Would you use school transport for a reception age child?

[Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear]

Just that really. Would it be too much for a 4 and a half year old just started at school? DS is quite confident and sociable but obviously still little! The school is 48 minutes walk away and public transport is not straightforward for me to do pick ups using that. It would only need to be after school as DH will do drop off in the car in the mornings but then will have the car all day so I will have to walk from work. No way for me to walk from my work to the school in time but I could walk from work to my home in time to meet the bus.

Yes that other option doesn't sound like a practical one. I'd say the bus is definitely your best option.

I'd want to observe how they do it first to see how they're transported on and off and how they go into the school building. I did that with my dd breakfast club to see how they got them from the breakfast club and into school. It was a shambles and a safeguarding issue. What one parent thinks is great may not necessarily be other people's

Lots of children at our school do it - they are allocated an older buddy to look after them. All children are taken to the bus by a teacher and then the bus driver takes over.

How long is the actual drive? If only 15 mins then yes.

Mine got the bus from age 4

Yes as long as they are used to taking 4 year olds and there is a robust failsafe for Eg if you miss the pick up. At 4 she will need adults to take charge.

Expect that there WILL be an occasion when you get there too late - car breakdown etc - and make sure child understands what will happen.

My preference would be for her to take the bus every day, so everyone knows always to expect her.

Drive is 10-15 mins Max and reception children regularly use it so the escorts are well used to small children.

Council have just confirmed we are eligible for free transport so it means no childcare or transport costs at all.

I think it is definitely worth doing but if there are issues with bullying or lack of safeguarding when dropping off etc then we can use our back up plan.