1.6 miles walk to schools (35-45 minutes), reception age child

[Melabela10]

Hello all,

DC1 is settled in reception in a school which we like. DC2 will join in in a couple of years

We are looking to buy a house in the neighbouring area but then the current school will be 1.6 miles away (36 minutes google maps, i would say 40-45 mnts in reality with primary age child).

Just to note that we are not looking to move the schools. We also wont be driving as we both work and traffic here is a bit mad (central-ish London). Nanny is going to do a school run with DC2 to pick up DC1 and get back home.

There is a bus, but its passing though the road with the massive traffic during school run, so it may take 40 mnts upwards when he traffic is heavy.

Has anyone been in the similar situation and managed long distances ok for 5 days a week?

The other option is to move closer to school (about 0.8-1 miles away - 15- 20 mnts walk) but then we can only afford a flat with no garden, so the house further away is more tempting!

Advice is needed please!

I lived in a village when my kids were that age - 1.3 miles each way, I walked as did 90% of parents, some over 2 miles. Scooters were popular and those living the furthest often cycled.

We do school run of 1.5 miles with DC in Year 6, 4 and Reception - it takes 35 minutes. But we only walk there, I tend to collect them in the car at the end of the day as DC4 is just too tired to walk so far (when the weather improves, we'll walk home as we can stop en route for a picnic ).

We've only recently started doing this, though, as when the children were younger there was always someone who wouldn't walk, would have a tantrum part way through and try to bail out or who insisted on getting out of the buggy and then walking at snail's pace. So I think having a younger one in tow would be more of a concern for me.

@spookycookies

Does .6 of a mile really change the price that much? I wouldn't think a 4yold could walk 45minutes twice a day. But could probably manage it on a scooter or bike. We live 1 mile away and my 3 year old manages it there and back on his scooter.

Thanks Spooky,

Yes one area is - 0.8m-1m away from school. Nice area, high street, etc, but we can just about afford decent size flat in period building with no garden.

The other area with the houses is even further away (1.6 miles away), the area is not so nice but we can get a small house with the garden for the same price as the flat above.

So you are right we are talking about marginal difference of 0.6 miles between 2 options (flat 1 miles away vs house 1.6 miles away) but we have done a few test school runs of 1.6 miles with DC2 in a buggy and DC1 on a scooter. However, DC1 throws a drama and gets tired even on a scooter and we end up pooling her on a lead and DC2 cried and doesnt want to sit in a buggy for so long

@firedog

If the area the school is in, is that expensive, are you in a flat now etc?

yes the houses in the area where schools is are too expensive and flats are small so we need to venture out further to area A 1 mile away with nice large flats or area B (up and coming a bit damp) - 1.5 miles away and houses

I think it really depends on the children. Id be more concerned about the weather than the distance.

I think six miles a day, every day is too much for the younger one. Once they’re at school it’s still a long way, but probably doable, but the one not at school is obviously doing double.

DS (5) and DD (4) have been walking about 1.2 miles to school and preschool for about 18 months.

I had DD in a backpack carrier for a while and DS on his balance bike. They now both ride their bikes.

I find winters bleak and miserable but they love it... in the words of their preschool teacher "there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes"

I do pick them up in the car a couple of times a week (due to work). They were both shattered towards the end of this term too but generally it's been fine. In fact, I quite like that they're growing up thinking a mile is no distance.

@4PawsGood

I think six miles a day, every day is too much for the younger one. Once they’re at school it’s still a long way, but probably doable, but the one not at school is obviously doing double.

welll its actually only 3.2 miles for each child a day.

@Enidblyton1

Presumably the nanny would be pushing the younger child in a pushchair to collect the older child? You could try the older child on a scooter, but I’d probably opt for a buggy board - then the older child only has to stand. And then the nanny can walk more quickly which should halve the journey time.

On really bad weather days the slow bus will probably be the best option.

Yes DC2 is in a buggy but at that age he doesn't really want to sit a buggy for a long stretches of time. DC1 has a scooter but winges a lot on the way (we did a few test runs in the last coupe of weeeks)...buggy board is not an option (DC1 is too big for it and would make it hard for nanny to push both of them)...

@PandaLorry

Reading this with interest as we're considering moving house soon and DC's school will be 0.9 miles away. Is that considered an acceptable distance? I hadn't thought it would be an issue but now I'm a bit worried now!

Just to say we do this distance now in the current place and it takes 15-20 minutes. It's ok, we get a bus if its too miserable. 90% of the class live 0.6-1 mile away and its just fine. However, we are considering to move twice that distance for house with the garden

Since moving my seven year old GS walks for 40 minutes each way to and from school. By the end of term he cried with tiredness on the way home

Given your update, I think it would be tough. Some children might be ok with it, but my children wouldn’t have coped at those ages. And there are so many days when it’s windy/raining/freezing. Walking in nice weather and maybe for either drop off or pick up might be fine, but not twice a day every day of the school year. That would be relentless.
Is the bus really not a viable option for one of the journeys? If not, I’d consider my other options - eg. get the nanny a car, employ a nanny who has a car, see if you can lift share with another family who live near you.
I wouldn’t let this issue stop you from buying the house, but you need to think of more back up plans if the waking doesn’t work out.

Walking, not waking!

@Enidblyton1

Given your update, I think it would be tough. Some children might be ok with it, but my children wouldn’t have coped at those ages. And there are so many days when it’s windy/raining/freezing. Walking in nice weather and maybe for either drop off or pick up might be fine, but not twice a day every day of the school year. That would be relentless. Is the bus really not a viable option for one of the journeys? If not, I’d consider my other options - eg. get the nanny a car, employ a nanny who has a car, see if you can lift share with another family who live near you. I wouldn’t let this issue stop you from buying the house, but you need to think of more back up plans if the waking doesn’t work out.

thanks, there is a bus but its not very direct and passing via one of the busiest roads in London, so they may get stacked in slow moving traffic. I think in reality we are looking at the bus and walking mix...

All children are different and at that age I wasn't really aware of the extent of my dc's disabilities as they were just on the whinging end of the normal spectrum. Now I know why.