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?

I wouldn't even consider it! Far too far for a four year old to walk on top of a busy day at nursery and will be a real drag in bad weather!

I think it's more than doable - we've just as a society got too used to driving everywhere (hence why lots of people are unfit and we've got problems with air pollution and overweight children).

I'd consider getting a bike, perhaps with a child seat or trailer, so even if you walked one way you could cycle the other way without DD - 1.5 miles should take 15 mins max I think.

Oh, and we live in a town where all the schools are over one side of the town, so there are loads of children here who walk 30 minutes or more to school. They just get used to walking a bit faster than they'd like to, even the reception-age ones.

We do a 20-30m walk each day. I'd echo what others have said, the walk there isn't bad, even in crappy weather, if you're dressed for it, no big deal. The walk home however can be tough. You'll ultimately know what your child is capable of, but be prepared for lots of feet dragging, complaints, bargaining etc. My 5yo cycles and takes the journey better than his 4 year old brother, so if you have the means I'd recommend giving that a go (don't forget waterproofs and dry shoes though,nothing worse than starting the day drenched and cycling in the rain can spray allsorts up and down the uniform.

After a long day running around I’d struggle to get my 4yo to walk 40 minutes home, particularly after already walking 40 mins there. I wouldn’t say it’s a particularly sensible idea.

actually you could drive before September. A friend of mine took an intensive driving course (4 weeks?) and passed her test at a centre, I think she stayed there.

You could also do as my SIL did and learn and pass in an automatic car which is easier to learn in.

I think it is too long.
We just about manage 20 mins and that’s with DS4 standing on the buggy board for a lot of it

It is doable but one thing that might be tricky is if everyone else lives nearby then spontaneous play dates might be more challenging. Both of my children constantly went to other people’s houses after school or had friends over. How would that work? I know that’s quite a way into the future.

No I couldn't do that journey walking with that age child. Far too far and my own DC would be tired. Breaking it up with buses etc yes.

Honestly not a chance.

40 minutes up and down hill at adult pace or child pace? You really need to walk it with them and time it.

Then do it again after 3 hours or a full day of running around like a crazed beast when they're tired and hungry. Then when it's pouring down or rain and they're miserable, tired and hungry.

If you like it that much, and you've only just found out you need to move, would you consider moving closer to the school?

Is there anywhere nearby to hang out on her half day? Assuming say school starts at 8.40 you'd need to be out your house for 7. 50 latest, drop her off at school so start walk back say 8.45, that'd be 9. 25 back at yours and then you'd need to leave at say 10.50. I would def find somewhere to go have a coffee instead

If you like the place perhaps have a dry run. On an inclement day.

Is there anything that might get in the way? Are circumstances likely to change that will make the journey less doable?

It sounds horrendous - a 40 minute adult pace walk with a nursery child? You will be walking 2 hours a day at adult pace plus the rest for small child speed. Bad weather, tired child, not something I would event contemplate tbh. We live a 6 minute walk from school. When DTs were in reception I used to allow 20 minutes because they dawdled, climbed walls, looked at insects etc etc

Child seat for a four year old might be a bit wobbly (depends on weight) - I would prefer a trailer, or tagalong bike.

1.5 miles when half of that is a steep hill might take longer than 15 minutes though, especially if carrying the weight of a 4-yo as well, be it in the seat or trailer! My 1.3 miles, with trailer, uphill would take me just under 10 minutes, but that was with the help of an e-motor. Without motor, but with no added child, it takes me just under 15 minutes. With 5-yo on own bike it's 20 minutes.

I walk 30 minutes with mine. My 3 year old has been walking it for about a year and she has to go both ways when we are just dropping the eldest off.
When it rains we wear wellies and use umbrellas.

Definitely look at cycling. You say it's 1.5 miles, that is about the distance I live from our local station and the leisure centre and it takes 7-8 minutes to cycle. Even with a 4 year old and with hills you're not going to take more than 15 minutes.

