School transport

[silverback12345]

Hi,
My daughter travels to school by coach the company that runs the coaches are very unreliable.The coaches are often late or don't turn up at all. I had to complain to the county council and the coach company as my daughter was up to 45 minutes late for school everyday it took several months of complaining until they changed the route.She has had to walk into classes that were already in progress and sometimes assembly.The fact the fully occupied coach is shared with another school and she is the only one from her school on the coach has lead to bullying.

She has developed serious health problems panic attacks,depression and anxiety to which she will often vomit before going to school she has even self harmed. She has seen several doctors and all of them have concluded it is the coach environment compounding her problems and one doctor thinks the coach situation has actually caused her problems.She has had a lot of time off and we have had letters from the school her work is definitely suffering.
It is heartbreaking to see her like this. I am wondering if we have the right to ask for separate transport for her a taxi maybe? the distance to school is 4.5 miles one way.

Please don't suggest we take her to school by car for reasons I do not want to get into on here that is not an option.

[enaid]

Re: School transport

Hi silverback and I must say what a very upsetting situation for all your family.

Have a read of this https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...y_guidance.pdf

I haven't read it all myself just bits and it may help you to pre arm yourself with any requests you make to get your daughter to school on time and safely

Good Luck Enaid x

[silverback12345]

Re: School transport

Thank you very much.I have had a glance through and it certainly looks like I can use some of the sections as you say to arm myself. I will have a proper read through and copy and paste what I think are the relevant sections and compile it so I can use them when contacting the county council.
Yes it is very upsetting she was being sick this morning and was having a panic attack so much so she could not even speak. She missed four days last week due to severe anxiety and panic attacks.Once at school usually she can cope she has supportive friends and the school are fully aware of her problems.

[MissFM]

Re: School transport

Hi Silverback,

To augment Enaid's customary helpful advice above (and to echo her warm sympathy with your situation):

It would be worth contacting these people http://www.busk-uk.co.uk/index.php?page=contact . They have a comprehensive grasp of the law on school transport and will be able to advise you on constructive options.

It might also be worth considering getting a Statement of Special Educational Needs if all else fails, in view of the adverse effect this is having on your daughter's mental health.

Good luck x

[MissFM]

Re: School transport

The school (headteacher, Chairman of Governors), the LEA (CEO) and your MP need to be informed of the failure of this contract (with the bus company) to deliver an effective service. The bus company CEO also. It's a complete disgrace and a misuse of public funds. You can't "claw back" the wasted time, the wasted money and the harrowing experiences that your daughter has been made to endure as a result of a complete failure of the duty of care that the LEA has to ensure the safety of children traveling to and from school.

[Wombats]

Re: School transport

The coach company will have a contract with the LA to deliver the children to school on time. Most now have a points system in place whereby once a particular contract (in this case the one involving your daughter's journey) runs up so many points, the contract is taken away from them.

It is up to the individual contractors who is put on which run normally (though not always). A complaint to the LA is very much in order. I would initially start at the Chief Education Officer with a copy to the person responsible for school transport (the switchboard should be able to give you a name).

If the school are aware, and there is medical evidence to prove this issue affecting your daughter's health, try to get your letter backed up by the Headteacher, the Chair of the Board of Governors and the relevant doctors. This would provide weighty evidence to bear on the LA and I'd be very surprised if something was not done. School contracts are the bread and butter of coach companies / taxi services etc.... nowadays, and they can il afford to lose them.

Re the Statement of Educational Needs mentioned by Miss FM a few posts ago, I'd be very surprised if the school has not already got an IEP, or whatever it may be called in your authority, in place for your daughter's needs. Statementing a child is a long and increasingly difficult process, but where mental health issues are coming into play and your daughter is self harming over this, the school needs to be accutely aware of it and doing all in its power to help you resolve it.

I assume, more importantly, your daughter is getting the specialist psychiatric care she appears to need, not just help from the GP? She and her wellbeing come first, over and above any school or school transport issues and it is critical she receives the right medical care.

Incidentally, is the contract within Wales and England or is it in Scotland?

