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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

30 min commute in reception

26 replies

Pleasenomorecheese · 15/08/2023 18:20

We’ve got the opportunity to send DD to a really lovely prep for reception, but it’s half hour drive each way. Anyone done this with a little one-advice against or was it not too bad?

OP posts:

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7Worfs · 15/08/2023 18:22

I have a Reception age DC and I wouldn’t. It might be fine for a bit, but it will become increasingly bad overtime, both for child and driver.
Is your other option that bad?

Original poster

Pleasenomorecheese · 15/08/2023 18:23

Not bad-but DH works at the prep. Long term plan is to move that way

OP posts:

Usernamehell · 15/08/2023 18:25

There are children at my DC's prep who travel 30-40 mins each day as they really love the school. They do get tired and it limits what else they can do on weekdays when younger. But if the school is that much better than everything else near you, it could be worth the travel?

In general, it is not uncommon to travel that far in the private sector.

Usernamehell · 15/08/2023 18:26

Pleasenomorecheese · 15/08/2023 18:23

Not bad-but DH works at the prep. Long term plan is to move that way

This changes things a lot and I would do it in that case

mynameiscalypso · 15/08/2023 18:26

I think it would be fine in theory (not for my DS as he gets travel sick after 10 mins in a car!) but the only concern I'd have is whether they'd fall asleep in the car on the way home and mess up bedtime.

LIZS · 15/08/2023 18:27

We did similar, as did many classmates, but moved nearer a year or so in.

BringOnSummerHolidays · 15/08/2023 18:28

I will do it in your case because you aren’t doing a round trip for pick up and drop off. Also the plan to move closer.

tiggergoesbounce · 15/08/2023 18:33

Yes if you have your heart set on the school, 30 mins is not a massive amount of time, we are only a 10 min walk, but can take 30 mins if DS is gabbing and messing with his friends walking home 🤣.

We were more thwn 30 mins from our school and it did us no harm.

Busyhedgehog · 15/08/2023 18:39

It takes us about 30 minutes to get to school. DS is just moving into Year 1 and it's been fine. DS already went to nursery there. I also work at the school, so I'd have to do that round trip anyway.

Anothernamethesamegame · 15/08/2023 18:44

If you can accommodate it and it works with your long term plan then I would.

It wouldn’t work for me as the delay either end of my work day wouldn’t work.

MissPettigrewIsWFH · 15/08/2023 18:48

Mine is 20 mins on a good day. I'd say 30 mins is fine, if it's an easy journey and, if you work, the timing woks.

If one of you works here and gets the benefit of lower fees it's a non issue for me.

Genevie82 · 15/08/2023 19:02

Yes it’s fine - they get used to it as their routine and reflection time. Music in the morning , chat with each other and lots of snacks on way home no problem x

Original poster

Pleasenomorecheese · 15/08/2023 19:24

Thanks everyone-really nice to hear that it’s not too bad!

OP posts:

SeaSloth · 15/08/2023 19:27

Yes it will be fine. I never see it as a long commute. Ours was 45 mins each way for prep from age 4 and then 90 mins each way by year 4. It's a drag but do-able!

Landlubber2019 · 15/08/2023 19:31

Yes we did it, dc1 was fine dc2 was asleep ever day after school but is now an expert at car napping even as a teenager. The only disadvantage was neither had local friendships that they cultivated themselves and ultimately as they got older this has been restrictive.

Original poster

Pleasenomorecheese · 15/08/2023 21:18

Did you find it tricky with bedtimes when the dc were little?

OP posts:

dalone · 16/08/2023 07:33

Fairly normal journey time for our London prep. We had that journey time for one term (but by public transport), but then moved closer, which was always the plan. Now we have a 5 min walk, and it's far easier. DC still managed to do after school activities even with the 30 min commute, so she wasn't too tired out by it.

Busyhedgehog · 16/08/2023 11:10

Pleasenomorecheese · 15/08/2023 21:18

Did you find it tricky with bedtimes when the dc were little?

Nope, but DS has always slept at night, regardless of the amount of sleep he had during the day. He frequently did 3 hour naps at nursery and then went to bed as normal at 8 or 9pm.
He sometimes falls asleep in the car now (especially after clubs, when we leave school at about 5.30pm) but but then also sleeps at night.
We've never organised activities around his nap times, though. He'd just sleep on the go as a baby, and didn't ask nursery to wake him up or anything like that. I know some people do and then get very exasperated when the child has slept for longer. Depends on the kid, I guess.

SparkyBlue · 16/08/2023 11:21

We had this for a while. Based on what you've said long term it will be fine. Is it 30 minutes driving or 10 minute drive and the rest stuck in the traffic. Heavy Traffic can be soul destroying and you need to be really organised in the mornings as if you leave even 5 mins later it's a disaster. I knew if the 8am news on local radio was over I was In trouble but if it's near where you will eventually live then definitely go for it.

Louloulouenna · 16/08/2023 11:23

I did it for 15 years and never found it a problem. Found the extra curricular activities a bit of a juggle but made it work. Was very common amongst classmates, some were 45 mins each way.

Foxesandsquirrels · 16/08/2023 16:07

Very normal in preps.

SamPoodle123 · 16/08/2023 16:18

I would be worried at reception of dc falling asleep on the 30 mins drive home. But if they are fine then it is really not that long if the father works at the school and will take dc to school. I used to have a 25 mins walk to take my kids to school. But that being said, when we switched to a school that is just 5 mins walk, that was ssssooooo much better.

Ilikepinacoladass · 27/08/2023 20:13

SeaSloth · 15/08/2023 19:27

Yes it will be fine. I never see it as a long commute. Ours was 45 mins each way for prep from age 4 and then 90 mins each way by year 4. It's a drag but do-able!

90 mins each way, so is someone travelling for 6hrs per day to drop / pick them up again?? Or is it a school bus type situation

SeaSloth · 27/08/2023 20:25

@Ilikepinacoladass yup that was me! Thankfully I don't have to do it anymore as he's well into senior school. I drive approx 900 miles a week for work so it didn't really bother me as I'm used to being in the car for forever anyway!

Ilikepinacoladass · 27/08/2023 20:33

SeaSloth · 27/08/2023 20:25

Oh wow that's insane

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