AIBU School transport for reception year

[Piglet92]

Dd starting school in September at 4.5 and is eligible to get the bus. I want to send her on it straight away but OH seems to think she's too young but I know it will generally be me on the school run and you have to be there at half 2 to park (walking not an option)

What have others done, school bus straight away or waited and why?

Am I being a really mean mummy?? 🤔😢

Some do some don't. Is there other kids slightly older in your village that your dc knows so can help them at first?

Are there lots of kids going on the bus?At our school there are only two families that come on the bus.

We aren't really in a village only a hamlet so no other children that she knows. Although there is at least one family getting on from the first village I don't know them.

Bus holds around 25ish at a guess goes round 4-5 villages.

Omg put them on the bus! Can't believe you're even considering doing different.

Me and my 2 siblings did this from age 4, more than half the kids at my children's school get the bus by themselves from 4 as well.

Your dd will get to know people quickly enough. If you're that worried about it speak to her teacher and ask her to introduce her to some of the other children who get the bus.

Easier to have the place right from the start surely? And make it part of the routine. Can always drop it if it’s too much stress. But if you don’t take it up the space may be given elsewhere.

Unless your husband would like to change his working hours to do the school run.

Agree send her on it straight away. Obviously you'll be waiting at the bus stop with her and make sure she has a seat and does her seat belt up, although maybe the driver does that - or a chaperone?

Presumably there's a chaperone or someone to lead them off at the other end?

We chose not to use the bus because our local service always has several mistakes a year. The sort of thing like a child not getting off at the school, getting off at the wrong stop, or a young child being dropped at the end of the day without a parent waiting. They have always worked out in the end, but I just don’t have the temperament to deal with things like that. I’m just too high strung.

My 3 have all been on the bus from day 1. I love it for so many reasons: They get to meet local children and if you live rurally (which you likely do as to have this service) it is so nice for them to make relationships with local children of all different years is good for the whole community.

They do develop some independance and confidence which is great. Our bus serves the secondary as well so transition is smooth and they are used to bus logistics and not worried in yr7.

It is good for the environment and also saves so much time. Mine get on the bus outside our house at 8am and I can do a quick run and be at work for 9am. I do have to go to pick up once a week as one of mine has a club nearby and I always feel what a waste of my time and a car journey and is stressful with the parking mayhem that goes with lots of primary schools.

Our bus is well used by the children in our rural area.

Thanks everyone this is largely backing up my side.

Bus stop is just outside our house as its the only one by the road so much more convenient than driving and parking up for drop off and pick up so I can work earlier and later.

Definitely sticking to my guns on this one now 😊

Will ask the school if there is an older girl she would be able to buddy up and sit with (covid permitting)

My DD got the bus from her second day of school. No issues whatsoever. (Apart from leaving multiple cardigans at school). However the system was very robust (she was handed from her class teacher to the bus escort along with the others from the class, no buses left the school until all the children were counted on, they had driver plus escort, allocated seating etc) . She loved it. Wasn't unusual for the reception kids to fall asleep though.

On the other hand, my other DD was allocated a school taxi in Yr4. I didn't like that system... The driver plus three children, who went to the different schools. No handover... They were dropped opposite the school, and had to find the driver themselves afterwards (whereas the teacher had to see the parent before releasing the other children). Only concession to the system I the taxis could stop on the school road markings, where's the rest of the road was no stopping.

Research how It works.

Mine went from the start - only just 4.
The other children looked after the little ones, when they dozed off etc.

Could not imagine putting my 4 year old on a school bus, especially without knowing anyone.

I would do the school run myself.

I popped mine on the bus as pp have said it’s well organised. A child has never been left at school as far as I’m aware and parents would talk about it! A third of the kids in my school get on the bus, there’s a register to release them to the driver. Might occasionally fall asleep but they’d do that in the car as well. They learn independence also it’s nice for them to make friends outside their year group. Our local community does kids parties mainly made up of the same kids they get on the bus with.