[silverback12345]

Re: School transport

If the school are aware, and there is medical evidence to prove this issue affecting your daughter's health, try to get your letter backed up by the Headteacher, the Chair of the Board of Governors and the relevant doctors. This would provide weighty evidence to bear on the LA and I'd be very surprised if something was not done. School contracts are the bread and butter of coach companies / taxi services etc.... nowadays, and they can il afford to lose them.

The school are fully aware of the problems with the coach company.I reported the problems several times to the school and county council inquiries were conducted by the county council but no changes were made.I contacted the coach company myself and received an apology and got the route changed.
The part I forgot to mention is the coach journey should be 15 mins my daughter used to be on the coach for 50 mins because they dropped the other school off first even though the other school start time is later.This meant she was late every day because her start time is earlier and the other 40 odd kids were dropped off first. To be honest the reliability of the coach company is not my main concern it is the fact my daughter is the only child from her school on the coach that is causing the problems. We have lots of medical evidence and the school have copies of all documents.

Re the Statement of Educational Needs mentioned by Miss FM a few posts ago, I'd be very surprised if the school has not already got an IEP, or whatever it may be called in your authority, in place for your daughter's needs. Statementing a child is a long and increasingly difficult process, but where mental health issues are coming into play and your daughter is self harming over this, the school needs to be accutely aware of it and doing all in its power to help you resolve it.

They are fully aware and have measures in place.

I assume, more importantly, your daughter is getting the specialist psychiatric care she appears to need, not just help from the GP? She and her wellbeing come first, over and above any school or school transport issues and it is critical she receives the right medical care.

Unfortunately no.She was under CAMHS to say they were useless is an understatement CAMHS took months to even assess her and then said she wasn't suicidal so couldn't help. my daughter is on new medication we stopped the other one due to side effects.She is now seeing a female doctor who seems far more caring and understanding and is now being referred to a child psychologist and somewhere else but for the life of me I cannot remember the name we are waiting for a confirmation letter. Trying to get help for mental health problems for adults or children is a nightmare thanks to this Government.The hidden cutbacks to departments are horrendous.
Getting the school transport issues sorted out will be a big step towards her road to recovery. I am going to push for taxi transport for her if she feels it would be beneficial.My wife was available to take her to school this morning and the difference was amazing she gave me a cuddle and was actually smiling this shows how much the coach journey is affecting her.

Incidentally, is the contract within Wales and England or is it in Scotland?

England

[wales01man]

Re: School transport

You may not like this comment.
If it was my Daughter who was having these problems which are affecting her I would until you can get it sorted be taking her to School myself.
The School and LEA will go through a long process before this reaches a conclusion that stops the stress she must be going through

[seduraed]

Re: School transport

How old is your Daughter ? I know 4.5 miles is quite a distance but if she is 14 or up would a bicycle solve the problem? Possibly even an electric bicycle ? From what you have said it sounds like the school is ok but the bus is the problem. and a resolution of the transport problem is what is needed .

Can you or a trusted friend neighbour who can take and or collect .
Is there a before/after school club, so that your daughter can wait until you are able to pick her up, or equally a good friend who lives locally to the school so she can wait in a safe place.

[silverback12345]

Re: School transport

You may not like this comment.
If it was my Daughter who was having these problems which are affecting her I would until you can get it sorted be taking her to School myself.
The School and LEA will go through a long process before this reaches a conclusion that stops the stress she must be going through

Hi,
As I said in my first post that is not an option and I am not going to discuss why it is not an option.If my wife could take her to school and pick her up she would.

[wales01man]

Re: School transport

Fair enough I would suggest you may reconsider this option for the Girls sake While we all want this sorted it will take time the school and Local authority will not hurry themselves unless you are very lucky

[silverback12345]

Re: School transport

How old is your Daughter ? I know 4.5 miles is quite a distance but if she is 14 or up would a bicycle solve the problem? Possibly even an electric bicycle ? From what you have said it sounds like the school is ok but the bus is the problem. and a resolution of the transport problem is what is needed .

Can you or a trusted friend neighbour who can take and or collect .
Is there a before/after school club, so that your daughter can wait until you are able to pick her up, or equally a good friend who lives locally to the school so she can wait in a safe place.

She is 13 we live in a small village and the roads are treacherous in winter they don't salt round here at all and it's quite hilly. My daughter has other health issues which would prohibit her riding a bike.

