transport

[slkk]

Hello. Ds is about to start reception in a unit and will be getting transport. Does anyone have experience of this for a young child? Will he get to meet the escort first? Would we be able to go with him on his first day? I just can't imagine waving him off with strangers. He won't understand what is happening.

'Will he get to meet the escort first?'

If you insist. Otherwise no.

Would we be able to go with him on his first day?

Not usually. Vehicles aren't insured for you.

Here's what I did:

I took him to school early, and met the transport vehicle coming in. Introduced myself and ds to the driver and escort and to the other children on the same route.

At home time, we did the same thing and waved the children off. He was allowed to get in the vehicle temporarily and sit in the seat he was allocated, next to an older sensible child. Then he got off, we waved goodbye and I explained that he would be going in that vehicle and sitting in that seat the next morning.

In the morning I explained all again to him and when the vehicle came the escort was familiar, the girl was familiar, the driver was and so was the seat. It all went fine.

Thanks, Queen. That's great advice. I'll talk to dh and sort something similar out. I'm sure he'll be fine with transport in the long run, it's just that first time that worries me.

In my experience - no

I had no idea what was going with transport until they knocked on my door two days before he was due to start.

Also the school and transport hadn't spoken and got two different start dates!

He starts next week and it makes me very uneasy

I took my ds in the first day and met the escort there (not prearranged). If I hadn't done that he wouldn't have met her until she knocked on our door the next day.

My ds loves going in his taxi and was fine from the first day (age 5).

Thanks again for messages. I will speak with someone tomorrow and see if we can come up with something so he doesn't feel he's being sent away. Hope you all have a good start to the new term.

slkk did you manage to organise an introduction? It is weird sending them off in a taxi as it does feel like you are sending them away to a strange place. However, very quickly school, and the taxi, becomes their place so you are not sending them away but to somewhere familiar and fun that they know well (even if it is still a strange place to you). I was probably more worried about the transport than starting school but ds took to it like a duck to water.

Yes at the moment it's the transport I have been stressed about, especially as he has some bad experiences in his past and a taxi with escort may be a bit triggering. HOWEVER. A minibus turned up today! He's not due to start til next week (finally spoke to someone today and got a start date) and unfortunately was still asleep so didn't see it. But am glad it's a bus as will be less triggering and he LOVES buses. Transport coordinator also suggested that the bus comes by the day before he starts so they can meet them and the other children and wave them off. I should be able to take him on his first day too! So thanks for all your support helping me get fit straight in my head.