to expect that DS (6) is capable of getting himself onto and off school bus with DD(10)

[defuse]

I am a working mum and after paying for childcare for some time, had decided to get DS onto the school bus as DD already gets the school bus. I have been told by the school that DS will need an adult travelling with him until he turns 8 - despite the fact that DD gets on and off the bus on a regular basis and someone is always at the bus stop to collect!

I fully accept the school's decision - just venting!!
I have now had to make alternative arrangements (more costly, more favours being asked) but frankly, do not see what the fuss is all about!

AIBU to think that both siblings should have been permitted to travel together considering they get on and off the bus together!

Are they going on the idea that a 10 YO shouldn't be responsible for a 6 YO?

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with you DS getting on/off just with his sister, I mean, don't most DC in America go on their own on the bus (or the telly makes it look like they do ).

Maybe it's insurance?

Perhaps they're just being overly H and S conscious?

Annoying for you though.

YABU. Aside from safety, what about behaviour management whilst on the bus?

YANBU. When I was at primary school in the 60s, all the children from the next village came by bus, unsupervised from the age of 4. One teacher got the bus too, because she lived in that village. No need for behaviour management, evryone knew that they had to be sensible

At Ds's school some children come on the bus ( alone) from day one of reception. There was parent who cycled behind teh bus every day for first week, but they stopped once they were sure their DC knew where to hang coat and put lunch bag.

The bus is met at school by a staff member and children wait together in the hall till the playground is staffed ( IF bus is early), after school KS1 kids are collected from class by a staff member and walked to bus, KS2 come over in dribs n drabs.

DS went on the school bus alone from age 4 (reception). There is no bus attendant, only the driver. I have never known a parent to accompany children on the school bus.

You're DS is 6 ffs and you expect his sister who is 10 to look after him?

No, I don't think so.

is this a school bus or regular public transport?

It is a school bus and not public transport.

Frankly speaking, I DO understand why the school has said no, but I also feel that DD is quite capable of 'looking after'/escorting DS onto the bus. In actual fact, DS is quite capable of getting onto the bus himself even without DD.

I'm not sure what it has to do with the school. Surely decisions about school transport are down to the transport provider?

I don't see how it is safer for older, unaccompanied primary children to be travelling with adult strangers who are accompanying other children. It is arguably safer for only children to be on the school bus, although both the presence and absence of adults on a school bus are really quite minor safety issues.

YANBU. We're in Oz where lots of kids travel by school bus from kindy (age 5/6), when I first arrived I was horrified to see little kids getting off buses by themselves but you soon see it as the norm. DD started getting the bus aged 6, and yes I expected her 10yo brother to "keep an eye on her" although she was quite capable of sitting on a bus for 20 minutes that would deliver her straight into the school grounds all by herself!

there is something about a child being 8 before they can travel alone , not sure the policy , but my friend lived out the back of beyond and her sons school laid on a mini bus for the children under 8 to get to school , after 8 he was expected to walk to the bottom of the hill for the school bus, TBh i think school buses should have adult escorts on them for children seems daft to lay on a school bus and not let under 8s on with an older sibling ,

daft isnt it maryz mine never needed the bus but i do see parents on the school bus to our local primary ,

I think, Mrs Jay, that your friend's ds may have fallen foul of the walking distance criteria rather than any legislation that requires under 8s to be escorted. Since actually, no such law exists. However, while under the age of 8, children can only be expected to walk a certain distance to school. Over 8, this walking distance is increased.

So, while the under 8s would be eligible for school transport (such as a minibus), once over 8 they might well live too close to the school to qualify. Thus having to walk to the nearest bus stop and catch a regular service to the school.

When I was a transport planner for a local authority, we had no rules about requiring escorts on buses for children of school age. In fact, one service that I managed carried several reception age children.

YABU not to have found out what the school's policy was before cancelling your childcare arrangements.

YANBU. The school bus for the outlying areas round my village picks up all the primary children, drops the yrs 3, 4, 5, and 6s off at their school and then takes the reception-yr2 children to theirs. Not sure whether they have an adult on the bus with them though.

oh i see pandemoniaa that makes much more sense than some sort of travel policy , they did have a bit to walk , I just remember her saying something about him being under 8 and getting the minibus to school ,