Joined: 12 December 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 776 Gender: Female
Posted: 18 September 2007 at 6:04pm | IP Logged
Well I have a bit of a problem. Im now at least 3 miles from anything and getting heavy pregnant too. My problem is Adam needs to go to preschool and I have found one 2 miles away. But I dont drive. The plan was Daves work was slack enough for him to take him tehre once a week but work has suprisingly took off. I have spoken to the preschool and there happy for him to take most of his free entitlement in one day (8-4.30) but Im going to have to put him in a taxi to get there. For me to go with him it is more expensive, on his own it is £5 there and £5 back. The preschool will meet him out of the taxi and put him in it at 4.30 again. The Taxi firm I have contacted specialises in school runs for this rural area and are CRB checked. But it means sticking my 3 year old into a taxi alone and Im not sure if I should do this. He does need to be at preschool as he goes to school next September but this is a hard decision. Any opinions good or bad will be much appreciated.
Joined: 30 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 6730 Gender: Female
Posted: 18 September 2007 at 6:14pm | IP Logged
This really is a descision that only you and your dh can make. If it was Joshua, I think I would be ok with it, given that it is the school taxi firm and the registered checks. Is there not a bus you could use that runs near? That would be much cheaper, and then you could go with him to ease your mind a bit. Could you not see if there was anyone local that attended the same nursery that would be willing to pick up and drop of your child? Maybe ask at the nursery to put a little note to asjk if anyone is local and willing to do this, would also help widen your lo social network. Hope you manage to come to a decision xxxx
Joined: 11 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 5994 Gender: Female
Posted: 18 September 2007 at 6:24pm | IP Logged
It is a scarey move or can feel that way. My Niece is special needs and from the age of 5yrs she was picked up by a taxi firm that specialised in school runs and taken to school. She is 17 now and has the mental age of an 8yr old, so she was particularly vunerable. If you have no other way of doing it and you are 100% confident in the police checks, if the school can vouch for the drivers then it's a possiblity. I know how you are feeling though as I am not sure I could do it myself, having said that there are plenty of children that do go by taxi to school every day and there are no problems.
Joined: 11 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 8641 Gender: Female
Posted: 18 September 2007 at 7:20pm | IP Logged
Tough one! My kids go to school with a taxi, and have done since the age of 5. I'm not sure I'm happy about Fred going to school in one though come September next year.
Joined: 14 October 2006 United Kingdom Posts: 447 Gender: Female
Posted: 18 September 2007 at 8:04pm | IP Logged
Hiya hun,
As you are so far away from the school, isn't the transport provided anyway? My two (aged 7 & 4) get picked up and dropped off by taxi every day and as we're in a rural location, they're are plenty of kids in the same boat.. What about another parent passing by? maybe the school/nursery could give you the details of another parent and they might be able to take the little one for you? (maybe give them a contribution towards the fuel).
If that won't work, I'd do as many checks as you can on the taxi firm - and check them out with the council etc. I understand how worried you are hun as the little one is still so young, but like you said, they'll be going to school soon and will probably have to go by taxi by then anyway..
Joined: 11 September 2007 United Kingdom Posts: 2931 Gender: Female
Posted: 18 September 2007 at 8:50pm | IP Logged
Hi hun
I can't add anything but everyone else has covered the basis, Check the CRB details and when they were done as they don't get renew that often, as your local community bobby if he knows of anything and ask some of the other mum's who live near you if they are going to pre-school and if so which ones, see if the firm will let you go with him for the first few times and then gradually let him come home/go on his own alternating and see how your son feels.
DH, you and Adam have a huge thing to discuss and talk about.
Good luck and i know it is difficult to face and get used to... the thought that your child is growing up etc is hard to do at the best of times but you've got to follow and trust your heart, you all have to be happy, you and adam as you'll be the one who picks up the pieces.
Sorry rather long for someone with nothing to add.
Joined: 06 September 2007 United Kingdom Posts: 538 Gender: Female
Posted: 18 September 2007 at 8:57pm | IP Logged
My mum in law drives a school bus and has done since I met her some14 years ago. The kids love her to bits, the teachers and parents totally rely on her and she has kids as little as four going on journeys of more than 12 miles! She has in those cases had someone riding with her because when you have a bus full of tired little ones you can't always see if theres a problem.
It would obviously need you both to have a chat about it and just go with your instincts. Personally I dont think there is anything wrong with asking for a bit of help, but I would prefer to put them in a car with someone who has been police checked and council approved ( very hot on checks these days) than just another mum/dad that i wasnt sure of unless I knew them really well.
Joined: 29 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 2366 Gender: Female
Posted: 18 September 2007 at 9:26pm | IP Logged
i agrre with all thats been said,if you were happy with it then i think its fine,it is clearly not something you are taking lightly,you are looking into it well and by the sounds of it the taxi firm are trustworthy and reliable and it would help you a great deal.
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Topic: Got a bit of a diliemma
This really is a descision that only you and your dh can make. If it was Joshua, I think I would be ok with it, given that it is the school taxi firm and the registered checks. Is there not a bus you could use that runs near? That would be much cheaper, and then you could go with him to ease your mind a bit. Could you not see if there was anyone local that attended the same nursery that would be willing to pick up and drop of your child? Maybe ask at the nursery to put a little note to asjk if anyone is local and willing to do this, would also help widen your lo social network. Hope you manage to come to a decision xxxx