[silverback12345]

Re: School transport

Fair enough I would suggest you may reconsider this option for the Girls sake While we all want this sorted it will take time the school and Local authority will not hurry themselves unless you are very lucky

We would but it just isn't a viable option I wish it was.We don't have any friends and the only family I have is my 80 year old dad and he is not well himself.

[des8]

Re: School transport

Besides the driver on the school bus, is there any other supervisor.
Some years ago we had similar problems and it was solved by a teacher riding the bus for a while.
Here's what RoSPA have to say about supervision:
"Escorts
The role of an escort (sometimes called a Passenger Assistant) in a school vehicle includes :
· preventing the driver being distracted by passengers, especially when children are
being carried
· supervising children and in particular preventing any behaviour that could create a
hazard
· helping passengers whom the driver may not be qualified to help
· assisting in the event of a breakdown or other emergency.
Escorts are recommended under the following conditions:
· Where passengers’ needs require an escort to be present
· Where children are being carried.
It may not be necessary to require an escort for every journey where children are being
carried. Short, local journeys to a neighbouring school, for example, may be undertaken
satisfactorily without an escort. However, a risk assessment should be conducted to decide
which journeys do not require an escort, and this should take account of local road
circumstances and the age and needs of the passengers.
Schools should check whether their LEA specify ratios for the number of adult supervisors for
off-site trips. “Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits: A Good Practice Guide
(currently being revised), published by the DFES, advises that there should be a minimum of
one teacher in charge plus enough supervisors to cope effectively with an emergency. It
provides a general guide for adultupil ratios on local trips:
· 1 adult for every 6 pupils in school years 1 to 3 (under 5s reception classes
should have a higher ratio)
· 1 adult for every 10 - 15 pupils in school years 4 to 6
· 1 adult for every 20 pupils in school years 7 onwards.
Schools should introduce clear guidelines for lone drivers in the event of an emergency and - 11 -
a mobile telephone should be provided (but must not be used while driving). The guidelines
should state that any volunteer driver, including a teacher, who is not prepared to drive without
an escort will not be required to do so.
Ideally, the escort should also be able to act as a second driver, in which case he or she
should have received the same training and assessment as the main driver.
Escorts have a wide range of duties. It is the operator's responsibility to ensure that escorts
are provided when necessary and that they are suitable and capable of carrying out their
duties. Operators should ensure that escorts receive an introduction to their duties, and are
familiar with the vehicle, especially the emergency exits, first aid kit, fire extinguisher,
emergency/breakdown procedures and trip details. Operators must also ensure that escorts
are provided with all necessary equipment.
When recruiting or assessing potential escorts, the operator may find the following skills and
qualities desirable:
· Ability and willingness to act as a second driver
· Experience of working with children
· Experience of working with people with disabilities.
A major part of the escort's job is to supervise child passengers and ensure they are cared for
and behave appropriately. Escorts must be capable of exercising control over children.
Escorts should be qualified to provide for the needs of all the passengers. In some
circumstances, they may need to be able to speak languages other than English or have
special skills, such as sign language.
The Operator should ensure that the duties of escorts are clearly set out and that all escorts
are aware of, and adhere to them."

[Wombats]

Re: School transport

Are there any other children from your village go either to the same school? Do you mind me asking if it is a normal state school or a special school?

I think the letter backed with evidence is still probably the best way forward for now. When the council did their investigation previously, I doubt the CEO was involved. With medical evidence, there is the possibility from the council's point of view, you may commence legal proceedings against them and the coach company. The awarding of school transport contracts seems to have little logic to us lesser mortals. It may well be there is a taxi with available space already going to the school, which could collect your daughter with just a short detour.

When I mention CEO here I refer to both the Chief Executive and the Chief Education Officer. If both of these bring pressure to bear on the person responsible for school transport, along with relevant evidence from the people already named above, hopefully something may be done. I have always found the gentle, polite but firm approach first works best. You've further ammunition up your sleeve then if they don't do anything. Never state something which you're not prepared to actually do though.

EDIT TO ADD:
Re Des' comment above, it is normal practice to have escorts for special schools and primary schools. Children of secondary school age do not need an escort unless they are going to a special school.