School advice

[Lemonade19]

We are in a difficult situation in which we have been asked to leave our accommodation by the end of next week by the council. As we have no where to go out social worker has said we go and stay with my aunt who lives in another borough approx 12 miles away from where we live and now. They have said it is mostly I will still be staying at my aunts in September which means he will not be able to continue at his school which would be 13 miles away and take approx 2 hours to get there. I've been told in September if he is not attending they cannot hold his place open the same as my dd due to start reception this year, I don't drive so journey for both children not feasible.

Technically I could just change schools but the problem is social services is helping me with accommodation in the borough which will be this year they reckon late October so not worth changing schools and forking out money on uniform on a new school for a month or so.

What I want to know us on my return does the council have to offer me a school within the borough. The borough is very very oversubscribed especially for secondary and I know for a fact his space will be gone at the old school and any other school in the borough. If there are no spaces do I need to sit and wait for a space to come available and keep him at home or can I appeal for him to attend his previous school if we live within a reasonable distance bearing in mind I don't know where I will be placed in the borough

[rabbitstew]

Lemonade19 - what is the hour-long walk like? Is it through a reasonably safe, well-lit area? Could your ds be trusted to do it safely on his own once he was used to it?

I agree with those who suggest you try it out and see what it's really like and how long it takes. At least the days are not too short for the first half term of the Autumn term, so you shouldn't be walking in the dark. And a buggy board is a good idea to try, although they're quite tricky to handle with a 4.5 year old on them, so again, would need some practice!

Here's hoping it is a temporary situation and that you have found a more permanent and practical solution by October, as anticipated.

[yellowcurtains]

Are the children subject to a care order at all? If so SS are obliged to help with transport. In fact even if not, do ask your SW about help with this. Could they fund a taxi in the morning before 8 to get to the terminus for London transport?
please, please do not let his school place go. He will be unsettled enough as it is (and I'm not judging at all here, I realise this is not your doing) he probably will hide his feelings as he's a 13yo boy, but this is a big upheaval for him, consistency of school place is really important. You have my sympathy, it must be awful for you all, I hope your PG is well.

[Lemonade19]

Hi all

Sorry I have not been replied to all your messages. The good news is the social worker has managed for us to stay in the accommodation for approx 8 weeks which hopefully gives them time to find somewhere else hopefully more suitable as we are overcrowding at present although as a plus we have a roof over our heads which is good. I'm of course hoping we won't have to move to my aunts as my daughter has done her settling sessions at her new school and we have ordered the uniform. She is really looking forward to starting in September

As for my aunts location it's a country lane and I think there is pavement on one side of the road very deserted. Just houses and green so would definitely not let my son walk alone. Never really paid attention at night but very sure there would be appropriate street lights however with the world we live I I would not feel comfortable him walking alone especially when the winter months kick in and it gets dark earlier.

[Saracen]

Oh good! Fingers crossed something more permanent comes along soon!

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

I do wonder what sort of world we live in if a 13 year old can't walk after dark tbh

[Bunbaker]

I wouldn't be happy letting my nearly 15 year old walk around on her own after dark. Our cul-de-sac has no street lights.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Really? So how do they go anywhere in winter?
How do they even get home from school?

What is the magic age they can be alone in the dark?

[Bunbaker]

DD finishes school at 2.50 pm so always gets home before it gets dark. I drop her off at the bus stop in the morning on my way to work.

We live out in the sticks so she usually needs a lift if she goes anywhere. She will walk about in the dark with friends - on Halloween for example, just not completely on her own.

[Lemonade19]

I'm talking after school activities. Not bad for children who come straight home from school but those who do after school activities and then have to travel a long distance. It also depends where they are traveling to. Anywhere deserted or where there's not many ppl around is a big risk . You hear all the time where we live about attempted abductions on children who walk themselves to school or home

[Bunbaker]

If DD stays after school for anything one of us has to collect her. The school bus leaves at 3pm and there is no other public transport.

[YonicScrewdriver]

Agree that charis was very unkind.