Is it horrible to make ds walk

[Whyohwhy99]

Am I horrible making ds walk for 40 mins to and from school because I want to avoid the bus?

I used to do similar for secondary school. Did it on my first day aged 11 and every day for 5 years

What a nasty reply

If he is attending sen school he is inherently going to be vulnerable - just the uniform alone will be catnip to some other kids. But also he could be taken advantage of.

I have two children who both attended sen schools. Both received travel training to travel independently by bus (they didn't do this in year 7 btw, more like year 10). Their biggest problems were chatting to strangers and giving out personal information. Vulnerability doesn't have to revolve around physically being able to walk.

OP, if you are happy to walk him to and from school, I would keep doing it for now. Sen schools mostly have kids accompanied there and back, whether by parents or bus/taxi. He won't stand out as being different. The whole after school meeting up with mates is very different too - not a big part of the culture for many different reasons.

I was only just 11 when I started high school on the other side of town. My mum took me to the train station and we did a dummy run of the route to school and back. I was taught the time table of trains around the times I travelled and what to do in an emergency. When my children started high school I did exactly the same with their bus route. The only time I ever walked the approx 45 minute journey and the same with my children, is when we chose to spend our bus money on sweets. Does he have friends who travel by bus he could spend the journey with? A 40 minute walk to school every day in all weathers is a little extreme, especially the cold winter months.

He doesn’t have a school logo. So people won't know what school he gos to. I'm ok taking him for now kind of anyway. I don't have a choice.
Yes I have heard of travel training.

I think it would be ok to do the walk but compromise when the weather is shit. Don’t make him walk in the pissing rain because of your anxiety.

Could possibly get an uber/cab

I think it's a good thing - for both of you. You're in the fresh air, getting exercise and time together. The only thing I would say is make sure you've both got good shoes/trainers and suitable outdoor wear in case of rain/cold.

If he is special educational needs, yes you are horrible, as people have pointed out when it's cold and pouring with rain he will arrive soaking wet because you don't want to get the bus, get real.

I haven't read every last post, but what I'm thinking is this: DS is 11yrs old, presumably has just started secondary school. At first he'll feel (& be treated like) a "little-y", busted down to Private after being Y6 top dogs at Primary School. He may need/want OP to accompany him to/from school AT FIRST. This is likely to stop very soon. He will find his feet and demand to be allowed his independence re: journeys to and from school. Then he'll be able to choose for himself whether to walk or get the bus. It'll probably depend on what his mates do. Keep a watch on the situation, OP. And don't worry too much. It's going to sort itself out.

Can get a cab/uber. A lot of sen children can walk. They are not all on buses.

Its a special needs school so a bit different

My four year old would walk 2 miles to school, at 11 it most certainly isn’t too far, in fact the governments own guidelines for school transport is over 2 miles in primary and over 3 miles in secondary, just make sure he has a decent waterproof coat for the winter!

What is horrible about walking 40minutes. Are humans not capable of this now?

Who enjoys walking 40 minutes in the pouring rain?

I didn't enjoy it when I was in school, so I took public transportation.

Humans have been walking in the rain since the dawn of time!!! We really do have problems if young people are now incapable of walking in the rain!

Which he can also once he has learned to use the bus

Why are people on this thread obsessed with the 'pouring rain'. We are actually quite a dry country and that depends where you live in the UK obviously. The east actually gets veyr little rain.

But in any case, rain proof over jackets and trousers exist, which can be packed away on arrival to school

Humans weren't designed at all

Yes that is horrible.

I think it's fine for you to walk, chat on the way, and when you pick him up you could take him a snack for the journey home.

I'm not incapable of walking in the rain, but I'm incapable of finding it enjoyable, as are most people. HTH.

Not going to comment on the anxiety / SEN issues, but...

JFC no wonder we have a childhood obesity epidemic in this country.

My kids have been capable of walking for that length of time since they were 2 / 3 years. DS is at a secondary school that is a 40 minutes walk away. I don't give him a lift. He lugs an instrument, books, PE kit just fine. His school is on a massive campus so he racks up the steps.

Guess what, he manages because he's a healthy teenager with working legs!

Edit - Oh, and we live in a very wet part of the country - he still walks. Hasn't died of pneumonia yet!

We are actually quite a dry country and that depends where you live in the UK obviously. The east actually gets very little rain.

Whereas the Pennines, where I live, gets a lot of rain. Which is why we have so many reservoirs near us.

You dont have to enjoy it, its not a leisure stroll, its the school commute, its just a travel option.

Luck you, we need a pipe from those resevoirs over this way!!