Fares for School Difficult to Afford

Oldernotwiser

Flyboy152 wrote: »

He is five, that is good enough reason not to have to walk four miles a day. At a speed of about one mile per hour, you guess how long it would take to get to school and back again.

Actually, I don't think a two mile walk twice a day should be any problem for a healthy five year old but the OP's arthritis is more likely to make this difficult.

FBaby

I personally wouldn't take him out of school. If the local schools said there was a waiting list, it is highly likely that the LA would offer a place at the same school anyway since it is within the 'acceptable' distance. I would however as it's been recommended put him on all the waiting list of closer schools. The good thing about Kent is that people tend to come and go more than in other area, so even if you seem far down the list, you might find it happens quicker than expected.

In the meantime, I would try hard to raise whatever cash you need to take him to school everyday. I understand how hard it must be, but if you can keep faith that it won't be forever, it might not be so bad.

I would do every I can to try to keep him at school though. Reception/Y1 are key years, especially in regards to learning to read and socialising. Your child has already been through a lot, and missing those key skills could set him back. I would only consider this option if you really feel you have no other choice.

thunderbird

Personally I don't think that is too much for a 5 year old - that's just my opinion. I would just never use my car for a journey of that length.
It is only fairly recently that children have been driven to school, in the past plenty of children walked that far or more to school.

I'm not sure where you have got a speed of 1 mile an hour from?

(sorry, that was meant as a reply to Flyboy152)

Flyboy152

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Actually, I don't think a two mile walk twice a day should be any problem for a healthy five year old but the OP's arthritis is more likely to make this difficult.

And you don't think that a two hour walk (even one hour, if he was really fast and walked two miles per hour) to school is detrimental to his education? Then having to walk another one or two hours home, in the dark.

Flyboy152

thunderbird wrote: »

Personally I don't think that is too much for a 5 year old - that's just my opinion. I would just never use my car for a journey of that length.
It is only fairly recently that children have been driven to school, in the past plenty of children walked that far or more to school.

I'm not sure where you have got a speed of 1 mile an hour from?

(sorry, that was meant as a reply to Flyboy152)

How fast do you think five year olds walk?

thunderbird

Flyboy152 wrote: »

How fast do you think five year olds walk?

Depends on the child. At that age my kids ran more than walked. Would probably cover 2 miles in about 40 mins - faster if all on pavements.

I don't see what the problem is with walking in the dark - wasn't suggesting that he walks on his own!

FBaby

4 miles a day for a 5 year old 5 times a week, in addition to the fatigue they gather at school at that age???? I think it is ridiculous. What time/energy will this child have left to practice reading once he gets home. Once a week, maybe, when the weather is pleasant, but every day in all weather, i think it definitely too much...and that's my opinion even though I am known to be a tough parent with little sympathy for laziness.

Oldernotwiser

Flyboy152 wrote: »

And you don't think that a two hour walk (even one hour, if he was really fast and walked two miles per hour) to school is detrimental to his education? Then having to walk another one or two hours home, in the dark.

Exercise is good for children and less than an hour's walk each way would be quite beneficial for him. That's why council's don't give bus passes unless you live further than this from the school.

"Around half of primary school children currently don’t walk to school regularly, with an enormous 41% being driven to school in cars despite the fact that the average distance to primary schools remains at just over 1 mile an easily walk-able 20 minutes."

http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/Pages/news-living-streets.aspx

However, as I said earlier, the OP's own state of health makes this impossible so it's really not worth discussing it.

thunderbird

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Exercise is good for children and less than an hour's walk each way would be quite beneficial for him. That's why council's don't give bus passes unless you live further than this from the school.

However, as I said earlier, the OP's own state of health makes this impossible so it's really not worth discussing it.

I had suggested the idea of the boy walking with some other children (and their parents) to school, that's why the issue came up.
Seeing your username, I am wondering if the differing opinions are age related. I'm not going to start on the 'when i were a lad..' stories - never was a lad anyhow!

Broomstick

Does it have to be a parent? Is there a member of staff who travels the same way who could help out or someone who works near the school who could do the morning drop-off?

Alternatively, I think it might make sense to have a chat with the head to say that, until you have got help with the transport situation, or a change of school, you will have to look at home-educating and ask if they would be willing to keep your son's place open until everything is sorted out. You'd need to be prepared to follow this through but home-ed support networks are strong and there are masses of internet groups. I know that our local home-ed families support 'temporary' or 'just thinking about' home-ed parents as well as families who are completely committed to full-time, permanent home-ed.

And on the subject of children walking to school, years ago my very elderly next door neighbour talked to me about her pre WWI childhood. As a five year old, she would walk round about five miles to and five miles back from school through the Sussex countryside with some other children up to ten years old to keep her company and to look after her. The thing she seemed to remember most strongly was the weather and the fact that once clothing and shoes were sodden they remained so for the rest of the day. She was a tough old lady, extremely OS and MSE and very knowledgeable about country life and gardening, a brilliant next door neighbour to have.

B x