Struggling with the school run

[whatsthepointthen]

I live quite far from my childrens school, it means getting the bus. Every morning the bus is packed! It means frequently missing it if I have the pram this means getting to school late. I have tried other alternatives. Like a sling, but dont know why they are raved about so much as I find it extremely heavy. Could be because dd is 20 months now, but as the bus is always packed it means standing then walking to the school and because I have 3 children at the school I have to walk all the way round the building, (very big school 700 pupiles) and back again. There is no way to drop them
off without doing this. Im just finding the sling to heavy and a struggle.

Ive tried taking a pram that can be folded but again its the same thing, bus very packed, having to stand holding a pram and a baby which is pretty impossible. So we are always ending up late getting the later bus.

Obviously dd can walk but I think thats abit far off for now as its such a lot of walking that she will struggle for now as shes still pretty tiny, and tbh will take just as long.

Aibu to be struggling this much? 😩 Are there any alternative carriers for older babies or something im not thinking about?

I like the idea of locking up the pushchair at the bus stop - that's clever!

OP do any of your kids have friends that arrive at the same time as you? Could you arrange to meet up with a mum at the gate and swop kids / pass one over so you don't have to walk as far around the school with the toddler?

Private hire firms are contracted to do school runs in some areas. Have you tried asking school/LEA about this?

www.hippychick.com/categories/hipseats-and-baby-carriers

I use this for my heavy 10 month old as we're in and out the car all the time and it's not practical to get the buggy out or to put him in a proper carrier all he time. it might work for you too if the toddler alternates between walking and being carried.

or a back carrier might work. I have a tula that I find very comfortable for front carrier and can also be used as a back carrier once the baby/toddler is bigger.

hopefully you can sort some transport with the la though!

Do either of your children with SEN have a statement or EHCP? If so they would get priority at a closer school. Even if it's already oversubscribed. Not sure how that would effect the others though.

That’s not how it works. If a child has an ECHP it will name the school and this cannot be changed unless the family moves house to a different area, the named school can no longer meet the child’s needs, or the placement has broken down.

And with regard to having priority for admissions to a closer school, you can be declined if the school is unable to make the “reasonable adjustments” necessary to meet the new child’s needs, for example if the requirements of an existing child with an ECHP in that class mean that reasonable adjustments cannot be made without compromising that existing child.

Look at your local authority and what the criteria is for transport to school, as you say your children have SEN. I am sure I read somewhere that you can qualify for transport if over 3 miles away, and if SEN it's a shorter cut off point? Please seek advice on this.