to keep him off school some days at the moment

Why are you assuming she is on maternity leave? I got the impression she is a full time mum. I think working on top of all these difficulties with the children will be impossible with no family nearby to help. How could she possibly do all this and also work?

🙄

Are you ok?

im sorry, I’m not following why you’re being so rude and dismissive? It was a suggestion -along with everyone else’s - that might help the OP.
Hardly deserving of scornful comments about 😲TEENAGERS!!! and unicorns🤷‍♀️
Not all teenagers are evil child kidnappers and unicorns don’t exist!

They need opportunities to explore the world and have some independence in an age appropriate way. Being stuck in the house the majority of the time under the guise of 'home educating' isn't fair. Home educating can be great but a frazzled mum of 3 that can't cope with the normal demands of parenting isn't going to actually be doing it in any meaningful way. And it's suggestions like this that totally undermines all the really good home education that does exist and why so many people think it's selfish parents putting their own needs first at the expense of their child's longterm outcomes.

I teach this age, and kindly, you are hugely under valuing the education in reception. If his attendance is below 95% the school will likely already be doing intervention lessons for him being behind. Whilst this is great and he’ll hopefully keep up, he’s missing play and other lessons. Your son deserves an education. An early reader and writer will statistically do better. He didn’t choose to have two younger siblings get brothers. Maybe just use breakfast club and get him there early, anything to access an education!

Do these teenagers live next to the farmer who breeds Unicorns?

OP, you mention you have a SEN buggy so you I assume you must have had some input from Children services. Explain your problems to them and ask for some help to navigate your way through. Honestly, ask. They don't hear a well greased wheel. You need some support, ask for it. x

You don't need home ed groups at 4. You don't need to 'deliver' education to a 4 year old. They need play opportunities and secure attachments, both available at home with mum and siblings.

Great advice.

OP, definitely check out Homestart. I was a Homestart volunteer, many years ago and supporting families with young children, is what they are all about. It might be that a volunteer could drive you all to school a couple of days a week. Do you have a health visitor? She might be able to steer you in the right direction, support wise.

That’s incorrevt

school isn’t compulsory from 5, an education is compulsory……

you can choose how to do that. Doesn’t have to be a school

When I was at school and college, as part of my child care course, we frequently helped out Mums in our locality. I did a child study on a fairly young baby and spent a fair bit of time with him, with Mum around, just lending a hand.
I also did babysitting for cash whist at school, college, for children of various ages.
Cant quite see what’s funny about that?
It was a suggestion to OP, that if she knew of a young person in her area that might like to help her in the mornings, she might find it a help?

Not to mention the fact if she can't afford taxis then she probably can't afford to bring it some paid help either.

Unless she appeals PIP and applies for DLA anyway.

If she's so overwhelmed she can't manage pick up and drop off to school, I doubt she'll manage to deliver any education never mind get out the door with the other two in toe as well to avail of any of the potential social/home ed groups that are about

He's 4. Four. 'advertise for some help on a casual basis' 😂What nonsense! I wouldn't have a stranger look after my garden never mind my bairns!

Hi OP, I haven't read all the replies but could a local charity like home start help? I know a mum with disabled twins who can't drive and a lovely volunteer drives them to appointments etc. I know it's not every day but maybe a couple of times a week would help.

Why would a 4 year old need 1-1? I'm not understanding the rationale. There are many opportunities to employ playful learning that includes the younger siblings. I'd argue that the home environment, with mum and siblings, provides much more suitable learning opportunities at the age of 4 than a classroom of 30 children. Education at 4 should not be formal.

Your son not being comfortable in new environments isn't reason enough to keep him off school, when breakfast club is an option.

Be the parent, send him to breakfast club (my kids loved it, it was just an hour or so to eat and play with their friends) and make your DH take him.

Your DH holds down a job, he can deal with school drop offs and pick ups.

I dont understand why people are getting hung up on him not being CSA now

No he isnt now and therefore education isnt compulsory now, but it will be in September so unless he is home educated very little will be different in September

She'll still have a middle son who wont be able to walk. Her baby by then might be toddling, health needs dependent so she'll have to toddle this toddler along, unless he goes in a buggy and then where does the middle child go?

OP is refusing to consider that her husband needs to change his job/hours or that they need to move. She needs to be within walking distance of the school.

Or HE the children

Not every driving instructor is good. Your previous instructor's word is not gospel. You can absolutely learn how to drive with dyspraxia. It might take a bit longer, but you absolutely can get your license before your eldest reaches year 1. With 3 children, their ability to partake in anything extra curricular will be dictated by your ability to drive them. My advice would be to do an intensive course where you do 3-4 hour sessions over one weekend to get going. It will come together for you with the right instructor. Maybe ask for recommendations on a local forum. My first instructor was a moron, but I didn't know it until I had the contrast of working with a top class one. Night and day.

Not sure if you have tried any of these possible sources of help. Have you spoken to health visitor who might know of sources of help, if your middle son is being treated have you had input from either physiotherapist or occupational therapist, could CAB help you appeal your PIP refusal, or help you apply for your son? Some money coming in might let you pay for a taxi as well as either someone to sit with your your younger children while you take your son to school or accompany your son. Do WRVS have a good neighbour scheme that could help with lifts. Can you husband work go in a bit later and take your oldest to school?

No not with a toddler and baby in tow

You don't think she'd be able to give him as much one-to-one time as he currently gets at school? 😁

You're right but they tend to get taken out of the classroom into smaller groups where they don't have toddlers or babies needing attention

School is not compulsory, but education is.
In many counties including the USA, children start age 6 .
I'd let the school know that he will start after his 5th birthday. Legally they have to be fine with that and mature teachers will agree with you that at the moment, due to many factors, it would be better to not start the awful commute at least until he is 5. You can read lots to him and Youtube has great early learning videos. He will learn a lot.

Not many children in schools get 1-1 time either. I'm sure he'll be fine.