Do you take foster children to school yourself or insist that transport is provided for them?

[3catsnokids]

Just curious. I take my boys to school but it seems that this is quite unusual with LA foster carers in my town. Just wondering what's the norm in other areas.

Depends on the distance. I think under 5 miles you're expected to do it. Longer distance and education transport provide a taxi (and escort if in primary school)

My 2 placements so far were both at least 30 mile round trip to school so taxi. Kids don't like it though.

If I can I do, but I can't be at several schools at the same time. I think it's a really important part of the day.

We are expected to take them to school no matter the distance, but in reality it's not always possible as I have other children in the house and I can't be in two places at once.

It's usually something I sort out at the beginning of the placement. Our current placement is at school 12 miles away and I made it very clear to the LA that if they placed with us they'd have to sort out transport themselves so they issued a bus pass (mine is 16)

Our school is just over 6 miles away and we take them but I know of other carers that live closer but don't take them because they don't drive. I don't drive either so, on days my husband's at work early, we get the bus. I find it quite sad really when very young children aren't taken to and from school by foster carers. Obviously if there are more children in the house, and more than 1 school to get to, that's different. Also, older children I think it's fair enough for them to have to get there alone. But I do think that primary and nursery aged children should be taken to and from school by their carers when that is possible. But, talking to a social worker, lots of carers in my area refuse to do it. I think it should be a requirement really unless there are exceptional circumstances.

I do think it's important, but if I did school run it'd be 400 miles a week and no funding for that. If the placements local to school and you're available then I agree it's better for the kids, but often placements in my la aren't local to the kids schools and ed transport is a different funding (I'd do it if they covered fuel, but otherwise if be really out of pocket) as a single carer I can't afford that expense.

We take our placement to school, its a 15 mile round trip, it works out at 175 miles a week. It was a requirement of the placement. But we can claim for travel expenses as it is out of the 3 mile radius that is classed as acceptable. I agree with 3cats that dropping the younger children at school is a very important part of the day, but totally respect that it isn't always possible due to other committments and not be able to be in 3 places at once. If he was older, i am sure he would want to go it alone on the bus with friends, which i find great as it promotes independence.
What amazes me is how LA's are totally different as to what is expected

We get to claim travel expenses too. It is bad that you can't do that in other authorities, and obviously it's not feasible to travel miles and miles to a school and back twice a day - particularly if you don't get travel costs for doing it.

My foster son gets the bus- he is at secondary school. When he was in emergency care he was taken by taxi.

I agree with CateringCalamities, it's amazing how different every LA is. I'd never heard of foster carers not transporting to school until I read this thread! Almost every morning I meet up with my FC's teaching assistant for about 5 minutes, just to check everything went okay the day before and to discuss any potential problems that day. Okay he's a fairly difficult placement and needs a lot of input but I'd expect to be able to do the same for any school age child I fostered.

I also like to know who his friends are, to talk with their parents and also to be familiar to his teacher.

My other placement also has to get to a (different) school. I meet her classroom assistant at the other end of the day. We're lucky that they have different start and finish times but they (the school) know there are days when I could be late for drop off/pick up and we have arrangements in place to cover this.

It's exhausting some days, but nothing compared to the fall out if I sent them off in a taxi.

When I am covering several schools, I try to make sure I am dropping/ picking up each child at least once a week so I can chat with the teacher - really annoys the KA as it makes arrangements more complicated though!

I do a 100 miles a day just on school runs. 50 mile round trip for drop off and pick up. We were aware of where the school was when taking the placement so cant really complain, would give it a bit more thought next time though. It does seem to take over your day esp when you factor in rush hour traffic!!!! :/

Have always taken placements to school and picked up, every day. Except when we've had emergency placements from other boroughs - then a taxi has been provided by the placing authority (in one case a journey of well over an hour).