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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Flip

Original poster

Worrying about long travelling distance to school. Need to be told to get a grip.

13 replies

hanbee · 10/07/2013 21:01

I badly need some reassurance. my DS1 is due to start in a SN base in a mainstream primary school in September. We're happy that it's the best provision for him locally but it's a 40 minute drive from home.
He will have transport and I'm going to collect him once a week. I still can't stop this unsettled nagging feeling about him being so far away from me and travelling all that way with strangers.
Has anyone else struggled with this? How did it turn out?

Thanks

OP posts:

uggerthebugger · 10/07/2013 21:36

It turned out well for my two - they had a lovely escort and a patient driver, and 3 other kids in the taxi to chat to. It was the thing I worried about most with the unit placement, and it turned out to be the thing I needed to worry about least.

If you can get up there once a week though, that'd be ideal. The home-school book arrangement can bridge the gap a fair bit, but regular informal contact with the staff helps a lot - and stops minor issues becoming massive ones!

googlyeyes · 10/07/2013 21:51

Ds1, age 6, has a 75 minute taxi ride to school and back, and has done since he was 4. I really fretted beforehand but it really was a non event. It became part of his routine very quickly and he absolutely adores his driver and escort .

I guess it's natural to worry, as most parents never have to send their primary school children off to school with strangers every day! But take it from me it becomes 'normal' really quickly.

Strongecoffeeismydrug · 10/07/2013 22:14

When DS was transferring school transport was the thing that worried me most, he travels an hour each way.
He shares a taxi with 3 other pupils 2 lovely escorts and a really fab driver... He jumps in the taxi every morning, blows me a kiss and he loves the journey.
Looking back I can't believe I worried so much but I do understand exactly how your feeling right now.
He will be fine honestly :)

autumnsmum · 11/07/2013 18:55

Ihave a great interest in this thread as dd2 is going to ss in September aged three and is going on transport I'm really dreading this so the accounts here are really reAssuring

beautifulgirls · 11/07/2013 19:57

Another one here - DD (8) moved schools in May and I was so stressed about the whole transport thing too. She loves the lady who takes her every day and there is a car full of kids who all get along well. I do not need to worry for sure!

DisAstrophe · 11/07/2013 21:46

Ds had transport when he was three! It was actually fine and he loved it. But you miss out on a lot when you don't get to do the school gate stuff. Picking up a couple of times a week would be ideal but once is definitely a help.

StarlightMcKenzie · 11/07/2013 22:10

DS' taxi is his social club. He looks up to the older children and they indulge him. He laughs on the way home and that's his down time.

someoneoutthere · 12/07/2013 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

someoneoutthere · 12/07/2013 21:12

Sorry starlight, I was thinking I was sending you a private message. I have reported my post.

Flappingandflying · 13/07/2013 08:26

For flyingboy, the taxi ride and the drivers have been as much part of his education as anything else. He had an hour journey each way and it cut out the 'i don't want to do school' thing because the taxi was arriving..

eatyourveg · 13/07/2013 08:40

Like others, ds2 has also had transport since he was 3. The escorts have been lovely and one of the first still sends a birthday and Christmas card some 14 years later!

You can ask your LA transport people to give you the name of the firm providing the transport and ring them to arrange a visit. We have been lucky and each time the escort & driver have changed, they ring and ask if they can come here to meet us and ds2

As others have said hopefully you will soon see that your ds will enjoy his trips to & from school

2old2beamum · 13/07/2013 15:29

Please do not worry many children travel many miles. My youngest 2 travel nearly 30 miles and takes one and a half hours to get there. School are brilliant and make sure they are the first to be "loaded on first" due to distance to travel.
We are very lucky as our 2 have complex health needs and the driver is a retained fireman so is well versed in first aid.
Please do not stress too much it will be harder for you than your LO
x

starfishmummy · 14/07/2013 18:11

I agree with flapping - a good escort or two (and driver if they're not in a separate cabin) will make the journey an enjoyable part the day. On ds's bus there will be magazines and catalogues to look at if they want, and turns to take cds to have on (or the radio).

Where possible our transport use a system whereby the first child on in the morning will be the first off in the afternoon so each child only has one long trip - but obviously that depends on the location.

Flip