Travel to primary school by school bus

[Potatomashed]

I live in a rural area of UK with a toddler so it’sa proper way off yet but I’ve been thinking… There isn’t a primary school in my village and kids get the council run school bus too and from school. At what age would you feel comfortable with your child travelling independently on the school bus? Would you feel you are missing out on the highs and lows of school gate interaction?

My did this from P1 (we were in Scotland at the time). Aged 5. No problem at all with getting the bus and didn’t miss the school gate. There was some mum chat at the bus stop but we mostly knew each other anyway.

The school was really good about keeping parents informed as well.

(we also did it in Singapore for my just turned 5 year old - much longer bus ride, kids loved it).

My girl started on the school bus day 2 of reception. The very first day I took the morning off work and dropped her myself, she got the bus home and since then she’s been bus everyday unless we’re late and missed it! She was 4 and half.

It’s actually been so great for her independence, she loves it and all the kids that get the bus get on really well, so she’s got friends of all ages. The older ones look out for the younger ones and you still get your ‘school gate moments’ just at the bus instead of the gate.

Ours start at 4.It's just normal for everyone so no big deal for the children.
The parents on the other hand.........

Mine go on the bus since reception. Now in secondary, still on the bus. I had to go once a week to pick up due to a club timing, I definitely dont feel I missed out on anything at the school gates.

Both my children went on the school bus as soon as they were allowed which was from the term they turned 5. Not having to do the whole school gate thing was one of the absolute best bits about the bus - plus I gained an extra 45 mins to an hour a day!

Live abroad and the majority of kids go to school on school buses. Kids start school the September of the year they turn 3 so many are still 2 if they have birthdays sept-Dec, and hop on and off the buses just fine.

Mine all got the bus from reception and I tried to pick up in the afternoons so I felt a little bit more involved with the school. They loved the bus!

Rural here and the kids get the bus as soon as they start full days in Reception class.

Reception here too.

Mine did from 4. All the reception kids sat together at the front, and the bus monitor checked seat belts and got them and their belongings off to the parent at the end of the day.

I witnessed the other end once (the school getting them all on their buses) and it looked like chaos but was actually a very smooth operation. No bus moved until every child was accounted for.

The major downside was the parents were quite disconnected from the school. (Not seeing classrooms, meeting teachers etc). And they had to learn to check the lost property box themselves!

Thanks everyone, that’s so reassuring! i was so worried about not being able to walk to school like I always did but you’ve really out my mind at ease. And I like the benefits of an extra 45 mins a day- starting to worry about how we will fit work around school hours so this would help!

@mamatoTails that’s another level, a 2 year old? So independent!