To think a 40 minute walk to school nursery is manageable?

[Heckythump1]

We are looking at pre-schools for September for an almost 4 year old. (We've just found out we have to move in a few weeks) we have a few choices but our favourite on paper is a school nursery 40 minutes walk away. Neither of us drive so we will have to walk whatever the weather, although there are buses for some of the journey.
We are visiting all options in the next week or so.
Am I being daft wanting to send them to a better place further away or should I send her to a closer one that I don't like as much?

Actually, @Jellybeansincognito has a really good point; if either of you or DC are feeling unwell, that 40 mins is going to feel like a loooooong walk. And kids get ill a LOT.

Sounds fine in theory but on the dark, wet, cold Winter days it will be really grim for you & your little one- especially laden down with lunchbox, drink & all the lovingly created artwork etc that they'll be bringing home! Also, think about turnaround times- by the time you get home, how much time will you have before you have to go back out to get them again? Plus, what if you have to get there as quickly as possible if they're hurt or ill? It happens. Seeing as it's just pre-school, I'd personally rather go for somewhere closer - as long as they keep your child safe & they're happy, that's the main thing.

Bike with bike seat. Totally normal around here.

We are about a 12min walk away (my normal speed) and on the way home with my dd scooting it can take 20mins at least so I would say it is too far as she will be tired after school

Thinking about this again and it’s not actually really the walk, it’s the 40 minutes that’s the problem.

If you came on and asked whether you should choose the nursery that is a very short drive away or the “better” one that is 40 minutes by car away, I suspect the replies would be almost unanimous for the nearby one. I think focusing on the walk rather than the time means people are talking about childhood obesity, kids not playing outside these days etc. But if your child is spending a lot of time journeying to and from school, that’s much less time (let alone energy) to play out. And if the nursery or school is a long way away, then they won’t have as many local friends to play with.

The distant nureeey would want to have something really compelling above and beyond to make me even consider it. In fact, if I were you, I’d start with the very nearest and see if it matches what you need and if you like it. If not, then look at the next one along, etc. It’s pre-school. You don’t need the finest preschool in all the land, you need one that does a good job caring for the children and that’s plenty. I think you might be letting the (perceived) perfect be the enemy of the good.

Get a scooter for your child (with a pulling strap/kead), no problem (we do 30 minutes...)

Against most replies here but I think it’ll be fine. There will be horrendous moments but they will be the minority not majority of the time. I chose 2 nurseries based on distance then eventually bit the bullet and put DC into the one further away that I liked from the start. We cope. And they’re in an amazing nursery that they and I love. Go with the place that you think is the best fit.

Honestly I'd just go for a local one unless it's bad. If it's a school nursery then you won't be in catchment anyways so all the friends they make they will end up leaving behind when they have to start school somewhere closer.

When she was 4 and a half and in reception our journey to school (past two schools we didn't like like much) was 30 min walk. Longer on the way back as she found sticks and leaves to inspect en route. We quite enjoyed the walk in good weather. Less so in rain. We had very little snow here in London. We don't drive.
It's never really felt like a problem.
However ...
What you might want to think about is that all her friends and classmates are likely to live 30 -40+ minutes walk away. To enjoy casual post school play dates meant going home in the colder/darker weather. I've spent a lot of money on taxis! It means not having friends locally which affects the dynamic if you are not able to facilitate the relationships, meeting up at weekends/half terms in parks that are a 10 minute walk from the friends house, but a 40-50 minute walk from your house.
I don't regret our choice at all, but I have had to put a lot of time and effort in to maintain friendships at school. Nor does she really have friends locally (which is less ideal now she is 10+ and can't pop to a friend 2 minutes walk away, so her independence is reduced iyswim.).
Anyhow something to think about. x

Oh, and we used bike with covered trailer for some journeys.

The primary school my kids go to, the border of the catchment actually runs along one of the walls surrounding the grounds of the school. It then spreads down about a mile in the other direction. We are out of catchment even though we live 0.1 mile from the school. Friends of my dc are within catchment and are at the border to the next city. It's mental.

DS and I walk 35 minutes each way his pre-school (right next to my work, in case you were wondering). We've done it since he was one and we'll be doing it till he goes to school. He rides in the buggy most of the way though does walk some of the way home. It's fine, I quite enjoy it. Well, maybe not when it's absolutely chucking it down though he's OK under the buggy's waterproof cover... It saves an awful lot of money on gym fees!

If it's a state nursery how do you think you will get her in for full days? My experience is stare nursery in 2.5 hours per day term time and you are either mornings or afternoons, not a mixture

Its a lot for a 4yo. Also regarding bikes etc, i wouldnt feel comfortable my 4yo on a bike or scooter at the side of a main road. They have no sense of road awareness in that they don't always seen lowered kerbs or cars coming out of driveways etc. They'd be ahead of you and you wouldn't stop them in time.
Concentration would be even lower after a day at nursery.

Nope. So It's 4×40min/day for the adult? I have about 40min walk to work during winter(cycle otehrwise) and it is a pain in the ass. Cycling with a seat for the child might be doable though.

I had mine in the better further school. It was great. We then moved to a different city and I put them in the near but not as good one. The change in our life is HUGE. School is around the corner almost, as are the friends. Loads of community. Loads of TIME. We fit in homework, reading, playing in a park and spontaneous met ups with friends. Ii is a revelation. In the other school our entire lives we built around the bloody clock!!

The downhills would be, but the uphills I would have to push the bike up with child on board I think, I've never ridden a bike with child seat, so don't know if I'd manage it!

THIS IS WHAT E-BIKES WERE INVENTED FOR!

You would be unreasonable to walk that, twice a day with a four year old. That's madness.

My nursery is a 20 min walk for an adult and about 30 min walk for my 3 year old we've been doing it morning and evening every day since he started at 6 months old (in the buggy then obvs), he walks it fine and some days will go on his bike which is faster. But I'd say they need to be broken into it, you can't expect them to walk that if they've never done that distance before.

Plus exercise is excellent and you're instilling good healthy habits into her. So what if it rains there's wellies!
I think it's lovely you're thinking of walking - keeps you all healthy and good for the planet - well done you!

My infants/junior school was about that far. It was fine. If it was raining and we didn't have my grandad around to give a lift because he was working then we would just have raincoats and umbrellas. My friend from down the road would walk with us too.

For nursery age they may struggle though.

No. I would opt for the nearer nursery. It will be a major hassle in poor weather or when DD off colour.

Just to respond to a few questions....

• yes she can do 2.5 days.... they offer Monday, Tuesdsy and Wednesday Morning or Wednesday Afternoon, Thursday and Friday. You can also opt for all mornings or all afternoons.
• yes they have space, I am in communication with them and we are visiting next week, along with our other options.

-the school is in a small, rural area, catchment area is not the issue it is in other areas.

No I wouldn't want to do this. I had 4 nurseries I visited for DS and to be honest they all seemed very nice and would have been fine. Ended up with one furthest away due to others being full. Pain. In. The. Arse. I wouldn't want to do it again.

Also I live in a town with 3 schools. The one DS now attends is always very oversubscribed. Friends living no more than 10 mins walk away haven't got their kids in. We were only lucky enough to get a place as we are very close to it. Are you sure you would get a place at this school? If it's popular it may not be so easy.

No it would be daft .