School drop / pickup

[GS78]

Hello,

I am currently living with my two kids 15 & 9. I don't drive and usually my husband drops and pick kids from school. He is away for two months and I was hoping to use local taxi services to drop & pick kids from school. But I have been let down by local taxi firms, not turning up on time and at times, don't turn up at all.
I looked around for childminders who may pick/drop but they only provide the services if they also provide childcare.

I only need pick/drop for both children, DS at a primary school and DD at high school (DD can't walk on her own and no friends around in our area). Distance is short though, 2 mile to primary and another mile further, to high school.

Any suggestions please, I am not sure what else I should look for?

Thanks in advance

Is there not a bus route or school bus? A friend you could car share with to primary and dd walk rest of way? Any family who could help? A local childminder would probably charge an hour minimum but would mean you could collect from theirs they might not take a 15 year old tho. Does dd have anyone she could get a lift with so you only have one to worry about. Otherwise I'd guess taxis .

I'm sorry but the distance you mentioned I would be walking them. At 15 why can't your daughter walk on her own?

Thank you both.

DD has anxiety and phobia issues. She can't travel in public transport on her own, can't cross a road on her own, never mind walking 3 miles. DS has medical issues and he can't walk either.

Since we are out of catchment area for the both the schools, there are no parents for either school that live close by that I am aware of. We do have few friends but their kids go different schools so not possible to car share. I have exhausted all the options mentioned hence I am stuck.
A friend just suggested hiring a nanny, I am trying to check. It may be expensive but I just need someone reliable rather than taxis.

@CurtainTroubles

Sounds like it’s time to learn to drive.

Would your daughter really not get on a bus with you?

Yes, I need to learn to drive. She would get on a bus with me but it is not workable if I have to also drop DS.

What wrap around does school have? Can youngest go to breakfast club / after school club so you have extra time to do the bus journey?

O my option that seems maybe feasible would be wrap around care for youngest so you can go on the bus with eldest?

I see two options.

Leave early, get the bus altogether, and DD goes into school early and waits in the library/her form room so you can then get your DS to school.

Or, keep using taxis and accept there will be days when they are late.

@Twizbe

What wrap around does school have? Can youngest go to breakfast club / after school club so you have extra time to do the bus journey?

thank you, that is an option, i will check.

@HelloDulling

I see two options.

Leave early, get the bus altogether, and DD goes into school early and waits in the library/her form room so you can then get your DS to school.

Or, keep using taxis and accept there will be days when they are late.

Thank you, will consider that option.

Op, have you spoken to the schools? They may have options as well.
Do either child have EHCP? Have you approached local authority for transport help?

Does dh need to be away for 2 months? If he usually does school run does he know of parents who may help?

It may be getting up earlier to account for cab delays for a few months?

Could an older secondary child take them both? Have you asked about this?

How will you manage in an emergency if you can’t get them? Do you have a back up? Could family come and stay?

Schools should definitely be aware of your difficulties

Is there any kind of Community Transport locally?

Do your children have an ehcp? I wonder if they can help you in anyway.? Maybe a taxi is more likely to turn up if they have a contract with the school?

Two months is a long time to suddenly be away for someone who does all school drop offs/pick ups!

Do you work? I’d walk them both and one will have to be there early.

Thank you all, really appreciate all the suggestions.
DH had to go away on emergency due to his father's death
No EHCP so I think council cannot help

I will speak to the school and advise of the difficulties and that they may be late to school. Also check if they have any taxi contracts.
Taxi/Uber seems to be best option for now.

@GS78

Thank you all, really appreciate all the suggestions. DH had to go away on emergency due to his father's death No EHCP so I think council cannot help

I will speak to the school and advise of the difficulties and that they may be late to school. Also check if they have any taxi contracts.
Taxi/Uber seems to be best option for now.

It is the parent's responsibility to get the children to school on time. They won't just accept lateness for 2 months.

This has to be resolved without that somewhat lackadaisical attitude I'm afraid. Be that by ordering taxis for earlier periods of time to ensure arrival on time or you getting on the bus with them earlier, which tbh seems the obvious solution. Be that so youngest goes to breakfast club or indeed drop eldest and then go back to his school.
Surely, when you chose these schools you did consider how you'd manage if the car was out of action or if one was ill etc?

Can’t you walk?

The taxi thing is difficult. I have no car (widowed single parent) and on occasion, when there has been a problem with the school bus, I have tried to get a taxi.

At that time of day, in my city, you can't get one for live or money because they are all booked for school contracts.

Have you told your local taxi firm that you need one every school day for 2 months, all ordered in advance so they can plan ahead. Much better chance than calling the night before to book, or just trying to get an Uber to come when you're ready.

@myno5

The taxi thing is difficult. I have no car (widowed single parent) and on occasion, when there has been a problem with the school bus, I have tried to get a taxi.

At that time of day, in my city, you can't get one for live or money because they are all booked for school contracts.

Have you told your local taxi firm that you need one every school day for 2 months, all ordered in advance so they can plan ahead. Much better chance than calling the night before to book, or just trying to get an Uber to come when you're ready.

I had pre-booked with one taxi firm but they let us down. Another taxi firm cannot guarantee regular pickup/drop. Uber is fine so far, we are booking in advance in case there are delays but ok so far. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.

Could you all cycle together? Appreciate it might not be nice in rain but dry days this might work?

Does DD not have friends who could meet her & support her on the bus or walking to school? I understand not wanting to use a busy bus with anxiety but walking? Does she get support from school etc if her MH issues are so extreme she can’t cross a road? And if so, could they look into ways to support her getting to school? As most 15 years olds make their own way into school.. so you’d hope the school would be supportive of a child who genuinely couldn’t for whatever reason..