to feel so hopless

[ChoochiWoo]

I live a good bussride from DS 's school , on a very busy busride, i did live locally but moved, I have applied and currently waiting on a reply about a nearer school, .... I get up at 6 , leave the house about 8ish to get there, like I said the busride is very busy and the comp kids getting on can literally take about 15 mins, for some reason it takes a long time for the bus driver to get through them all. Sometimes because of reasons like this and others out of my control, I am sometimes late in the morning, like 10 ,15 minutes .. the school knows my situation, I used my dad for a bit but would sometimes get stuck in rushhour so even that had its downfalls as he lived a fair bit away from me, ....the school but in DS bookbag that they have sent a letter to the education welfare officer ..i just feel like ending it all, it is so cruel , theres nothing more I can do .

I'm not trying to give anyone a hard time, just trying to suggest solutions. Solutions are better than excuses. That's all.

i gwt up at 6 to do all the prep, if my ds sleeps ok i can do it night before , sometimes not (bad sleeper) im at the busstop for a reasonable time usually its things like a late vus, school kids taking im not exaggerating about 15mins to get a vit group on via one busstop can make you quite late etc it if i get a 7.30/8.00 bus its not unavoidable , its also difficult to wake young children if its still dark, do some school's have a service to get kids who live fuether a field?

I have no idea if it would be available to you, but I know that some children in my daughter's class need a taxi to school in order to be there on time. One child in particular has ADHD, and his journey involved a minimum 45 minute walk with two young siblings in tow, making him constantly late and his whole family was knackered.

It did take a fight, but the family are so much more calm and happy now that he has transport to school.

And I don't think you're being over-dramatic, OP. You sound overwhelmed and knackered, and it's understandable. Your situation sucks and I hope there's some kind of breakthrough for you soon.

Have you contacted anyone to try and secure a place at a new school yet? I suggest getting on the case will sort your bus issue out.

How far away is the school? Is that the closest school with places? If so if it is over a certain distance (3 miles? Not sure but worth you checking) then the LEA have to help with transport.

The school are right to not be happy about recurrent lateness but of course that doesn't help you. If there is an earlier bus I would start trying to get that for now it may make life a bit tougher in the morning but it's better long run than the rush of being late every day.

OP have you actually talked to your current school about the situation? Have they been helpful in any way? I know as the parent it is our responsibility to get our dc to school but the school may be able to offer some solutions to your problem.
Secondly I would suggest you talk to the education welfare officer, be proactive here and see what they suggest. Your schools senco should be able to offer some support too.

Talk to the EWO. They may be able to help. Unfortunately the school are just following procedure. Good luck, you're having a tough time.

Really I think you are worrying too much.Don't get an earlier bus - an hour's journey to school is more than enough for a 5 yr old.Your DS is the one at the centre of this, not their school targets!
If it would make you feel better keep your bus tickets and print off a timetable 'as evidence'
But please stop worrying -this is a trivial matter, and above all don't let them bully you! The school is there for your DS's benefit, not the other way round!

hi sorry for all replies and my late one, i was being over dramatic because I was feeling targeted and overwhelmed by the schools response to an already stressful situation, ...some good news, as of Monday DS is starting a nearer school

am really glad to hear this!

Sorry people posted harshly when you felt at end of tether.

I'm pleased you've had good news, but as a former teacher the school also has my sympathy. Once the children have been dismissed staff have masses of finishing off/preparation for the next day and it's extremely frustrating to be regularly left with uncollected children .

Thank you fanjo ! its mn for you i suppose

That's fantastic!

Can I also say that the EWO's in the main are not to be scared of, they just have to follow the rules, but once you talk with them and explain what is going on, they might have been able to help you. I think having a child with ASD go very early, wait around and all the chaos of the mornings must have been very hard- and I do know some mums who were struggling with various problems were given taxis in one of the schools I work with, to go to a small breakfast club for children with SN as this was a better solution than having them all stressed or late by 9am!

People are quick to judge, I would feel scared by an 'authority' letter especially if I was finding it hard to mange- but don't worry, the EWO's see a lot worse cases than this and will help/back off if you are cooperative.