My DS aged 4 is going to special school six miles away by mini-bus next week

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He's still a baby and I won't be able to watch him going in or hug him when he comes out!

Plus the journey adds another hour to the time he'll be away from me home.

The escorts were supposed to contact me and arrange a visit but I haven't heard anything and doubt I will.

We've taken pictures, he has visited, spoken about the school all holiday and done the usual things but I'm still worried. There will be a contact book of course but it isn't the same.

I've been reading this forum long enough (two years under various names, sorry, bit paranoid and I like to swear and complain about crap provision to know that I shouldn't be wibbly but I still am.

Any advice, positive stories or tips would be very welcome

AryaStark, I do try to always be home in plenty of time (sometimes they are a bit early if they have less children as ds is last drop-off) but a couple of times I admit I've cut it a bit fine and found myself following the minibus up the road to my house!

AryaStark - I'm glad you got it sorted and you got a chance to see the bus beforehand. Hope it goes ok.

Growly - hope yours turns out ok on Thursday. Did you have to stay because your DD was unsettled?

I finally got through to someone at transport at the end of last week who told me that DS1 was going to be going by taxi and gave me the name of the escort. I said that I wanted to take him/pick him up on the first day (ie today) and he said they would let them know. Fast forward to this morning, I had already left with DS1 and they turned up 5 minutes later to pick him up (DH was still at home) . Clearly their communication leads a little bit to be desired.

So I phoned transport when I got back to check that they had actually passed on all the information about pickups/drop offs because he is going back to the childminders some days. I have now gone through every day over the phone and I'm going to type it up later and give to the escort tomorrow morning for good measure. I found out that he is going to be the first pick up, there are 2 other children being picked up after him and its going to take at least an hour each way. Its a good job he likes cars .

I haven't told him about the taxi yet, but we now know what the car is (which will help). He went into school today without a backwards glance bless him.

Thanks louey, it was fine this morning and the other children (all 14) were really happy to have him there and were very kind to him apparently. The driver rang me off her own back to say that he ran into class as happy as anything. He got up at 5:30 a.m this morning for the first time in weeks so perhaps he was excited.

LOL at "good job he likes cars" and I'm so glad that your DS couldn't wait to get there

Aw, I'm pleased it all worked out well in the end. We are still torn between ms and ss school. I think the transport situation is the bit I'm struggling most with. My DD really struggles with staying I'm her car seat for any significant period of time. She climbs out and tries to climb onto the parcel rack or the front of the car. I just cant see that working with supplied transport. I think 4 is far too young for them to be expected to travel like that. Do any special school allow parents or carer to take their children to school themselves or do they all expect you to use the transport?

GEE- Yes you can take your DD yourself- If you put a good case,you may even get petrol / wear and tear.

Although there are some issues I don't like about the bus situation ,I think my DS is safer going by bus- When I drove him I was always having to stop to pick up toys he'd dropped or if he was wriggling out of his seatbelt- I feel he is better off with a driver and an escort.

ARYA- Glad it's working well