Waits Before School

[screechyowl]

My son (12) is starting secondary school in September. We have no car btw.

The school he has been allocated a place in is nearly three miles away, so not really within daily walking distance, nor a safe cycle.

Our local bus service to and from this town is very sketchy and he will be arriving at the school 45 minutes early every day and will basically have to wait in a classroom, plus in winter he will have to cross a main road in the near-dark. The school provides no dedicated bus service.

Is this typical of secondary schools and do other kids have these kind of waits? I feel bad for him, but I am a single parent and cannot really run to a car.

Is there no school bus?

Sorry ignore my question.

Do you know what other parents do in your area, or have you been allocated a school further away then usual?

Its not unusual to be honest.

I don't think it's unusual.

It is slightly further away than other schools, which are easier to get to. It was our third choice.

Most other parents seem to drive their child, but I would be very reluctant to approach people I hardly know and ask for a lift!

After he starts and makes friends he will probably find someone doing the same journey or arriving early from a different direction to wait with or even someone who can give him a lift.

There will be lots of children arriving early, he’s unlikely to have to wait alone. My ds and his friends only had to walk, but they’d still get there early out of choice, until the end of Y8 at least! Practice the bus run with him before he starts, and work out the safest place to cross the main road so that he’s confident he knows what he’s doing. If he’s got a phone with him, he can’t go too far wrong.

Arriving 45 minutes early is fine (our school run a breakfast service and provide free porridge).
However "nearly 3 miles" is within the distance that many children routinely walk or cycle to school. So he might find he can travel with others.

My daughter also gets to school 40 minutes before she has to. Sits in canteen and chats with friends. Even those walking get in early.

Is the journey on roads that would be feasible to walk eg not dual carriageway, rural roads with no pavement/lighting?

Is there another bus he could catch if he walked for say 20 minutes? (Always as well to have a backup plan in any case.)

But I agree, he's unlikely to be waiting alone in a classroom.

Are there any facilities open before school? Canteen might offer breakfast, library, homework room, clubs?

Our local secondary has the canteen open and serving breakfast. Some children arrive early on purpose to have breakfast and finish homework.

@ineedaholidaynow

Is the journey on roads that would be feasible to walk eg not dual carriageway, rural roads with no pavement/lighting?

It's a walk uphill, along quite busy urban roads. Okay once in a while, but fairly tedious every day, esp in bad weather.

I suppose he will have to get used to it, I walked to secondary school ten minutes away, so I was lucky. Thanks.

Our school library is open before and after school for at least an hour - is that an option for him (good chance to get homework done!)

As others have said, I'd check if the school canteen is open early. Common at DD's school to get there around 25/30 mins early and lots of DC have breakfast/chat in canteen.

My son walks as it is only 20 minutes but the canteen is open serving breakfast so anyone getting a bus can go and sit in there out of the weather.

If you are on your local facebook group you can ask if anyone with older children knows if either the library or canteen is open before school and what time it opens. Or if you know a parent or a friend of a parent who has a child there already, ask them.

Thank you!