Taxi safeguarding issues

[Bonkerz]

Hi all. Am fuming and terrified. DS who attends a school for autistic children and has very complex needs just randomly said he hates going to xxxxs house! When questioned he said that every night when he leaves school he goes in one taxi to someone's house and waits there till his normal taxi driver collects him! I don't k ow this person and DS says she is 82 and he waits in her kitchen with another boy from his school. I rang the taxi driver who said sorry but I was so angry I rang the school who were shocked an rang council and police. It's escalate now and it seems taxis contract is being revoked and police will contact us tomorrow but I now have the taxi man texting me saying he can't lose the contract it's a nightmare. I will never trust this man again with my son. He has been the taxi driver for 5 years and he has abused the trust I have him b

[Strongecoffeeismydrug]

Omg! And we are supposed to trust our kids with these people

[Bonkerz]

I know. My head is spinning with it all. The only reason DS made the random comment was because I had to ring taxi driver as he left DS at home with noone in. I had text taxi driver earlier to say I had school pick up and could he wait for five mins or drop DS at school (2 mins round same road he drives anyway!) this is the second time he has done this.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Have the council as yet commented?.

I would ignore all contact from the taxi driver and see what the police have to say about this tomorrow.

[Strongecoffeeismydrug]

It's disgraceful on both counts,DS attends an ASD school and has complex needs also but he wouldn't be able to tell me about being left at someone's house so like you I just have to trust them.and as for ldropping him home alone how old is your son.?
I hope you get it sorted and I hope the taxi driver gets what's coming to him and loses the contract.

[Bonkerz]

This all happened between 4:30 and 5 tonight. The school were able to talk direct with transport people at council and head has said she will ring me tomorrow. It's been escalated. I haven't replied to taxi driver. DS is 12 but trusted the driver which is why it took so long for him to say anything. And i would never dream of asking the right q which would lead to DS telling me if you know what I mean!

[madwomanintheattic]

It's being dealt with, and nothing has 'happened', so have a hot bath and try and relax. School and the council will sort. It is not your problem that the taxi driver was for some reason unable to fulfil the conditions of his contract, and he should have thought of that before he risked losing the contract itself.

Have the council confirmed how ds will be getting to school tomorrow?

[Bonkerz]

My dh is home tomorrow so he will do school run but Friday is unclear am hoping council will sort it tomorrow

[moleskin]

omg thats awful!! what if your ds couldnt speak up about what was going on and something terrible were to have happened it doesnt bear thinking about!!! your poor ds!! Id be demanding answers from the council and taxi company and some sort of apology for your ds

[mariammma]

Not acceptable, probably not legal, and it sounds likeschool are shocked and will be following proper procedures.

At the same time, dont lose too much sleep unless the police have concerns. Your ds is fine and the old lady with the kitchen is probably the taxi man's mum.

[mariammma]

Leaving him at home alone before you get back (twice) sounds pretty dangerous though.

[starfishmummy]

This does sound a mess, but now you have alerted scbool and your LA, hopefully they will act quickly.

[vjg13]

Bloody hell, what was the taxi driver thinking?

My daughter's taxi drove off this term before she was in the house and although I was in, I hadn't heard her knock and she was walking up and down outside when I went out. That left me as a nervous wreck.

Hope you have a new driver organised quickly.

[starfishmummy]

I think what I find alarming here is that there doesn't seem to be an escort, and that taxi drivers just drop the kids off without waiting to see if there is someone at home. DS is in Y10 at a SS and the buses would not just drop a child off; there has to be someone there to meet them. If there is no one home they would wait 5 minutes and if no turns up their instructions are to take them to the nearest social services office. I am not sure if they have ever done that, as I am always at home!

[Bonkerz]

This is the thing. I am generally in. Dd has started after school clubs and needs collecting at 4:15. DS school is 20 min drive....... He finishes school at 3:30pm. He SHOULD be home by 4! But because he has even stopping at this persons house he has got later and later hence the need for him to be dropped direct to me at cool gate round corner three nights a week!

Update. Inspector from sen transport confirmed taxi company has been struck off new driver and company will take over as of tonight. It's all in discussion now if we take this further with police.

[coppertop]

at the taxi driver thinking that this would be okay!

[whatthewhatthebleep]

shouldn't there always be an escort/chaperone with children travelling in taxis, etc?
This is outrageous
Your DS shouldn't be going anywhere...should be A to B safely and with an adult to ensure this.

I suspect this taxi driver was doing 2/3 jobs at one time and juggling contracts for the money...

[starfishmummy]

So glad the transport office have taken this seriously and got rid of the taxi driver.