Buggy or not?

My youngest grandchild is also starting school this September, aged 4 years and 3 weeks. I will be collecting her and 6 year old brother from the bus which drops them about a mile and a half away.
Full-time school leaves reception children utterly exhausted to start with and there's no way my grandchild will manage that long walk home, I shall definitely have to take the buggy to meet her.
I too think summer-born 4 year olds are too young for school. Of course some will be unable to cope with dinner, changing for P.E. or even talking clearly.

A couple of mine used to regularly fall asleep at end of the day story time. The teacher gave up trying to keep them awake through the whole story each day!

Maturity as well, Soutra.
Even if they are clever they may still be very young and yes, stamina, to keep up with the school day. It is very tiring.

I am not saying I am in favour of starting school at that age, far from it; it's just that the LEA has always had the upper hand - start then or miss a year's schooling.

Woodstock perhaps she finds it easier and quicker, but if he sees that other children are walking and not in pushchairs then he may well decide he won't go to school in one either!

Sometimes I think I need a cup with a lid for my (not that I'm clumsy or anything ...)

DGS1 started school last September aged 4 4/12, his little brother, just 18 months younger won't start until 2 years later, aged 4 9/12, while little DGD will be 4 and perhaps 3 days as her birthday is 29 August. Something wrong somewhere, however ready they may be *intellectually, physically there can be huge differences in size, dexterity, strength and just stamina.

Here are some interesting thoughts on starting school very young:
whatchildrenneedtobehappy.wordpress.com/2015/04/20/7-myths-about-the-advantages-of-starting-school-at-4-years-old/

DGD started school at 4 years 2 days.
She would have been outraged, too, to have been plonked in a pushchair.

but if a parent lets their child start that young
Tresco if they don't start that young then they miss out on a whole year of schooling because they will have to go into Year 1 if they are held back a year. It is not a case of 'letting', it is the worry that they will be plonked straight into their appropriate year group having missed out on the more gentle play-based reception year.
However, I did see that a parent has won a victory last week over her CC to allow her 4 year old to start next year in reception at age 5.

At one time children were not allowed to join school nurseries at 3 without being toilet trained but apparently that rule has been abandoned now and nurseries have to take them.

All mine couldnt wait to get to school at 4+, though I appreciate that that is not the same for everyones' children.

My GD will also start in August (aged 5yr 1month). She's had 2 years of morning preschool - part of the primary school. She'd be horrified if a buggy were suggested and apart from a lift at 9am has always walked.
There's only 15 months between her and big brother so she'll be in p1 with him next door in p2.
Having watched my GS thrive in p1, having started at 5yrs 4months, I say again that I feel so sorry for little ones who start so much younger.
On a selfish note, I'll have most of my days back (with some 3.15 pickups) so am , looking forward to getting back to the gym!
Over the last 2 years I've seen only one preschool 3 year-old use a buggy and am impressed by the road sense displayed by virtually all of these youngsters.

I think that a lot of the problems are caused because 4+ is too young to start primary. 5 or even 6 is a better age.

As a former reception teacher, I agree wholeheartedly with the comments from AshTree's friend. I also agree that many children start school far too young, but if a parent lets their child start that young, it is their responsibility to make sure the child has the basic skills, which must include the ability to use a cup without a lid! Legally, I think it is still the case that a child does not have to start school until the term after that in which they are five, so parents have the option of a delayed start. Of course, that has its own problems.

Two of my GSs were that age or less when they started school and they would have been outraged to have been packed into a buggy! Two GSs did use scooters to get to and from school, as long as they stopped at each lamp post, so that's a good suggestion, Soutra.

Having said all of that, I do worry about the current system of only one school year intake. Four years and 2 months is much too young to be starting school, in my opinion.

No I agree with the others he should be walking everywhere now, how will he learn the skills that Soutra mentions unless he is allowed to walk and hold hands?
I see Mums with much older kids in buggies running them to school , I do wonder whether they find that they can leave later and then hurry because the child doesn't slow them down walking. I do see quite a lot on scooters so maybe that's the suggestion you could make to your dil/DD not sure which you are talking about.

I used to be friends with a reception year teacher and she said one of the biggest problems they faced was dealing with children who couldn't feed themselves properly, couldn't dress or undress themselves. A lot of the school day would be wasted teaching them how to put their coats on, how to change into PE gear and so on - and at mealtimes, having to teach them how to use a knife and fork. And inevitably, mopping up after them because they still ate and drank like toddlers.
These are all things that parents should be teaching little ones before they start school.
Sounds to me as if your GS is going to struggle at school if his mum doesn't start cutting the apron strings soon.

Does he " scooter" ? I think this is a good halfway between walking a distance and being in a buggy.I see he is still 3, but I agree he should probably not be pushed if he is in good health but some mums find it easier to "cope" with a child who is strapped in. You just don't have enough hands especially when there is shopping to carry too! Many children these days do not seem to know how to walk holding Mum's hand, how to stop at the kerb, look both ways etc. Their little legs do get tired of course. But funnily not when running round the park as you say!

Time to start preparing him for school, if he can run around a park he does not need a buggy. Is his mum trying to keep him a baby ?
He is going to have to manage school dinners so he will have to toughen up a bit and be a big boy, bye bye Tommy Tipee.