Hi Ladies,
My son was assigned to a preschool that we can't get him to/from. The school does not do busing for 3-4 year olds. It's been incredibly frustrating, as one of the preschool locations is actually in the daycare where he attends; but he was not assigned to that preschool and numerous conversations with several people have not resulted in any changes.
So - what do people do? He's our oldest, so working school into the equation is new to us. I assume I'm not the only working mother who's had a hard time dropping off and picking up her child from preschool in the middle of the afternoon, and there must be solutions we're overlooking.
Some options we're considering: switching preschools (doesn't help a lot, as pick up would still be difficult. Also would cost $150 more a month). Switching daycares (we're hard to place, as we only need care part-time. I switched daycares a year ago, and we're already at the only option I found then), or pulling him out of preschool (he'll be 5 in Oct., so it doesn't seem great to not have him in preschool).
What am I missing? Any insight? Thanks so much - I feel like we have no good options:(
ETA: The daycare/school won't bus because - wait for it - they offer preschool at that location. So busing is "not necessary."
Ask one of the day care teachers if they know of any of mothers that you can call and ask to carpool.
Have you checked into Head start programs? I believe they bus the kids too at least here they do. I would just let them know that if the reason they can't bus your child is because you have a day care available in that location, you need to use that location. If they keep giving you trouble without compromising I would check around for other day care/ preschools. One thing you can do is find out what they need to know for Kindergarten and work with him at home on that. Teach him his ABC's and how to count to 25, to write his name, know his address and phone number. Also work with him on balance, hopping on one foot, following directions by giving him 3 or 4 directions and have him follow them in order. Preschool is nice for the socializing but there is nothing that you can't teach him at home and he gets socializing from Day Care. Maybe they would work better with you if they realized that you were taking your business elsewhere or they would lose not only your child but your younger children without cooperating with you. I did this with my oldest son in Kindergarten. We lived on a ranch between two towns and one town which wasn't in the same school district that we lived in was willing to send a bus to the house to pickup my son, the other told me they couldn't. I simply told them that I will be sending my children to the other school district who is willing to pick up my child if they don't. They said "well if it were just one child we wouldn't mind but we would lose the money for 3 children and that is quite a bit" They started sending a bus out there and it picked up other children on the way saving all of us traveling 10 miles to the bus stop (which they would ride for the last 6 miles to school). Now there is a whole community of people out there and they have a full bus with that. Sometimes they will work better if they look at the money aspect.
This has been a big problem for me as well. I would keep shopping-- for preschools and daycare centers. I know it is very time consuming, but think of how much time you could save in travel if you found a day care that either will pick up/drop off for preschool or has their own preschool class. There are very likely openings in day care centers where there weren't any last year. And there are quite possibly several new in-home day care providers in your area. One year, after changing schedules and locations around, I finally got my son into a class with a teacher I really liked and a good inexpensive solution with a friend to watch him during the rest of the day. But it meant that I had to take a 1 hour lunch break mid afternoon to take him from school to my friend's house. My manager OK'ed it. It was bumpy, but had benefits, like getting one on one talking time with him and knowing that he was safe and happy. It was the best I could do. It didn't last forever. Good luck!
Then they have to have your child be at that school. Why do they make it so difficult for parents to school their kids sometimes.
There ARE car pools that you can become part of, in addition in my town there is a taxi cab "bus" that runs the kids to and from school for a service fee - not sure how it works but I know it exists. There are options, but it does mean that someone aside from you will be driving your child. In addition, the day care my son attended before I became a sahm transported the kids to/from school - is that not an option?
In our area, there is what is called Circle of Friends for after school care for parents who work. It is a group that watches the kids at the school, after class has ended, available through the Park District. I've also seen private day care/preschool who will bus the kid themselves from school to the day care facility.
Look for an all day preschool. This was our solution. We found a great, flexible preschool that allows us to do PT and it still allows for a 8-6 working parent friendly schedule. Early preschool education is so important for kids this age so kuddos to you for looking for a good solution.
Who did you speak to? The director of the preschool? The people that do assignments? It sounds like there's a public district component to this - I did not go through our school district for preschool for DD but if you did, then there should be a department for appeals.
If you have a quality daycare that works for you with your schedule, that's an option. Play, play, play is so important at this age. If he's getting that, great! Don't worry about whether or not he's "in" preschool. Sounds like that might not work out anyway. It does sound frustrating, though. Hope it works out!
