to expect my colleague's Year 7 twins to be able to get the bus to school?

[MaryQueenOfSpots]

One of my colleagues has just moved house and the twin children are still at their previous school which is a 30 minute bus ride from the new house. Colleague has requested change of hours to accommodate driving children to school in the morning as "they are too young to take the bus". Colleague's DP works irregular shifts so cannot be depended upon for this.

It will affect the rest of the team because the colleague will not be able to attend the daily ward meeting at 8, so cover will need to be found. This is not impossible, but will not be as good as current situation. Continuity will be lost and junior unqualified staff will need to go instead of qualified colleague. There is likely to be some grumbling by another colleague who also has Year 7. child but allows them to make their own way to school. At the same time, other colleagues have had flexible arrangements made when returning from mat leave.

I am a very inexperienced team leader trying to sort out what is fair? Is it really unacceptable for 11 year olds to take a bus to school? I did when I was that age, but that was back in the dark ages...

Unless you live in a very rough area with lots of violent crime, it is perfectly reasonable and entirely normal for 11 yr-olds to get the bus to school.

This may be an excuse, but it's not a reason.

I'd expect a secondary school pupil to be able to get themself to school, and with twins it's not like it's one travelling alone. Unless the journey is really complex. But if it's a decent bus service and a straightforward walk at the end, I can't see why not. (Or are they untrustworthy or truanting horrors?)

No its not unreasonable! They are 11 and there are two of them.

Work/life balance. She has the right to ask to facilitate a harmonious home life.

FWIW - I didn't allow my DS3 Y7 to get the bus for 2 terms (ASD) he is now reasonably able to work out when he has the wrong bus and phone from somewhere utterly and totally fucking random to be picked up

And DS1 and DS2 were able to use a bus from primary Y6, I only lost one once.

Bus? your age? I can top that - I used to have a 10 min walk unaccompanied to primary school across a main road from reception - as did every other child in the area

Children aged 11 are not too young in my opinion, especially if there's no change of bus required. Many of my DD's classmates were walking or taking bus rides at that age. Perhaps a temporary dispensation to allow the mum to travel on the bus a couple of times to allow the DCs to familiarise themselves with the journey would be a compromise.

I know a lot of children around this age, and they all started making their own way to school from the beginning of Y7.

If there are two of them travelling together then even more reason to let them travel on the bus.

DS2 (11) has SEN so his training for the journey to school and back has already started in preparation for him to go solo in September.

Hmmm, tricky. I think year 7s could very easily get the bus, but if other staff have had flexible arrangements...

Is it possible to time limit it, eg. rest of this term (only another 6 weeks) - then they can get bus from September?

Holly she has the right to ask, yes, but the employer is not obliged to accept the request if it would cause problems. As long as the employer can give a reasoned explanation of why the request can't be fulfilled.

Not all children are mature enough to take the bus at the same age, it depends on the children.

I started travelling independently on public transport about halfway through year 7 (just turned 12), that was the age at which I was ready. My older sister was a bit younger (just turned 11), whereas my younger sister didn't start to take public transport alone until she was about 15/16 (she has mild learning difficulties)

If the bus journey involves 2 or more buses, or a long walk at either end, they may not be ready to manage it yet.

-YANBU.

There are people in my department who only work 9-5 shifts as they 'have to be there' for their children. Their children are in their late teens/early twenties.

I, on the other hand, have three four years old and under and just do the regular shifts like every other bugger that doesn't take the piss with flexi working requests.

I know it's not the fault of the staff, and I also know it's none of my business - but I had a flexi working request turned down as it didn't work 'for the business' but they are never questioned. Doesn't seem right.

Yes you are right if you detect some sour grapes here!

Your employee has the right to request the flexible hours, but you can refuse. It isnt necessary for her to have to do this and it wouldnt be unreasonable for you to refuse. Compile a short list of reasons why you are unable to allow it, but keep ot factual rather than "it may cause ill feeling etx"

This is none of your business. You don't know what her twins are like or the maturity of them.

I hate it when people say well my child can do it, so XYZ children should be able to do it.

I like ravenAK's idea.
Flexibility for the next 6 weeks, with the expectation of resuming usual hours from the end of this term onwards.

I know plenty of kids who travel by bus at 11, my little sister walks a mile to school ever since she started secondary.

Hard one as a team leader. its not down to you to say how the twins get to and from school. this is the parents decision. you make the decision on someone requesting alternative working hrs based on that not why the want them. if u cant work it round yr team thenit should be refused but be careful on how u word itotherwise u could have a complaint made against u.

Ha I got all knicker twisty as I thought they were 7 but at 11 I think they should be fine.

Id check with your hr team but legally as long as you give reasonable consideration to get request and your reasons for refusing are valid you can say no.

perhaps she cannot afford two bus fares every day and passing the school would save this?

year 7 is the year that children start to travel to school alone but after the pampering and babying that is expected right up til then, some parents have a hard time letting go.

She has the right to ask

You have the right to refuse

But who would trump if unions got involved?

that's the home life not work life ( just to be clear)

Oh and don't say "I think they are old enough" her patenting choices are not your responsibility and you are on very dodgy ground by commenting.

Just a written and verbal "considered request for flexible hours its but possible due to xyz affects on the wider team" pass via hr, no more information required.

I don't think their age is relevant, it's not your job to decide if they should be getting themselves to school or not.

Your only issue is - can you reasonably accomodate her request?

If you can't then it doesn't matter if the children are babies or teenagers.

If the reasons for refusal are valid business reasons, then I don't see why unions would need to get involved. The OP has said it would affect her team.

It may be a financial issue for your colleague. Paying for 2x 1/2 hr bus travel daily she may be better off taking them herself. I wouldn't be particularly comfortable with my dc that age travelling so long on public transport either tbh.
I would try to accommodate her request but put a review date on it for 3 months time.

Thanks for your replies. It is interesting that most people think that it is ok for Y7 children to take the bus.

I do want to be helpful to this colleague, particularly as he (slight drip feed, sorry) is a really outstanding team member. I think there must be something more to it, otherwise he wouldn't ask.

The idea of temporarily allowing it feels the right thing - thanks raven