To be really really pissed off with my Son's Bus drivers and the parent?

@Corksoles

And then I see the taxi drivers on a contract pulling their poor kids across the road, not even engaging with them. Heartbreaking.

The issue here is the remit the Council gives when advertising the contract. I know round my way, the only thing required for drivers is an advanced DBS check. The taxi company bid on the contract on the basis it is lift at Point A. Drop at Point B and vice versa. If the service was extended to the driver also being a carer during the journey, the price would be substantially more. It would likely end up with the parent being expected to escort his/her child to and from. Albeit in a taxi.

It’s utterly unprofessional of them to complain to the mum at home about her son’s behaviour when he arrives at school. What is mum supposed to do about it? The school / LA should be made aware.

Not always that easy with a child with a disability. If the system works (and this bit is working),

OP Yes you need to complain.

About to make this point. At my special school you can see the LEA drivers and helpers who have built lovely relationships with their kids. They pass on messages from home. They even know the kids they don't take home.

And then I see the taxi drivers on a contract pulling their poor kids across the road, not even engaging with them. Heartbreaking.

LEAs - contract these services back in house! Recruit decent people who understand and pay the drivers and staff rather than the middle man! It works!

Wether there is time built in or not ,none if this is the fault of Op or her son my son has been getting school transport for ten years loads of kids struggle with transport, irs something thst needs to be discussed on an operational level between the bus companies and the transport department at the LEA.

My LA, for all its many faults, has time built into the taxi /minibus contracts for just this sort if thing. Its not unusual for children with SEN to struggle with transitions. So it is possible.

Block the other mum.

I don't ,the bus companies put in the bids and lea usually go for the lowest ime.my local LEA also have a fleet of their own buses and drivers but not enough of them they are far better ime,as they are fully aware of some of the complexities that can make these journeys difficult for many disabled children.

Why do people think that drivers and the staff on the ground are the ones that bid for contracts? Christ.

They absolutely should do this. It's not fair to expect them to donate time so regularly.

Contact your union then?or the LEA

The bus company is not the individual driver. It's an easily resolved issue - pay the drivers for extra time to allow for these issues. Then they expect to be tied up during that time too. Someone needs to take these issues into account when drawing up contracts.

The bus companies bid for these jobs no you are not a charity but surely they explain to you that disabled children won't automatically get off the buses for many reasons. ?if the bus company can't cope with that dont put in a bid!

It's just a job. I'm not a charity. I have my own family with needs. If I am expected to be patient at the other end, I need time built into the contract to cover that time. It is not fair or reasonable to expect anyone to volunteer their time regularly for free.

I was the one called at my workplace when a child was 'stuck' and they needed someone to get them moving. I've done time like that for free. That's fine sometimes. I wouldn't do it often. I wouldn't take it out on the child though. I'd take it up with the school.

My daughter had school transport throughout her time in special school and now has a similar arrangement at the day centre she attends. She also "stims" and can be vocal and at worst bites herself, most of the time staff have strategies in place such as making sure she is not too warm and has something to hold to save her from getting distressed. I would be very upset and horrified if my daughter was treated the ways you described by the staff on the bus and would speak to anyone involved to make sure the issues are addressed. I have always made sure I can see and hear the bus arriving and get ready as soon as I see it go past the window. I expect consistent pick up and drop off times so can get stressed if it is late.

My daughter had school transport throughout her time in special school and now has a similar arrangement at the day centre she attends. She also "stims" and can be vocal and at worst bites herself, most of the time staff have strategies in place such as making sure she is not too warm and has something to hold to save her from getting distressed. I would be very upset and horrified if my daughter was treated the ways you described by the staff on the bus and would speak to anyone involved to make sure the issues are addressed. I have always made sure I can see and hear the bus arriving and get ready as soon as I see it go past the window. I expect consistent pick up and drop off times so can get stressed if it is late.

If your child is non verbal how have you heard the conversation about being delayed? Did they speak to you? The other parent should not be contacting you direct, direct them to the school and let the staff know.

If you work with social beds children you need to be prepared for way more frustrating situations than a child not wanting to get off a bus. One of the key attributes you will need is patience. If you aren't patient and aren't happy to deal will frustrating situations, it's not the job for you.

Waiting without a routine canbe a huge trigger for man SEN children. This is probably why they have been asked to wait for the horn. A simple signal to him that it is time to go, rather than the uncertainty of waiting outside. Plus the OP has said that this is what has been requested, why anyone is still challenging it is beyond me.

But as you said it's not one size fits all if your daughter can wait on the pavement safely that's all well and good my son however can't, he has absolutely no awareness of danger and he can't wait, ,waiting exacerbate, s his behaviour ,he frightened me last year when he tried running off from me I struggled to contain him safely ,I m not prepared to jeopardise my sons safety to convenience school transport .

The OP (and others) have said several times now that she is instructed to wait for the horn by the bus company. She has even asked again recently to be sure that it's still what they want her to do - it is.

She is waiting at home, ready to go out when the horn is sounded.

They shouldn't be being rude to a parent about it. They should address the matter with the school and/or their employers.

Chuffing nora, I'm appalled to read this post. Where's your empathy and any kind of understanding about SEN or customer service?

Waiting ready for the bus has already been addressed.

It actually is unreasonable to expect kids with SEN to always behave as desired.

The OP is not expecting a personalised service. She is asking if she is unreasonable to expect people employed by a service for SEN to understand that things do not always run on time with SEN kids. I would add to that that she should be able to expect employees providing a service to behave with professionalism. They shouldn't be being rude to parents, kids or colleagues. If they have a problem with the drop off at school sometimes taking 10 minutes longer, the appropriate professional behaviour would be to speak to either the school staff or their employers to request resolution - not to be rude to the child's parent at the end of the day. OP has every right to expect professional behaviour from capable adults.

He didn't want to get off one day and on the bus ride home both the driver and the lady were being quite rude going on and on about how they were late to get home/ to second job. But again I believe this should be expected when taking a job which involves special needs?

With all due respect, this is just a job for them and you don't know what other commitments someone may have. They might not be paid for working over either. They do sound unreasonable in a lot of respects, but you shouldn't expect someone to work free overtime for any reason. I wouldn't include this in your list of complaints going forwards as this point makes you look unreasonable.

I don't understand your comment.

You've got direct knowledge, mine is only second hand, so I'll bow out on this one.

@x2boys

So true, my dd could not stand things touching her head including the hair brush and hair washing!

No one size fits all and one child's reasonable adjustment is another child's nightmare. It's almost impossible to group some sen dc for this reason.

I do agree though you need to be waiting for the bus, not waiting for them to sound the horn, we were told we had to stand on the pavement as part of the home to school transport agreement, harsh in bad weather but easier than having to take them to school