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Original poster

DS getting taxi home alone from school at four years old....

85 replies

flootshoot · 10/01/2014 16:47

Please tell me this will be ok.

This is the only option (see my other thread) - the driver will be CRB checked and luckily DS is a very confident child, but it goes against all parental instincts! The LA doesn't provide chaperones (the head teacher is slightly Hmm about this too), and there are no other children in the taxi. Does anyone's else child do this? Words of reassurance would be welcome!

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 10/01/2014 16:48

Surely they're legally obliged to provide escorts?? Shock

Contraryish · 10/01/2014 16:49

My son did this at a slightly older age, in year 1. Normally there were others on the taxi but occasionally he'd be on his own.

He loved his taxi driver, Jim. One day they were a bit late home from school because Jim had stopped to show him the tractors working in the field!

JoinYourPlayfellows · 10/01/2014 16:49

It sounds fine to me, especially if he is a very confident child.

Will it be the same driver every day?

Could you meet the driver?

TheLeastAccomplishedBennetGirl · 10/01/2014 16:50

not sure of your child's needs, but i wouldn't settle for this

DS might be confident, but he's what, 4 years old?

not responsible for his own actions at that age

Contraryish · 10/01/2014 16:50

Just to add, he's in yr 5 now and my daughter is in yr 3. They've both had buses/taxis to school throughout and chaperones have never been provided. No ill has come to them, but they love it and see it as an adventure!

Original poster
flootshoot · 10/01/2014 17:09

It will be the same driver every day. Once it's set I up I suppose I could ask him/her to call in to meet them?

I don't really want to to settle either but if they don't provide escorts what can I do?

OP posts:
JoinYourPlayfellows · 10/01/2014 17:13

If it's going to be the same driver every day, then providing he gets a good driver that he likes (and you feel comfortable with), then that should be OK.

It must be very hard for you if this goes against all your parental instincts :(

I'm not suggesting that you should ignore them, or that my instincts should carry any weight, but just so you know - not every parent would find this situation so worrying.

A trusted, CRB-checked adult will be driving him home every day.

I hope once you get used to this it stops feeling so wrong.

(I have no idea whether you have any options in terms of not "settling" for this.)

Original poster
flootshoot · 10/01/2014 17:17

I know I'm probably being a bit PFB about this (and really that's very unlike me!), but I think it's just that it feels like I'm letting my small child get in a car with a stranger!

I'm sure once the first journey is done I'll be fine.

OP posts:
Pancakeflipper · 10/01/2014 17:21

I would feel wary too, ask to meet the taxi driver. A good one will understand and do it for a cuppa and a biscuit.

JoinYourPlayfellows · 10/01/2014 17:21

No, I'm not saying that at all.

You're his mother, your feelings here are valid.

TheLeastAccomplishedBennetGirl · 10/01/2014 17:23

are the LA providing transport here?

haven't seen your other thread, and tbh, MN is loading so slowly right now i'm not sure i can even find it Hmm

Original poster
flootshoot · 10/01/2014 17:24

'A trusted, CRB-checked adult will be driving him home every day'

see, this is what I need to hear, because in my head I'm picturing stereotypical grotty minicab driver!

OP posts:
Original poster
flootshoot · 10/01/2014 17:27

LA are providing transport and it's slightly complicated because the school is over the county border so he isn't entitled to a place on the school bus.

OP posts:
nf1morethanjustlumpsandbumps · 10/01/2014 17:32

My big cousin does this it's not a taxi a such but takes kids to special school, adults to day centres, elderly to hospital etc he loves his job do much and his clients all love him. He is CRB checked and has a DR with special needs so has plenty of experience. I know he would normally call out before hand to pass his mobile number on and introduce himself so it's not quite so scary for the families he does that bit in his own time though and its because he knew how he felt when he had to in trust his DR to a stranger in the past

TheLeastAccomplishedBennetGirl · 10/01/2014 17:45

floot

hope i'm not over the mark here, but if your DS has SEN, have you been on contact with IPSEA or anyone similar?

i cannot believe they expect the driver to be the responsible adult here

lilyaldrin · 10/01/2014 17:48

I wouldn't be happy tbh. Is the driver going to ensure he's properly strapped in to a car seat etc?

Original poster
flootshoot · 10/01/2014 17:53

No SEN. A booster seat is being provided and has been delivered to school. Apparently the drivers come into school to collect from the office. It must be a requirement if the driver has agreed to do school runs that they check seatbelts etc?

I really am in a quandary over this but I can't keep doing a 5 mile round trip with a toddler every day!

OP posts:
Original poster
flootshoot · 10/01/2014 17:54

No SEN. A booster seat is being provided and has been delivered to school. Apparently the drivers come into school to collect from the office. It must be a requirement if the driver has agreed to do school runs that they check seatbelts etc?

I really am in a quandary over this but I can't keep doing a 5 mile round trip with a toddler every day!

OP posts:
lilyaldrin · 10/01/2014 17:58

I'd want to check what kind of seat they're providing and if it's safe/he's heavy enough for it. I expect my DS will still be under 18kg and in a 5 point harnessed HBB when he starts school.

Original poster
flootshoot · 10/01/2014 18:03

DS is over 20kg and tall enough for a normal booster seat so I'm ok with that aspect. It's just making sure he's belted in properly that's the main thing. I'll have to give him a pep talk as well as making sure the driver is on the ball.

OP posts:
lilyaldrin · 10/01/2014 18:04

Ah ok - my 3.5 year old is still only 14.5kg Grin

Original poster
flootshoot · 10/01/2014 18:07

Yes DS is massive!! He's nearly five.

OP posts:
TheLeastAccomplishedBennetGirl · 10/01/2014 18:08

ah, asked that because that's the most likely reason i've heard of for schooling a child inter-county

CaptainSweatPants · 10/01/2014 18:08

Why is he getting a taxi to school? Can you fill us in with the back story op?

BrianTheMole · 10/01/2014 18:08

I'd ask to meet the driver. But really, if he's been crb checked, has a contract with the council and you feel he's ok, it really shouldn't be a problem. Plenty of children get transported to school like this, every day, all over the country.

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