how long is your dc's journey to school?

[halcyondays]

DD has to decide soon which schools to put down for secondary. I think that she's be better going to one of the closer schools which would be within walking distance and/or a short bus ride. Two are good, one not so much. DH is keen on some of the other schools which may be "better" but would involve her getting two buses on the way home. DD has Aspergers and I think that the added journey time would be an unnecessary stress. Also there would be noone she knows at these schools.

DD has a half hour walk. I used to get the bus - 12 mile journey but only one bus. It was absolutely fine.

30mins walk - they love this and do not want me to give them a lift. They meet their friends on the way and it's a nice way to start the day.
I got a bus to my school, 40 mins door to door in the morning 60 mins in the evening - great fun, met all my friends on the bus.
Have you asked your dd which she'd prefer?

30 mins on a school coach

Mine leave home at 7.20-25. I drop one at the station on my way to work, 15 mins train, then 15 mins walk or hop on a bus, so at school just after 8. The others get bus practically door to door which takes about 45 mins - traffic dependent. Agree with other comments about social life on the journey. Mine could've got a lift with DH and got there in 15-20 mins but never have, because they prefer to travel with friends.
Ironically the kids attending the nearby schools catch buses at the same time as they can't get on later buses due to overcrowding!

They make new friends in school, yes, but if the school is a long way away those friends might be miles away so harder for outside school contact.

I wouldn't choose a school 2 bus rides away if you have two good schools nearby.

Which schools suit your DS best? Good pastoral support, good understanding of children with AS. Etc.

Would it help him to be at school with people he already knows?

My son leaves the house at 7.15 and walks half a mile or so to the bus stop, gets the service bus at 7.30. Arrives bus station 8.00. Half hour walk from bus station to school for around 8.30, so total journey around 1.15 minutes. Reverse to come home.

He has no problems with it. Soon got used to it and happy that he's got a different friends circle on the bus/walk. There was no one from his primary school in his form but he soon made new friends.

He has aspergers and we were more worried about it than he was. He took to it like a duck to water and has no problem in sorting himself out when the bus is late, doesn't come, or he misses it.

The only thing I'd say is that the buses are fine because they're normal service buses, i.e. not dedicated school buses, so there's no big concentration of school kids in cliques. There are commuters on the buses as well as kids from other schools, so none of the usual "bullying" issues on the bus.