to think that criticism of the school run is a form of sexism?

[Handay]

There seems to have long been a popular narrative that people taking their children to school by car are clogging up the roads with unnecessary journeys and delaying working commuters.

Most of these journeys are done by women.

It is a legal requirement for children to go to school, just as most people are contractually obliged to go to work. For many women, their obligation will fall across both aspects in that they will drop their children at school and then continue to work.

Why then are one set of people using a car in order to travel to somewhere they are obliged to be, criticised? There are, especially in cities, probably lots of car journeys that are "unnecessary" in the sense that the people making them could travel by alternative means. Why are women and children's journeys categorised as somehow less important than those of other road users and why are they repeatedly told that they should not be on the roads?

Just one recent example of this here on Jeremy Vine this week:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00035rk

Children with a ehcp have the legal right to go to whichever mainstream school is best for them and that right should remain.

Yes, but where I live, this is the local school. And legally the school has to make whatever accommodations are necessary to make sure the school is the ^best school for them.

That is impractical and possibly impossible to do for every child. It just forces some children into special schools when they otherwise wouldn't need to be.

NotComingBackAnytimeSoon ah, from your last post no, we don't live in the same country, or at least not in the same state sadly.

UK special needs provision seems to be in a poor state, but where I live they've also got it wrong for different reasons, and although this is recognised change is glacial and much debated.

I live very near a school. Yes the school was there when we bought the house. But the issue is that the role has increased from 275 to almost 400.

The issue isn't so much that people drive. (Although I know where some of the drivers live, and they're fucking lazy). The issue is the quest to get as close to school as is humanly possible, despite there being a perfectly good, large car park 5 minutes walk away. They park on kerbs, over drives, opposite drives on a narrow street, in disabled spaces, on yellow lines. Just for that 10m advantage on being closer to the gate.

Most of the drivers are women. That doesn't mean that they can't also be selfish, inconsiderate and downright lazy.

I didn't want my child to be the only one in the village school with autism and learning difficulties. I didn't want him to be in a class with a teacher who had never taught a child like mine.

I think saying women do the school run is sexist. Plenty of men do it round here.

I think most people who can walk their kids to school do,

They absolutely do not. I pass several lazy fuckers on the way to school as I leave for work around 8.45 am twice a week. These are people who I know, and I know where they live. They are 5 -10 minutes walk from school. No rushing on to work. They are just lazy.

School has designated the last week of term as "sustainable transport" week. Classes collect stickers each day for walking/scooting/cycling to school. Children of the lazy fuckers have no chance.

SileneOliveira that is much of the problem.
My DDs school gets loads of complaints from local residents about parents parking because they behave like absolute twats. I know one parent even parks on empty drives because she thinks because shes 'only going to be 5 minutes' so it's o.k.

If all children went to their local school there would be two or three children with learning difficulties in every single class.
Only works if all children go to the local school though, of course nobody wants their child to be the only one.

It used to be that you went to the school nearest to where you lived. That meant that far more kids walked to school. Those who didn't got school buses. Now the roads are clogged with people taking kids to school because it's too far to walk and the service buses are full of kids going to school ostensibly for the same reason. It's very frustrating.

I think we’re scuppered with this in the UK - at primary school at any rate- cos we’ve ended up with a society where a child aged 9/10/11 walking to school by themselves seems neglectful - and schools have contributed to that as well. As a pp said there are other countries in Europe where upper-primary aged kids get themselves to school, even with younger siblings, get buses etc. We don’t have that so people feel they need to drop kids off and, fair enough, do it in cars on their way to work.

cos we’ve ended up with a society where a child aged 9/10/11 walking to school by themselves seems neglectful
Children are allowed to walk home by themselves from Y5 (9/10) at our school with parental permission so it is supported by some schools.

Re getting to school early and breakfast clubs- About 25 years ago my day would walk to primary school with me very early then walk to work and I would hang out in the abandoned playground until my friends started to arrive or if it was cold and the toilets were open I’d sit in there until school started. I was 7! Seeing as this is pretty much unheard of now and someone on the staff would probably do a CP referral I kind of think schools have made this drop off issue extra hard for themselves by having such stringent gate opening times etc. If parents could access the playground from 8 then they would be able to walk to school then do their commute. The school might have to lay someone to supervise but perhaps it would be worth it to avoid some of the parking issues.

@gamerwidow - that’s good. Not appropriate for everyone but for those who can it’s a good idea

The school might have to pay someone to supervise
This is the issue unfortunately. School budgets are so stretched some can't even open for a full week. It's very unlikely they can afford the staff to man a playground at the minute.

I normally recognise school run Mums because they are incapable of doing anything else. Crap at parking, crap at negotiating traffic, behave like idiots. I am a woman myself and I still hate being stuck behind them because for most, they're a bloody nuisance, stopping and parking in the most improbable places and behaving like muppets. Those who only drive their kids to school and to sports training have only ever learned that one route so easily spotted when driving 20m/h everywhere, no indicators, braking when driving downhill and confused when having to divert.
I actually talked to one who was totally incensed because she failed her driving test again and complained that the instructor insisted on a different route that she would normally take and why can't there be a limited driving license only for the route she would normally take (school, shops and back home). She was dead serious.

PinguDance yes even with a parent at home I think it's good for the children to practice their independence ahead of starting secondary school.

"If all children went to their local school there would be two or three children with learning difficulties in every single class."

There wouldn't be in small village schools.
Where I live very few children go to special school before age 8 but my village school would not have coped with a child functioning at the level of a 12-18 month old. I also wanted better for him than being coped with.

Spikeyball is he at mainstream? Is that really best for him? Is it just a mainstream with more experience, or one with a special needs unit attached? I'm curious about what the mainstream that's right for him has to make it more suitable - just more experience or extra facilities beyond that?

The last figures I saw on the subject of the school run was that 1/3 of cars went back home afterwards (or vice-versa). I'd guess half of those are within walking distance. So justifiable in my opinion and not sexist to criticise those who are could get up a few minutes earlier and walk with their child or children.

Though if I had my way and about 25% of drivers had their licence revoked for conduct or health, not many of those on the school run above would be amongst them.

The most effective way of reducing the school run would never happen- of those within walking distance and able bodied/without SN, those who walk their child to school are first in the queue for secondary school places. People are prepared to 'rediscover' faith or move house for a good school, and I am sure they'd walk if that helped.

He is in specialist asd now. His mainstream school had some very experienced staff very inclusive ethos , modern building with good acoustics, lots of withdrawal spaces etc.

So a different building as well as more experienced staff. The inclusive ethos though - that is something that should be expected of every school.

The primary school admissions system needs fixing, as does school design and the complete lack of a school bus system needs addressing. The whole thing does impact on women more as on average they earn less than partners and are more likely to cut back on hours or ask for changes to hours. If school transport were less hassle this wouldn't be so necessary. Where I live in outer London the schools cannot realistically expand much more. Our nearest school had no places for the 5 years before DD reached school age so we sent her to a private school which is an inconvenient journey and yes we drive it (although we do not park like idiots). What would really help me and a lot of other parents (absent a sensible admissions system) would be a shuttle bus to the nearest station from the school. We end up parking near the school to avoid a long walk from the station to school and another long walk home with a grumpy child dragging all her stuff and all my stuff. I am feeling quite wistful thinking of a) 5 year olds walking for school b) school buses and c) drop off areas designed like a decent Tesco.

If your child is a placed in a school out of catchment, which you did not request, why should you be responsible for getting them there? I know a couple of children in this situation.

I think it's annoying when secondary school dc are driven to school especially when the area where I live has excellent public transport. It's good for them to become more independent.