Thanks for all the replies, lots to think about!
We can't move closer as we are actually moving in with my parents who are having an annexe built, we are incredibly lucky!
So we will have them on back up for lifts if she is ill or injured, we also have her other grandparents locally who will also help when needed.
Obviously won't be expecting them to take us all the time though!

I'm about 90% certain we are in catchment for the school at would get in, theres plenty of kids who live near my parents who go to the school and also to one of the other schools which is about the same distance away, as well as a school in the next town along. Catchment area doesn't seem to be a massive issue in this area (rural) as it is in other areas.

I'm interested in the electric bike idea, will have to research!

I always take a treat at pickup for them to eat on the way home. Sugar free lollies are good because it keeps their mouths busy 😁

I used to do a 40 min walk to take my son to nursery, then me and my 5 year old would walk an extra 15 mins to get to his school. We really enjoyed it. It's a nice start to the day then after it's a nice time to talk about their day. Just don't forget a spare set of clothes if it's raining! They never moaned about the walk.

I think that realistically a forty minute walk will be too much, especially at the end of the day.

My 4.5 year old cycles or scoots the mile to nursery and back happily for the most part, and has since she was 2.5. However, on days when the weather is foul, or she is tired, or grumpy, that mile long walk seems to take forever. It's not a direct bus route though, so that's the only option.

My kids are really good walkers, we hike on holidays etc etc but no way would they do 40 mins walk each way every day. We’re only 5 mins from school now and they struggle with that sometimes when they’re shattered from school. A one off would be fine, but especially when they first start they’re knackered. My youngest used to fall asleep at the dinner table sometimes during his first year at nursery. Even my older kids now are getting very tired as we’re nearing the end of the school year.

I’d buy a push along trike.
We had a puky and it did hundreds of miles. They can walk a bit then hop on if tired.

Why do you "have" to move OP? And why if you do have to move does it need to be so far away from your preferred nursery / school?

Agree with the common reservations here. We have a 7 minute walk (child pace, I'm much faster alone!) and even that is no fun with a puking / poorly child doesn't happen that often but when it does, its no fun

I would really think about your options here

• can you live closer to the school you like?
• can you look at the schools / nurseries nearer to where you have to live (if you don't have a choice on location of home)
• intensive driving course and cheap car
• bike

It's a hell of a walk for even the most robust of young kids!

Definitely check your area's past allocations to see if you would get in. Other kids you see may have got in under sibling rule or quieter years.

I did a 15 min walk with my child and he was SO slow. I didn't really mind until it was raining or if he fell over and cried all the way back. Or asked to be picked up.

But if you think you would enjoy it, go for it!

Nope from me also. 40 mins in itself is fine. But that means getting up way earlier to leave earlier to get there, ages to get back after. Late to after school local parties, or activities. Wet when its miserable. annoying when they have a cold so a bit ill, but still ok to go to school. A pain when you drop them off,turn around, then school phones saying they are ill.

If you had a car and walked when it was nice, when you have time,and everyone well then ok. But I think full timeis too much. Maximum I would want to walk would be 15-20 mins, otherwise, a bike,bus, train or car would need to be considered.

Dd1 went to a pre school from 3 that was 1.3 miles away. We walked. It was fine. There are scooters and bikes. In the rain we just put on wellies and jumped in puddles . Even if I had driven then I'd still have walked. Only time it was a problem was when I suffered pregnancy issues with dd2. But then even of we had have been nearer it still would have been an issue tbh and it felt a bit more justifiable getting a taxi to go a bigger distance than it would have been to go a shorter one. And I really missed the walk. Once i had dd2 I was back into it and it was fine even with a buggy.

I'd do the same again definately.

Too many kids driven door to door . It's not good for them. Walking does them good. Kids have a surprising amount of energy. They manage alot more than we give them credit for. We used to walk there go to the park nearby while we waited she would then do her pre school session and in the summer wed be at the park again after with all the kids. Was lovely.

Dd1 now walks 1.2 miles to secondary school.

If it's a nice nursery school id do it.