Should I say something or keep my nose out?

paulineb_2

A child not going into school could happen anywhere. I dont know what the protocol is when a child doesnt turn up at school and the parents havent called to say they will be absent.

I lived very close to both primary schools as a child and walked it to and from school as did many of my friends. There are some parents who will drive or walk their kid to school every day, other parents will allow their children to walk to school.

Id think nothing untoward about a child getting a taxi to school, could be for numerous reasons.

ilikewatch

I'm really not sure what the problem is here? Many 7/8 year olds walk to school on their own, and some get a public service bus, or cycle - not quite sure why coming in a taxi is any riskier?

In the city where I live there's a (private) prep school which has children around this age, and every morning I see plenty of them arriving unaccompanied by train, then getting a service bus to school (or spending their bus fare on sweets and walking the half mile :-) )

Janepig

Tenyearstogo wrote: »

I think that's what the OP was worried about but she got side tracked by the fact that the child has hit her child in the past.

Side tracked? I don't think so. And it's not just my child he's hit - I don't think any of the boys in the class have escaped his fists. The point being that I might be more concerned about this lad than I would be about others.

There was a point made earlier about me not doing the normal time school run so I don't know about how others go to school. I do occasionally go in at the usual time and despite there being close on 500 kids in the school I rarely if ever see taxis. I ended up taking one of DS's classmates into school for afew weeks last term as his mum' scar was off the road and I'd seen her bringing him in a taxi before going home in the same taxi. I pass their house on the way to school so I offered to take him to save his mum a bit of money.

Jx

ilikewatch

Janepig wrote: »

I ended up taking one of DS's classmates into school for afew weeks last term as his mum' scar was off the road and I'd seen her bringing him in a taxi before going home in the same taxi. I pass their house on the way to school so I offered to take him to save his mum a bit of money.

I'd be more inclined to "have a word with the head" if I thought that someone who probably hasn't had any vetting or CRB checks was going round offering to transport other peoples children in a vehicle which could quite easily be unroadworthy/uninsured etc...

Errata

In your shoes I'd do a bit of watchful waiting before deciding what to do.

ilikewatch

Errata wrote: »

In your shoes I'd do a bit of watchful waiting before deciding what to do.

I completely disagree, although I personally can't see any issue with what the OP describes, and wouldn't personally have the time to go round "reporting" every primary school child who makes their way to school unaccompanied. I believe that anyone who has concerns about a childs welfare should report it - fair enough, in this case the head will probably think the OP is a nutter, and a nosy one at that, but there is just some slim chance that this bit of info will add to some "bigger picture" that none of us are aware of.

For perspective, it's worth noting that people report far less serious things, so far this month I've heard about people phoning up social services to:
"Grass up" a family who let their 8 year old boil a kettle
Report a mum who let her 10 year old drink a cup of coffee
Report a mum who "forced" a 10 and 12 year old to make their own packed lunches...

liney

bylromarha wrote: »

OH and I are talking about dropping our kids at the bottom of the road and letting DS (9) and DD (7) walk up the hill, down a pathway, then into the school gate.

WITHOUT AN ADULT... what awful parents we are, trying to teach our kids responsibility...

I have started doing this with DS9 at the beginning of the school year. I drop him in the housing estate and he walks into school with the flow of other children and parents, and often meets a friend to chat to on the way. It's probably only 300 meters, but he is very 'grown up' about it, making sure not to walk on the grass and double checking for cars etc.

In less than 2 years he'll have to travel a number of miles by bus to secondary school, so he needs to start making steps towards being confident and capable of that.

OP, I don't understand quite what your concern is really. The taxi driver is probably vetted, and I would have thought that firm would use the same driver for a regular booking for continuity for the child.

He must be in Year 4 now, and at our school children in Year 3 upwards are allowed to leave site alone at the end of the day with parental permission being checked. Also from Year 3 they walk over to Out of School Club alone, and are checked in the other end. They have to make these baby steps.

JimmyTheWig

ilikewatch wrote: »

I completely disagree, although I personally can't see any issue with what the OP describes, and wouldn't personally have the time to go round "reporting" every primary school child who makes their way to school unaccompanied. I believe that anyone who has concerns about a childs welfare should report it - fair enough, in this case the head will probably think the OP is a nutter, and a nosy one at that, but there is just some slim chance that this bit of info will add to some "bigger picture" that none of us are aware of.

I agree with this.
It would be wrong to speak to the child's family about it as all is probably fine.
But a quiet mention to the school is enough to take the responsibility away from the OP and enough to get the situation investigated if necessary.

Vicky123

It may well be that this child has behaviour problems and is therefore considered to have a special education need, he may be a school refuser, he may have a statement which entitles him to a taxi, any number of things, parents may not want it broadcast.
If it's a funded taxi on SEN grounds then they will already have discussed whether an escort is required, funding might dictate other than what you consider appropriate.
Or it may just be mum paying for a taxi who will have decided that is sufficient to get him there.
Not sure there's any point in enquiring any further especially if they might be trying to be discreet.
I don't think there's anything wrong with the OP being concerned though especially as she already knows behaviour is an issue but I wouldn't ask about another child just in case it's seen as unwanted attention.

tinkerbell28

Janepig wrote: »

Yes, I'm aware of that, and I've seen other kids getting taxis (although not many) and I know that sometimes when the school attendance officers (or whatever they're called) are involved because of difficulties in getting a child to school then they sometimes provide taxis, or if Social Services are involved, but I'm pretty sure that in those cases they have a chaperone in the taxi too, and wouldn't just dump the child on the side of the road and drive off. And knowing a vague bit about this family I don't think this is the case. Although it had crossed my mind.

Jx

Not always no.

It could also be because he has a statement now. I guess you won't know, not being the parent.

They also won;t necessarily provide an escort for SEN either.