To make the kids walk 3miles to school?

I’m really surprised by how many people are saying they shouldn’t have to walk. To me, it seems so normal for my children to walk distances like this. My children have walked about three miles to school and back since they were four. It’s been an enjoyable part of our day. God, I’m so smug.

It used to be the norm before cars everywhere and more remote schools

Their legs won't drop off

Dutch kids would do this on electric bikes. The pedal assist ones, not the crazy speeding food delivery ones. Really great for going uphill. I think Decathlon sell decent ones for an okay price. It could mean no more bringing them to school for the rest of their school years!

I’d do a mixture. On a nice morning they can walk (can’t you get a bit closer and drop them right at the road works?). Or cycle. It will be good for their fitness even with hills. Then you and DH alternate picking them up.

Or maybe all the kids could walk together? It might be fun. Would be about an hour. It’s not unreasonable at all and many used to do it years ago.

Drive them . Its only for the month.
You only have to do it once a day. You said your dh will pick up and he sounds like he is fine with that

You don mention needing to get to work; your OP suggests it’s quite possible for you and your dh to spend 90 mins each doing the drop off and pick up during the roadworks. It’s just an inconvenience. Seems a bit mean to expect them to always walk both ways in the pissing rain.

I would drive them. No doubt.

3 miles is fine, it's about a 45-50 min walk on my short legs. (Have walked a hilly parkrun 3.1 mi in 43 mins...)

At 14 DS has done his DoE with sunstantially heavier rucksack and 10mi per day.

My DCs' school is about 3 mi away and they have a good bus service but still have over half a mile of walking to do to use it. I'm no stranger to walking commutes from my school days and work either. When training autistic DS to use the bus, I'd walk down and catch the bus back with him. The walk is a back up option for them if there are transport issues. If they had to do it, then they are perfectly capable of doing it.

I wouldn't want my DCs to cycle that particular route because of a particularly unpleasant section of 40mph road that isn't viable to avoid, but it does have an adequate footpath so walking is fine.

??? You were responding to the "getting dark" part the previous poster had raised, yes, but that poster didn't suggest they also had 12 and 13 year olds who were walking in different circumstances so surely the rest your comment related to op? otherwise who were you talking about?

Talk to them and agree a mix I think depending on times and weather.

but one of mine would walk every day even in rain than have a 45 minute drive the other would want to sit int the car all the time

it’s a month maybe a half term max to figure it out and do some different options including driving and walking and maybe a bus once they are out of the roadworks because surely there is some public transport

I'd actually get in touch with your school & county education transport folks. If it is actually 3 miles and not 2.9... with the road shut then the kids might be entitled to transport for the duration (depending on things like catchment etc) as the statutory walking distance is 3 miles for kids over 8...

Otherwise is there any other kids impacted by this - it might be worth a group effort!

You trialled driving the new route. I suggest trial the walking to school next .

This happening where I live too.
It will be chaos. Most kids ( secondary age) will be walking. There is however a safe footpath along the entire length of the route.

What’s your fitness like Op?

can you hire electric (peddle) bikes? Then the hills will be easier.

I’d try to do part of the journey by car, I think. That’s based upon me walking a 3 mile round journey to school when I was their age. I can’t say that distance bothered any of us at all but I walked with friends and it was a good chance to socialise. Will any of their friends walk the same journey? Also, it might be worth a trial walk with them to see how it goes.

I think it surely depends on what your day looks like? Are you working? Are you very busy? Will this mean you struggle to start work in time? I mean if you're a sahm then I'd say its not a huge hardship. I would probably try to compromise and perhaps drive them a couple of times a week or if the weather is awful. Or drive them there and they can walk home or vice versa. It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

I would compromise, you drive them in the morning and they walk home. Then even if it's raining during the walk it won't matter, they can dry off at home.

I think you're confused, I wasn't replying to op, I was replying to the person I quoted.

I did this - after my parents moved house, but that was for sixth form when I was 16-18... and I loved hiking and was part of the school's hiking team.

For younger kids? seems a bit much.

I thought initially they were primary kids. But they aren’t these are secondary. My kids never get lifts to secondary school. They walk or bike. It’s 2.5miles. They should walk and I’d make the no lifts a permanent fixture

The OP said it was hilly, not that it was all downhill one way and uphill the other, so I assume there is downhill and uphill both ways, but one way is even worse than the other.

Why can't your husband drive them?

Options:

presumably there are other children who go to this school in the village. If you car pool then it’s immediately every other day. Post on the village facebook group and ask.

you can hire e-bikes which will make the hills much more easier

electric scooters?

is there a bus? Presumably not otherwise you wouldn’t be driving in the first place.

would they be walking in a group? Is it over fields etc or are we talking suburbs?

I’d drive them in heavy rain, but a walk back from school with mates can be quite nice and a good way to develop independence.

Ah, ok, apologies to @Nannyfannybanny then.

Thanks for pointing it out to me!