School Bus Woriies for 4 Year old at French School

[sea princess]

Hi
Don't mean to sound overly anxious, but my daughter starts reception at the French School this September and as I am carless, it looks like she will need to take the school bus. It's not something I'm comfortable with at all. I called the company to find out about the process (putting youngest at front, getting a feel of how many reception students there will be etc etc.) but I was left with little information to ease my worries.
I have a few friends that have told me they have not had great expereinces with their younger kids on the bus (really rowdy, poorly supervised etc. etc) I'm really worried about a 4 year old travelling with a rowdy 12 year old? And no reserved seat for the little ones.
Feeling really helpless and stressed. Any advice, comments would be appreciated.

 

[rani]

Have you spoken to the school? Is there a bus mother? Perhaps you can speak to her and ask her to keep an eye out for your little one. At Kennedy, they had a bus-buddy system, and the young ones were paired up with an older Y6 child and they picked them up from class and accompanied them to the bus and sometimes sat with them.

 

[sea princess]

The school have referred me on to the representative of the bus company that organises the lists for FIS. Getting information out of the bus company so far has been difficult to say the least!
The bus buddy system sounds brilliant, what a great initiative.

 

[Rosewood]

Perhaps you could ask if you could sit on the bus with her for the first day or two. My daughter has just started Year 1, and like you, I was anxious about her taking the school bus particularly that we live quite a distance from the school, she's on the bus for over an hour and a half each way. I asked if I could accompany her on the school bus on her first day, which they agreed, and that did ease my worries somewhat. The bus mum sits all the smaller children at the front of the bus so she can keep an eye on them, and helps them with their seat belt. She takes them to their classroom and collects them from the classroom at the end of the day.

 

[MommyTo3]

My just 5 yo started Primary is takes a 45 minute bus ride each way as well. it's going well. There's a bus mother, and it seems quite organized. There are about 20 kids from our building, so she "knows" some older kids by face as well. She usually sits in the front, next to her friend (same class, lives across the street). The bus mom helps them with seat belts, etc. At school they have help getting on and off the bus, but honestly I think after a few days, they get it and it's not a big deal anymore. She was on a (small) school bus last year as well, but the school is only a few minutes from our house but at least she got used to the idea ...

 

[sea princess]

thank you

Thanks for easing my anxieties. I will try the "ride to" school with her and get a feel for how it's all organised.
Appreciate your support and information.