Pre-school children, that is five and six-year-olds in part-time pre-school, often experience feelings of anxiety caused by using school transport to pre-school. The aim of this study is above all to describe and survey the school transport scheme for pre-school children in the municipality of Kinda with regard to safety, time spent in traffic, commitment of the staff and parents', children's and taxi drivers' opinions of the scheme. The study was carried out by contacting and interviewing staff, parents, pre-school children and taxi drivers. The total travelling time for pre-school children varied from 5 to 65 min. Some of the children had to wait when changing school transport on their way their way to pre-school, while others had to wait at pre-school. The total journey home from pre-school varied from 5 to 85 min. Waiting periods at pre-school and when changing means of transport were the main reasons for long journey times. Interviews with people concerned confirmed that school transport by taxi worked well. The pre-school children were restrained and were taken directly to their homes. Critical opinions, such as the prolonged acclimatization at school because of school transport, travel sickness of pre-school children and long waiting periods were also given. (A)
Abstract