School transpor sutiability / appeal

alijolly

I work in a reception class and we do have children brought in from outside the area as their local schools were oversubscribed. The taxi driver is alone with the children, some terms there is one child, sometimes more than one. We always have the same driver who is fully checked and very good with the children making sure they are securely fastened in etc. Even if there were other children in the taxi there would very likely be a time when one of them was on their own unless there were siblings. To be honest I would much rather put my child in a taxi than on a bus in these circumstances. Certainly in our area it is the norm to have taxi drivers with unaccompanied children.

Edinburghlass_2

Same with our primary and secondary schools, some years its been down to a taxi, then a mini bus and then a bigger bus depending on the number of children from the outlying farm areas. Usually the contracts are decided just before term starts as it depends on the size of bus required. The drivers have always come round the route and introduced themselves to the parents the weekend before school starts and are available on the phone if anyone has any worries.

My daughter was first pick up every day and usually last dropped off (at the door) but again this depended on how many children and what the quickest route was between them all.

One morning my daughter spotted a neighbours cat had been run over and killed and the driver very kindly phoned me and let her speak to me as she was very upset. All the drivers also gave the kids on their run an Easter Egg and a selection box at Christmas time.

Paparika

My suggestion would be to find out if any other parents have this done to them, see if they mind their children sharing with yours,

Is there any wording saying you are not allowed to chaperone.

Or are there any parents in the area that take their children to the same school that wouldn't mind taking yours as well.

I don't know if you drive and have a car, (if you do perhaps have a rota set up to take it in turns)

Sometimes free isnt always the most viable option when it comes to the council.

silvercar

Originally Posted by silvercar
There is no option to say "I'm rejecting this one due to issues with transport, give me another school."

This is not something we are contemplating, so I do not know why you raise this issue. The Council allocated this particular school and did not give us any other choice. This school was not even on our list of preferred schools to begin with, and it is farther than any school we would have preferred. They are obligated to provide suitable transport or to pay the expense of that.

I raised it because I don't know what you are contemplating doing if the council won't budge.

They are obligated to provide suitable transport if you are eligible for free transport. They can as an alternative pay you a mileage rate.

As someone who has received transport costs in the past, I can tell you that they will cover little more than your petrol costs and will certainly not pay you for your time!

bestpud

I'm glad the taxi firms make such an effort, in the cases above at least.

I still can't get my head around it though, I have to say.

I can see how it works for some, and how it can be made as easy as possible for them (if you get the right taxi firm) but when I think of putting dd in a car on her own...

I'd just take her myself.

shirlgirl2004

I'd take her myself too. Regardless of what transport was offered my children are more important than time or money. I wouldn't want my 4 year old in a bus, mini bus or taxi without me. When her nursery took them on a trip in July I took her in my car. That way I know she is safe and secure.

kissmeimposh

The school allocation was accepted and not appealled, based in significant part on the fact that transport would be arranged. The notion of being forced to send a young child (or even older one, in many cases) alone with a driver is unpalatable. Bus or group taxis or with an escort would more than likely be acceptable, but not the forced method of travelling alone. There is no other situation in life when a child is forced to spend time alone with a stranger.
On the other hand, where there is no viable solution and the legal obligation is on the Council to provide transport, why should the Council be entitled to save the expense of a bus or driver or escort just because parents feel that their child would be put in harms way by travelling alone? If a parent sends a young child alone in a taxi to a birthday party, or a sporting event, even if the driver has a CRB certification, many of the parents would likely inform social services. It is not unreasonable for parents not to accept being forced to send the child alone to school. If the parent is forced by circumstance to be the escort and driver, then why shouldn't the Council compensate the parent at least for providing one of those roles if not also both? Why should the Council 'benefit' by giving rise to and exasserbating the legitimate concerns of parents who reasonably want to ensure the safety of their child?

shirlgirl2004

kissmeimposh wrote: »

The school allocation was accepted and not appealled, based in significant part on the fact that transport would be arranged. The notion of being forced to send a young child (or even older one, in many cases) alone with a driver is unpalatable. Bus or group taxis or with an escort would more than likely be acceptable, but not alone with an adult. There is no other situation when a child is forced to spend time alone with a stranger.

Transport has been arranged. I personally wouldn't accept a 4 year old being sent on a bus etc escort or not. I would query what parent would find it acceptable

I think you'll find a lot of special needs children have to spend time alone with teachers they don't know. I used to go in and read with children on a one to one basis at my son's school. The children didn't know me at all.

Surely having a happy, safe, secure child is more important than getting what is rightfully yours? Your child will be happiest sat in the car with a parent driving, why not give your child what it deserves?

bestpud

A thought I have just had (can you tell this thread is on my mind today? ):

Does the taxi driver actually escort the child into school, as a parent would?

I'm guessing they must do? They couldn't just drop them off as a normal passenger, could they? What about schools where you cannot park anywhere near - do they actually get out and walk them in?

Because escorts see them right into the school, or playground, and then have to go inside the school and account for the children they are due to pick up at the end of the day. They also wear name badges and flourescent vests.

Are the taxi drivers trained to do all this before they can carry school children?

Also, does the taxi firm have stand ins, who know the procedure too? What happens if the driver is ill or whetever - do they send just anyone?

I guess the answers depend a lot on how much work they do for the council. If it is quite a big contract they will be more geared up for it but if it is only one or two a year they do the they may not be?

RayWolfe

I suspect there is an alternative issue here.
OP didn't get her school of choice.
Can't get over it.
Move on, take the child yourself or appeal the decision of the LEA about their choice of school.
Incidentally there is only one Madelain MaCann every few years, there are hundreds of thousands of children in the care of others every hour of every day.