School transport

[silverback12345]

Re: School transport

Hi Wombats,
It is a normal state school no other children in the village go to her school.There were three choices the school my wife and I both attended which has an awful reputation and is now worse than when we were there I did not think that was possible.The second was a school about 10 miles away which most of the village children attend.My daughter visited both of these and did not like them at all.The latter is chosen by many people in the village because they think it is posh and their child will get a better education but it's stats and Oftead report were lower than the school my daughter attends.
We do know of a couple of children in the village that have taxis for different schools instead of catching a coach both children have health problems the taxi contracts were arranged by the county council.

I am always polite but I am firm and will not be given the run around.Knowledge and medical evidence will be our best bet to get the ball rolling.The county council will pay mileage if you use your own vehicle and they agree it is the best option for your child but as I said we cannot do that.

[Wombats]

Re: School transport

Good luck with your efforts and let us know the outcome. There are always other routes in these things, so it's possibly a case of keeping on hammering away until you get the desired result.

[MissFM]

Re: School transport

Hi again Silverback,

I think you have an absolutely watertight case for a taxi to be provided (if your daughter would accept that). It's amazing that this situation has not been properly addressed by the LEA, the school - in my experience (and this is looking back to a period that has been neatly airbrushed from my life due to it's extreme trauma) the "Passenger Transport" division can move very quickly and is indeed required so to do.

This is what I would do in your situation - I'm not saying it's the correct way of doing things, or the only way, just that it's what I would do and that it's in line with an MO that produced the required results for my family:

I would write (email is fastest, but do both) to the Director of Education baldly outlining your daughter's situation and the fact that the failure of the contracted transport company has resulted in her not only missing her statutory education but also suffering (possibly) long term damage to her health.

Ask who, if not the Director, has personal responsibility for ensuring that pupils eligible for school transport are indeed safely transported to school, on time and without bullying.

Ask the Director of Education to take personal responsibility for putting the situation right immediately (so that next term starts with a workable arrangement in place)

Copy the correspondence to your MP, the Headteacher, the Chairman of Governors, and the Leader of your local council (I would include covering notes personal to each recipient).

You need to put forward a plan that you think will work - eg a taxi (with or without escort).

What about an escort on the bus ( and the bus instructed to drop her off first, on time for the start of the school day) with the bullies banned from the transport?

It's a situation where only you know what could work and you need to tell the "Powers that Be" clearly what needs to happen.

HTH xx

[Wombats]

Re: School transport

I'd pretty much agree with that, but I'd alter the words in bold. Instead of 'personal responsibility' I'd put 'legal reponsibility' and I'd state 'legal responsibility for ensuring all pupils eligible .............'

The reason for this is the coach driver has personal responsibility for ensuring pupils of secondary age behave appropriately on their run. As you might imagine, driving a coach and trying to control (or even see) the behaviour of the pupils on the coach is a thankless task. Also, this is not the person who will be able to resolve your issue.

[MissFM]

Re: School transport

I'd pretty much agree with that, but I'd alter the words in bold. Instead of 'personal responsibility' I'd put 'legal reponsibility' and I'd state 'legal responsibility for ensuring all pupils eligible .............'

The reason for this is the coach driver has personal responsibility for ensuring pupils of secondary age behave appropriately on their run. As you might imagine, driving a coach and trying to control (or even see) the behaviour of the pupils on the coach is a thankless task. Also, this is not the person who will be able to resolve your issue.

Wombats, I'm not sure whether I agree or disagree (I'm not entirely sure what you mean:santa_smiley: ) but my point is that, in my personal experience, whatever the prescribed route, unless you can connect with an actual Human Being who has enough clout and who can be held personally (legally!) responsible for resolving the situation you are pretty well stuffedmasroll:

[des8]

Re: School transport

The reason for this is the coach driver has personal responsibility for ensuring pupils of secondary age behave appropriately on their run. As you might imagine, driving a coach and trying to control (or even see) the behaviour of the pupils on the coach is a thankless task. Also, this is not the person who will be able to resolve your issue.

....... and that's why we had a teacher riding shotgun for a while.