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School transpor sutiability / appeal
Comments
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I think you are over reacting to be honest. The council wouldn't put themselves at risk by sending a potential child molestor to collect your child. I would be happy to send my children in a council provided taxi.
You should count your blessings that you actually have been provided with some form of transport.
My 11 year old has just started secondary school. He's been in Catholic feeder school since the nursery class when he was 3, and naturally he wanted to move to the Catholic secondary school with his mates and the lesson structures he is used to. However he can only get on the LEA provided school bus if he and one of his parents are both bapitised into the Catholic church. As he didn't fit this criteria, it means he has to get two public buses (one from our village into the nearest town, walk across town and catch another bus to the city where school is) all by himself
Here I go again on my own....0 -
both my children receive school transport, and if there is no escort available then there is no transport to school, they have to stay at home, or i have to take themenjoy life, we only get one chance at it:)0
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when.. years ago, my son was five and the l.e.a. wanted him to go to a school out of area for complicated reasons, they provided a taxi, i was concerned so i asked could he have an escort
they said no, but i could go with him for five weeks, this was good and i got to know the drivers and felt a little better, eventually another child went too , my friend did follow the taxi at a discreat distance and timed the route, no stops were made, i felt then that it was ok, i do understand two of my children have had to travel each day on mini busses andtaxis for the last 10 yrs, one son is a bout to do so again on a mini bus but the schools and lea are asking in our area for parents to car share it themselves.... i said no way
my insurance would not cover that and i would not want just anyone driving my child, i am an advanced motorist and have rospa training, not just anyone gets to drive my kids, so i understand where you are coming from.1. i'm bi polar.:rotfl:2. carer for two autistic sons.:A 3. have a wonderful but challenging teenage daughter.:mad: 4. have a husband that is insatiable. :eek: 5. trying to do an open degree.0 -
wished my kids could get into a taxi by themselves, especially as there is a shortage of escorts, and often have to take them myself. then again my boys are now aged 13. i do claim petrol allowance for the times an escort isnt available, couldnt the original poster do this?enjoy life, we only get one chance at it:)0
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I was a taxi escort until jan this year, and the children i took had to have escort, in fact in my area i don`t think very young children would be put in a taxi on their own.Some kids when they`re older ( i was taking one child until he actually left school ) do sometimes go on their own, but not often.
The taxi drivers( and there are a lot of women drivers) usually have enhansed CRB checks but the problem i`d see with this is taxi firms don`t always send the same driver and that can be very unsettling and upsetting for a child.
Sometimes though the local education will ask the parent to go in the taxi as well.0 -
wished my kids could get into a taxi by themselves, especially as there is a shortage of escorts, and often have to take them myself. then again my boys are now aged 13. i do claim petrol allowance for the times an escort isnt available, couldnt the original poster do this?
Funny you say there`s a shortage of escorts in your area, i lost my job in jan 08 due to cutbacks, they put the child in another taxi ! :mad:0 -
my sons often share taxi's with others, and still a shortage of escorts. would do the job myself if i could, but both sons go to different schools, one is 5 miles from home, the other is 15 miles from home, and obviously i cant be in two places at onceenjoy life, we only get one chance at it:)0
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Your children though have special needs. There is no indication that the OP's child has similar needs.both my children receive school transport, and if there is no escort available then there is no transport to school, they have to stay at home, or i have to take them
I think in this situation I might have wanted to accompany my child initially, but once my child was settled and happy on the journey and going into school I wouldn't be losing sleep over it.
It sounds as if the OP made assumptions. As often happens, the LEA has made different assumptions. It may not be reasonable for a four year old to make this journey without an escort - how far is it, out of interest, and how long would it normally take? - but at some point before the age of 11 it may be reasonable to expect a child without special needs to make such a journey without an escort.
As it happens, if I were the taxi driver I'd worry more about the journey home. Was it only my lads who came home from school absolutely desperate for the loo? and sometimes couldn't wait until I'd got the front door open!
Signature removed for peace of mind0 -
I have given this more thought this morning and have to say, I'd be uneasy about it! That is after taking away any thoughts of the driver being dodgy (like I said, my dad used to drive taxis and all the ones I know are decent people).
I just don't like the thought of it though and would wonder what dd would do if she felt upset, or was worried about something. Or, as someone said, wanted the toilet (quite feasible at the age of 4). I'd hate to think of her sat in the back and too worried to say anything, or just having nobody to chat with.
I guess, it may be better of you have a specified driver though, and maybe one stand in, you can get to know them etc?
Really though, I do not like the thought of this set up at all and, as I said, I would take dd myself rather than use it.
I'm not sure I'd go as far as demanding I be paid for my time though! :eek: Yes, a petrol allowance would be good - cheaper for you and them, but this is your child! i kind of think that is taking the p1$$ a bit!
What is the reason for him/her being allocated a non-catchment school, as that may make a difference?0 -
Out of interest, I have just asked DH about this, as he is less 'emotional' about these things than I am, and his response was, 'no way, not a hope in hell!'0
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