at the right time. It's Fens countryside and dangerous roads with no footpaths, so no chance of walking, they've tried to get a lift but no-one in the vicinity goes into town at the right time.

Neither of them are working and so are on benefits. Keeping the little-un at home till he's 4 (when the school say he can have free transport from them) isn't an option because his development has been severaly impaired already by not mixing with other kids. Does anyone have any idea where they can get help for this please? Any assistance much appreciated, thanks.

baza52

If taxis are too expensive they will have to walk.
no other choice

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello Hopeless123,

As a Fen girl at heart, I can appreciate the difficulty of getting about on the fen roads.

I would suggest that they have a discreet chat with the nursery.
For starters, sometimes they have 1 or 2 places for parents that are struggling financially. Secondly, they may have another parent, that could make a slight detour to pick up your grandson, as I'm sure most parents if aware of difficulties would try and do something to help.
Also have a look at the school where he may attend. Many schools now have a Nursery Unit, that take the children prior to 4 years.

Good Luck,

Munchie:D

Ms_Chocaholic

Would it not be cheaper for them to get a bicycle and fix a child seat on the back. Two miles isn't that far to cycle and as long as the child is wrapped up well he will be fine and will be sheltered somewhat from the icy wind by the rider.

Could they look on freecycle for a bicycle/seat if they've not got one.

Hopeless123

Thanks for the suggestions so far. They have tried asking the nursery, they've asked other parents if they'd do a detour, walking and cycling just are not an option. My son is a big bloke and even he's too scared to cycle on his own on those roads, let alone with a youngster on the back. It's vast open countryside with the wind against you whichever way you go, dykes either side of the roads, narrow roads, you would have to see it to understand. I can promise you that you would not be able to do it! While 2 miles doesn't sound very far, it's as good as tripled in that sort of environment. This is not an excuse, it's just not an option.

They have asked the nursery for help, they have asked the school where he would probably go, it's not the nursery place that's the problem, he has that. The village is so sparsely populated that there just aren't any other kids of a similar age. From primary school age upwards there is a free bus. He is not allowed to use it (not that he could on his own anyway).

If they lived closer I'd take him myself, but that would be a 3 hour round trip!

luckyme38

hi Hopeless,

whereabouts are you in the fens. Thats my neck of the woods and may be able to help?

Hopeless123

luckyme38 wrote: »

hi Hopeless,

whereabouts are you in the fens. Thats my neck of the woods and may be able to help?

I've sent you a pm, thanks!

Swan_2

hi Hopeless,
you mention that 'his development has been severely impaired'

I'm not sure how to put this delicately, but is this official? what I mean is, has he been seen & assessed by relevant professionals?

if so, the Local Authority might taxi him to & from nursery. I was in a similar situation with my youngest, who's Dyspraxic/Aspergers (not that I'm suggesting this is the case with your grandson, oh I feel like I'm digging myself a hole here ) & our LA did this for him

Hopeless123

Swan wrote: »

hi Hopeless,
you mention that 'his development has been severely impaired'

I'm not sure how to put this delicately, but is this official? what I mean is, has he been seen & assessed by relevant professionals?

if so, the Local Authority might taxi him to & from nursery. I was in a similar situation with my youngest, who's Dyspraxic/Aspergers (not that I'm suggesting this is the case with your grandson, oh I feel like I'm digging myself a hole here ) & our LA did this for him

Please don't worry, you didn't dig a hole! They actually went to see the speech therapist this morning (they've seen her before) and he's being referred to a paediatrician. She has suggested he might be autistic. It'll all take time to get him properly assessed and in the meantime it's costing them £25 per week they can ill-afford. I'm desperately trying to help them get a council swap to nearer me (and in a less rural area) so by the time he has been properly assessed, hopefully they will have moved anyway. But it's now they need the help:-(

Having said all that, I don't actually think that is his problem, I just think he has been badly affected by having no interaction with other children, even his only cousin is 20 miles away. Since starting nursery his improvement has been tremendous and very noticeable, but he's probably at a level now that he would have been a year ago.

The speech therapist has said they will get better help if he has a 'label'. However, we don't want one just for the sake of it, iyswim!

Swan_2

thanks

what a worrying situation, sorry I've no real practical advice to offer, but I can sympathise about the transport problems, my daughter didn't get to playgroup or nursery at all because of our isolation & my husband working shifts

& I understand completely about walking not being an option, we had dangerous twisty roads, very exposed to the elements & absolutely no shelter, as you say, you'd have to see it to understand

one thing I will say though, is that when the little lad gets to nursery/school, if he's struggling in any way, don't worry about labels, just get him the help he needs
fingers crossed he'll take off like a rocket once he's there full-time


I really hope you get some sort of resolution soon, please keep us posted