School pickups and dropoffs

[bluejasmine00]

Hi,
Don't even know how to frame this question!! So, here goes:
We live in St Albans, stepson attends Chesham Grammar (which is 15 miles away). Doing school runs for him during rush hours is becoming increasingly unsustainable, so looking for alternative transport options.
Looked into taxi services and looks like this is going to cost something in the order of a couple of thousand pounds per month 😱
Is there a nanny/childminding service that will do something like this at a more reasonable cost?
Feeling totally clueless here.

I don't know the areas, but are public transport links such that he can get a bus(or two)? I don't know that a secondary aged child would thank you for a nanny.

What sort of hours do you need? Do you want someone to come to you or you drop your stepson to someone? Or do you literally mean you want someone to do the driving for you? Because if it's the last option then no, nannies/childminders don't do that.

Hi @Imsittinginthekitchensink , thanks for your response.
Unfortunately there is no transport links which will take him less than two hours each way (though it is a 25/30 mins drive). I know he probably will hate the idea of a nanny, but will have to live with it if it come to that :).

Is there anyone else doing a similar journey? Shared taxi would be a lot cheaper.

Is public transport not an option? Even for part of the journey? Surely there must be school buses running in the right direction? I used to travel for 90 minutes on two buses to get to secondary school. We didn't have a car.

How old is he? Are there no school buses that go in any direction closer?

Have you just moved or what was the plan when he started and what’s changed?

What about it is not working? A taxi would be in the same traffic anyway.

Public transport seems your best bet, I would be surprised if no-one else in the area went to the same school.

Drive him to a bus stop part of the way there, so that you aren't always having to drive him all the way to school every day?

We had exactly the same issue with DD1 and DD3, who both went to a grammar school 15 miles away. This was what we did and it did help. DH would do the morning bus stop drop off on his way to work and I would usually be the one collecting them in the evening. The buses they used went from a town about 8 miles away (no direct ones from our village either).

@DelilahBucket and @NoSquirrels , none of the school buses bring him any closer to where we stay. There is just one bus which brings/takes him approximately 30% of the journey and an hourly service.
@NoSquirrels , he was staying with him mom which is very close to the school which was the plan and worked fine so far, but his mother decided to give up custody 🙁. He is obviously quite heartbroken atm and I am trying to make the transition a bit smooth for him. He is 15.
@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat , it was the second option I am looking for. My two biological children always stayed in daycares, so was not sure if this school run can be deemed as a childminding service.
@Aroundtheworldin80moves , that is a good idea. But I suspect being in different counties, that probably won't be easy to find. :(

Thanks for the ideas. Really, really appreciate you replying.😍

@Harridan1981 , currently his dad drives him to school and back which is not possible long term because of his work schedule. I have two children of my own who attend a different school (totally on the reverse direction), so can't split the responsibility unfortunately. It is in a different county and we are outside its catchment. Seems like a really difficult situation.

I would see if he has a friend / class mate nearby that you could car share with. Even if it takes down a couple of the trips that would help.

Would cycling be a possibility?

Is he in year 11? (In which case it's just until exams are over. ) I'd look into a local school and college for year 12 though.

If he's 15 is he in the final year of his GCSEs? surely he will only be doing it until he breaks for study leave? And can then move closer for sixth form or college?

Dad drives him, he gets bus home.

Does his school do any sort of homework club/sports clubs so at least his finish time would be later to miss traffic?

Definetly look for a closer college/6th form when the time comes!

Now that he resides with you so far away, does he qualify for any funded travel?

Might be worth emailing here to enquire about funded travel to complete his gcses in his current school

A 2 hour journey home every day?

I think this would be the best option.

Also if he is 15, then surely theres only a year or less of this left?

He can go to a 6th form/ college closer to home

May I ask why you selected that school when you live such a distance?

I know what the traffic is like in the area so it must be awful to get him there

I would be surprised if a nanny or childminder doing the driving would cost less than a taxi. In both cases there is the person's pay, plus wear and tear on the car and petrol. I think your best bet is to see if you can find someone local who attends the same school and try to arrange to lift share for at least some of the journeys.

Could you drop him at Watford underground at Cassiobury then met line?

He lived with his mum, but shes given up custody now

It's 15 miles.

Train ? St Albans to Rickmansworth them out to Chesham ?

It sounds quite a tricky situation - finding a nanny who would be able to do those hours, around another job and term time only would be difficult. It could cost you around £200 a week too - you would need to pay a mileage allowance of 45p per mile x 30 miles a day, plus two hours pay.