Hi again! Yes it's tricky to work out remotely - but not impossible.
From what I've seen (only been here three months), most children start on the school bus at about four or five. Lots of younger ones travel this way as well but perhaps the 'norm' would be when they start 'Reception'. At least this is from what I have seen.
I don't drive - here or in UK - so the thought of using the MRT/tube has never been a foreign concept to me and I've found all forms of transport here very comfortable. But yes, the MRT is busy in the morning and there is no space, a lot like the tube, and there's the usual lack of leeway given to any kind of object (pram, suitcase, big shopping bag, small child) that might be in the way. Plus a slight surge, I might say, in the old pushing-on-first habit that you see sometimes (I never forget projecting my voice down the entire tube + platform, once, when trying to get off with my small toddler. The crowd parted, biblically. I'm not sure I'd try it here, though).
So I am not sure there is really an answer for you. I really do see a lot of people caving in and getting cars if they have more than one child, esp small children. The school run with lots of kids just does people's heads in.
We are fortunate enough to have just one (taken us seven years to realise this but with topics like this the fact is a plus point) - life is very uncomplicated and we can live where we want and travel in how we like. I am a bus ride away and then a 15-minute stroll (you can't rush in the heat, that's another point that I'd heard about but didn't actually absorb til I got here). So the other thing about Dover is that sometimes it's not on a direct bus route. That's made me recall another
condo, Varsity Park, that's on a direct public bus route...
If I were you I would make x5 posts on here so that you enable yourself to receive direct messages, and then I can go into whatever detail you want. I am all for posting things in public so that everyone gets the info, but I reckon you need close pinpointing as to where to live and I can help with some finer points WRT all the people I know who go to the school with small children and do - or don't do - the bus.
Anyway, rambling now! Let me know if you need more info, or more on a particular point.