Primary and nursery kids walking time

[liv110]

Hi,

We're looking to move and have one kid and want another, I don't drive. We could go for an area where it's a round trip of 7 google walk minutes (but the school is good) or one where its 20 (the school is outstanding, and excellent results).

Let's assume one kid is 2, the other 5. How close do you recommend living near the school and nursery? Is it harder to get them from a to b? What are your experiences?

I really like so much about the outstanding school and fortunately but I dont want to end up with it being too difficult to get there.

that's 20min of grownup walking time. I'd call that 30min at least of kid walking time.

BUT if you get them good at scooting, it could be 15!

To be honest, at primary age, a more useful indicator of potential success for your kid is actually your level of involvement in his education, rather than the rating of the school.

If your child is in a good school, and you are engaged and on the ball, do lots of reading and independent learning and learning through play, encourage interests and inspire them to want to know more, then they'll likely be fine.

If you don't read to them or engage with their education, if you use the tried and tested digital babysitter, then the quality of school is much more important.

My dd's school is 1 mile away. It would take her 25 mins walkingor 15min on a scooter on a nice day. But weather could be a problem. You definitely wouldn't want a tired 5 year old walking in pouring rain after school.

A lot depends on the route and your child but also it is different doing it every day in all weathers. Our walk is 20 (child) minutes one way which goes through fields and is quite rural with rocky paths. The 4yo loves it, is quick but it’s too hard with the buggy for my younger one so we go a longer route that’s closer to 30 mins. Would probably be 40 mins plus if the little one was walking. I have to admit to using the car a lot in winter as it’s a bit miserable dragging the younger one out in the rain. The other factor is whether you’re using wrap around care. I wouldn’t walk either of my routes in the dark with little ones.

I’m hoping by the time my youngest is 3, she’ll have the stamina to walk there abs back on my non working days. I’m hoping this summer at 2, we’d manage one way with her to nursery/school walking

Thanks. This is interesting, we live in a city centre and want to move to the suburbs. So it's easier in that respect I think I'm not worried about walking it in the dark.

Our boy is only just two. He can walk over a mile every day and back to nursery in almost any weather. But he stops often, for example, he wants to go in a different direction or wants something we don't have or a hug. Plus he doesn't always wear gloves, hat etc... I find it hard.

So no doubt when he's 5 he can do this distance but I thought if two kids, each want to stop for some reason that must be really challenging?

I wouldn't judge the school [urely on ofsted but if I was sure the outstanding school was a better fit I'd definitely be prepared to do a 20 minute walk to get there. That said I'm hardy and am happy to chuck on a raincoat and go out in the wet. My kids have waterproofs and I make them walk to school in most weathers (and we have to go through a muddy field). I would definitely take a buggy and buggy board if I had a toddler but really a 20 minute walk twice a day is good for them! Yes on the way home after a day at school the child might be tired but you can bring a scooter.

We have a mile walk to school, my daughter is five and I have a wee one in a buggy. Twenty minutes is nothing and I honestly wouldn't let this put you off the school!
Yes the weather can be rotten at times but just wrap up and go for it, that's what we do and it won't do the kids any harm :)

I think you also need to look at this in terms of how likely is it that you will get a place at the school(s). If you are talking about a child who is already in reception year then as an outstanding school the school is likely to be full in that year group. Given the restrictions of the infant class size regulations you are very unlikely to get a place at the school. If you are talking about a situation where they are not currently of school age then getting a place at the outstanding school is going to depend on the school admission criteria, which will involve distance from the school. As such I think you need to be near to the school (definitely less than a mile) to have a reasonable chance of getting a place at the school.
I think you need to have a rethink in terms of which school do you want and what that then means in terms of a house where there is a reasonable expectation of being offered a place.

Thanks good point. I didnt say. I should say our child is not yet of school age and there are houses right near both school options in the catchment etc..

But the nursery for my preferred (the outstanding school) is not near the school, I worry about trying to get our child to the nursery before hes school age and then a possible 2nd child there. I love walking but I wonder if its chaos walking two young kids.

I love walking but I wonder if its chaos walking two young kids.

I think it would be madness to do a 20 minute walk with say a 3 and 1 year old without a buggy or something but as long as you have some combination of buggy board, carrier and pram it should be fine. When the older child is too big for a buggy board they'll probably be grown up enough to scoot sensibly by your side.

Thanks so much. It's been so useful getting your views and experience. I feel like I can picture the walk now and know what to consider

I hadn't realised scooters were so useful, definitely one to try 🙂