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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be concerned about this child

76 replies

FlyingFox95 · 23/08/2017 23:03

And if so, who do I contact?

I'm not a mother so I'm not aware of the contacts in schools or what I should do. I work evenings and travel in round about the time school ends. There is a girl who gets on the bus with a primary school uniform and travels herself to the city centre (about an hour depending on traffic....definitely outwith the catchment area) I've not seen where she goes since then. Today I noticed she was starting to get up at different points then ended up getting off at a different stop. Really don't think she knows her way at all.

I know I should have done something else but I didn't really consider it until today. My head is always somewhere else travelling but I noticed today I've seen her regularly so it is a common thing

Is my concern unreasonable, if so what should I do? Again, I'm not a parent myself so please excuse my ignorance. I just want to do the right thing. X

OP posts:

chitofftheshovel · 23/08/2017 23:35

Ah, good old cross posts. There are some great minds out there tonight!

WorraLiberty · 23/08/2017 23:36

I don't really get the issue either although I admit, I'm taking a wild guess that's she's older than 7.

Plus if she's been taking the bus since before Summer, she must know where she's going by now.

Original poster

FlyingFox95 · 23/08/2017 23:37

True and I hope that is the case. The school can investigate it and if there's nothing wrong then that's good. On the off chance that there is, they can handle it in the right way. Thanks everyone :)

OP posts:

FuckYouLinda · 23/08/2017 23:37

A young boy on my commute - maybe 8 or so used to travel alone. I got on before him and also would walk the entire route to his school on my way to the office so I'd try to keep him in eyesight for the 10 mins until I saw him go into the school gates. I guess I thought that if I saw an adult approach him I'd step in and escort him to the gates myself. It was only a handful of times though. If it was every single day and they seemed too young I think I might have had a word with the school.

Nicknacky · 23/08/2017 23:37

Are you actually reporting this? How do you expect them to identify her?

Original poster

FlyingFox95 · 23/08/2017 23:40

The details I have are identifiable enough so I'm sure they'll be fine. If not then a least I've given what I can. Obviously not discussing that point or location any further.

OP posts:

rainbowunicorn · 23/08/2017 23:41

I think that your view on what is acceptable or not for a child to be doing may be clouded by your own upbringing. You say that you were not allowed to travel in to town alone or with friends until you were 14 which to be honest is quite late to do these things. I really can't see what you are getting worked up about. A child is making there way home from school on a bus that is all.

Luckymummy22 · 23/08/2017 23:42

Not a suburb of Glasgow but my parents live less than 10 miles from Glasgow city centre and it would probably take an hour on the bus.
Take less than 15 mins in car to get into town!

Original poster

FlyingFox95 · 23/08/2017 23:44

Luckymummy22 tell me about it, public transport here takes so much longer than driving.

OP posts:

Nicknacky · 23/08/2017 23:44

The girl could be put on the bus at one end by a school mum/grand parent etc and met at the other end by a similar person. But someone on the bus clearly knows better and decides that a child travelling on the bus is a safe guarding issue despite having no reason to be concerned and is now going to waste the schools time trying to trace some child.

neveradullmoment99 · 23/08/2017 23:48

If she is 7 that is way too young. Not sure i would be happy even allowing an 11 year old to travel into Glasgow without anyone. I know that my dh did this when he was a kid but its changed days, more traffic etc. I also think I would phone the school.

Original poster

FlyingFox95 · 23/08/2017 23:48

My own upbringing probably distorts my view yeah, as I say I know next to nothing about children.. The reason I asked is because my boyfriend (who is a father but from a different area) and my friend (just had a baby..granted not school age yet) thought the journey was quite long considering the number of schools closer to the city centre. Initially it didn't concern me much but after they had commented I wondered X

OP posts:

Nicknacky · 23/08/2017 23:50

You have no idea why she is at a school further alway. My daughter is not at the nearest school and that was my own choosing.

MrsASoprano · 23/08/2017 23:51

"Nicknacky Wed 23-Aug-17 23:44:33
The girl could be put on the bus at one end by a school mum/grand parent etc and met at the other end by a similar person. But someone on the bus clearly knows better and decides that a child travelling on the bus is a safe guarding issue despite having no reason to be concerned and is now going to waste the schools time trying to trace some child."

Completely unnecessary post. She's unsure so she's asking for advice . Nothing remotely like your description.

Nicknacky · 23/08/2017 23:52

She doesn't know, that's my point. Shes assuming the child has been left floundering.

Letstryagainshallwe · 23/08/2017 23:52

My nephew stays some nights at his dad with is 2 boroughs away from his school. You have no idea of her set up.

Original poster

FlyingFox95 · 23/08/2017 23:55

Obviously I won't know. I imagine the school would though if there's a reason so it being raised won't do any harm.

OP posts:

MrsASoprano · 24/08/2017 00:01

You've made your point really badly, then, nickynacky. Because you're accusing her of knowing better

MrsASoprano · 24/08/2017 00:02

"Is my concern unreasonable, if so what should I do? Again, I'm not a parent myself so please excuse my ignorance."

She's made it quite clear, from the start of the OP, that she's unsure.

So why you felt the need to bowl in and insist on telling her she thinks she knows better, I have no idea.

user1498240695 · 24/08/2017 00:18

Contact the school tomorrow. My 16 year old looks about 11. The primary school my DS attends will not allow a child to leave without an over 16 year old. However, many take themselves to school. Bewildering really. Go with your gut and speak to school, if there's no issue then great - if there is, you know the rest

brasty · 24/08/2017 00:20

If she was too young to travel alone, the school would have intervened. I suspect you are wrong about her age.

kali110 · 24/08/2017 00:24

I honestly don't understand why you're reporting either .
She has a long bus journey and she's young?
Her parents probably thought this was the best school for her.
If her parents are ok with her doing this journey ( and she's obviously been doing it ok) then that's up to them.
I was never allowed to walk to school till quite late either, however im failing to see the problem here.

kali110 · 24/08/2017 00:26

If she was too young to travel alone, the school would have intervened. I suspect you are wrong about her age.
Yes I'm sure the school would have noticed her coming into school on her own and if she was too young said something.
It isn't always easy to tell a persons age!

Letstryagainshallwe · 24/08/2017 00:29

Schools round here allow children from year 6 to travel to and from on there own.

Athrawes · 24/08/2017 01:38

My 7 year old was getting the bus on his own at 5. He would get on at school and off again at one of two places, around 10 miles later, where there would always be someone to meet him.
She obviously knows what she is doing because you keep seeing her on the same bus! She might get off a stop early to go to the sweetie shop, or one later to go to the library.

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