School buses for a 3 year old

[commander_frankfurt]

Hello All,

this is my first post in this forum, I have been following the threads here for a time and want to remark upfront that I really appreciate the comprehensive resource afforded by this forum to anyone looking to relocate to Singapore.
For me, a move to Singapore is in the making. Most likely I will start working in May and move my wife and almost 3y old son over soon after.

Now, here is my question: When researching accommodation options I am a bit torn between living close to work (CBD for me) and where my kid is going to go to kindergarten, which in our case will probably be GESS (German European school). Now GESS really is in sticks of Bukit Thima as far as I could figure out - even the closest bus stop is, by their own website's admission, some 20 minutes walking distance (and it is uphill to get there from the bus stop). Now here is my question: Does anyone have experience with sending a 3y to kindergarten using the school bus service? Do they have child seats in those buses?

Thanks for any advice on this.

Commander

[uscate]

I don't have kids, but I don't know that I'd send a 3 year old on a bus all by themselves, and then expect them to walk 20 minutes to school....maybe you could be thinking of buying a car or at the least just paying for a taxi with your wife or nanny accompanying your child to and from school....but maybe German kids are raised to be more independent at an earlier age than American kids....

[commander_frankfurt]

Thanks for getting back so quickly. To be clear: There is a school-provided bus service and I understand there is a driver and an "bus lady" in each bus to make sure kids are safe. So my question is realöly around child seats and physical safety here.

If all the other kids on the bus of course are going to school and ours would be the only kindergartner then we will have to think about other options...

Any views/ideas greatly appreciated.

Commander

[beppi]

The GESS has two campuses:
The Swiss Club campus is really as far from public transport as you can get in Singapore - it's within the probably most expensive landed housing area, where everyone has cars or a maid to ferry the kids around by taxi.
The Jalan Jurong Kechil campus has a bus stop right in front and is also in a more "normal" neighbourhood (I used to live nearby).
I don't think pre-schoolers are allowed on the school buses, and baby seats are never provided in public transport, buses or taxis.
Given the exorbitant fees of GESS, you should also consider other options - there's a child care center on almost every street corner in Singapore.

[taxico]

AFAIK so long as the bus attendant has a booster seat for your child and straps your 3 year old in, it's not against any law/regulation for him/her to take the school bus.

rules were tightened last year.