Fares for School Difficult to Afford

Mojisola

Broomstick wrote: »

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.

I think we work our children much harder in school these days. We had longer playtimes and, every afternoon, the first year Infants had a lie-down. There were a stack of fold-up camp beds that came out and everyone was expected to at least lie quietly even if we didn't sleep.

silvercar

I can't imagine a sympathetic attitude from a local authority to someone who pulls their child out of school because the location is too difficult to them. Whatever the circumstances, I would think the local authority would be wary of an avalanche of people demanding their favoured school and refusing to send to the one allocated.

Either save the money up and sort out these monthly passes or find someone that is en route to school that you could get to that could offer a lift for the remaining part of the journey.

At the same time pester the LEA transport team about providing a pass or producing an assessment of this safe walking route that is allegedly over 2 miles.

Also put your son's name down at local schools. Go to appeal if necessary.

Flyboy152

silvercar wrote: »

I can't imagine a sympathetic attitude from a local authority to someone who pulls their child out of school because the location is too difficult to them. Whatever the circumstances, I would think the local authority would be wary of an avalanche of people demanding their favoured school and refusing to send to the one allocated.

Although, to some extent, I somewhat agree with you, this school wasn't allocated, it appears it was "chosen." I say "chosen," but there seems to have been very little in the way of actual choice.

Either save the money up and sort out these monthly passes or find someone that is en route to school that you could get to that could offer a lift for the remaining part of the journey.

I don't think it is necessarily a matter of "not saving up," more of a matter of not being able to afford it at all.

At the same time pester the LEA transport team about providing a pass or producing an assessment of this safe walking route that is allegedly over 2 miles.

Also put your son's name down at local schools. Go to appeal if necessary.

I agree, it is time to get a measuring wheel, your local hire shop should be able to supply one. Don't trust Google maps, they are rarely as accurate as 0.1 of a mile.

Flyboy152

Mojisola wrote: »

I think we work our children much harder in school these days. We had longer playtimes and, every afternoon, the first year Infants had a lie-down. There were a stack of fold-up camp beds that came out and everyone was expected to at least lie quietly even if we didn't sleep.

It sounds very much like the schoool I went to. We had morning and afternoon playtimes, a nap in the afternoon and free milk every day.

Oldernotwiser

thunderbird wrote: »

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!

You're probably right - my primary school was nearly 2 miles away from home and everybody walked it then.

(It's difficult to say things like that without drifting into the Four Yorkshiremen sketch!;))

Oldernotwiser

Mojisola wrote: »

I think we work our children much harder in school these days. We had longer playtimes and, every afternoon, the first year Infants had a lie-down. There were a stack of fold-up camp beds that came out and everyone was expected to at least lie quietly even if we didn't sleep.

But long play times take more energy and children need more exercise now that they don't get them.

(We never had an afternoon nap, although I've read of this in books.)

Flyboy152

Broomstick wrote: »

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

Before world war one, it was not compulsory for every child, to attend school, every day for a whole day. There were lots of exemptions, especially in rural areas.

shirlgirl2004

A) Buy a cheap scooter and he can scoot to school, he'll be there in no time. I see lots of chilren doing it (and some parents too). Then OP can catch the bus on the way home so she only has to do half the journey and half the cost.

Alternatively tell the LA you have decided to home educate and then after a month tell them it isn't working (although by then you'll probably be loving it) and could you APPLY for a place through the normal procedures.

Mojisola

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But long play times take more energy and children need more exercise now that they don't get them.

I think little children are worn out after school these days because of the mental work they have to do. Running around at playtime would be a different kind of tiredness, and much better, for them.

(We never had an afternoon nap, although I've read of this in books.)

At least you didn't say "I've read of this in history books"!:rotfl:

daska

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

A) Buy a cheap scooter and he can scoot to school, he'll be there in no time. I see lots of chilren doing it (and some parents too). Then OP can catch the bus on the way home so she only has to do half the journey and half the cost.

Alternatively tell the LA you have decided to home educate and then after a month tell them it isn't working (although by then you'll probably be loving it) and could you APPLY for a place through the normal procedures.

LOL, I did this with DS1 and I had to buy a scooter to keep up with him - BUT I was fit and well which isn't the case in this scenario. The crux of the problem here is not the distance or the ability of the child to walk it but that the OP has arthritis and recently had a heart attack!

OP - have you thought of contacting social services. Your main problem is ill health and disability and SS have a responsibility to support you in your parenting role. The other people you could try are Parent Partnership, they tend to know where the loopholes are and who to talk with.