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Original poster

Disabled school transport

55 replies

Namechangeanxiousstep · 07/09/2026 13:07

Gloucestershire council kindly gave us school transport for anxious and disabled dc - they said it would be a school bus, but its actually a minicab

Dc would go with one other child in the cab driven by two men (they seem nice enough)

I didnt let them go as I dont know them - i expected a minibus with various students

Wibu to ask them whats going on? I dont feel comfortable really

Please be kind

OP posts:
x2boys · 07/09/2026 17:36

Sprogonthetyne · 07/09/2026 17:31

It is entirely normal to have taxis with one driver, one escort, but if you're not comfortable, your not comfortable, and it sounds like you are able to take them yourself anyway. I beleve the LA can give you a milage allowance for the petrol you use driving them (8 miles, there and back, twice a day, 5x a week will add up), they will probably be delighted not to be paying for the taxi.

If it helps, my DS got taxi to SEN school since Y1, as I had to get his sister to a diferent school at the same time. He had an amazing relationship with the two men who took him

Did the remain the same every year ?
Ours change yearly
We have has some brilliant PAs and some down right awful ones
With sone mediocre ones too.

Sprogonthetyne · 07/09/2026 17:31

It is entirely normal to have taxis with one driver, one escort, but if you're not comfortable, your not comfortable, and it sounds like you are able to take them yourself anyway. I beleve the LA can give you a milage allowance for the petrol you use driving them (8 miles, there and back, twice a day, 5x a week will add up), they will probably be delighted not to be paying for the taxi.

If it helps, my DS got taxi to SEN school since Y1, as I had to get his sister to a diferent school at the same time. He had an amazing relationship with the two men who took him

Rosecoffeecup · 07/09/2026 17:29

School minibuses in my area tend to be for wheelchair users

Ablondiebutagoody · 07/09/2026 17:24

OutOfTheOtherSide · 07/09/2026 16:46

Wow. So anyone who chooses to work with children with disabilities is likely to be an abuser. What an awful view of life. Some people are just nice people who want to do something good.

Show quote history

And some people are paedos

Lougle · 07/09/2026 17:04

They should have had ID badges though? I'm sure they would happily have waited while you called to check.

DD1 always went in vans from age 4. Generally with 2 other children. Sometimes one.

Viviennemary · 07/09/2026 16:58

That's the usual arrangement AFAIK. Taxis and they get a special rate so probably more efficient and cost effective than a mini bus which would keep stopping for drop offs and pick ups. All the drivers are vetted.

Ragingoverlife · 07/09/2026 16:56

New for us too, he's going alone 1 day and sharing with 3 others on 2 of the days. He is college age though. It's been a total nightmare.

Owninterpreter · 07/09/2026 16:54

This is normal but my council the taxi firm calls about a week before to say who the driver and escorts will be. They then send a copy of thier ID to me, so I can check it against who turns up.

Otherwise it isn't necessarily who the council vetted who turns up.

HesterLeggatt · 07/09/2026 16:51

taxis are the norm, there’s one driver and one passenger assistant usually. However they should usually call to introduce themselves beforehand.

OutOfTheOtherSide · 07/09/2026 16:46

Ablondiebutagoody · 07/09/2026 13:17

Totally normal arrangement but I would feel the same as you about my child travelling in a cab with 2 strange men, DBS or not. Those kind of jobs attract abusers in my opinion.

Wow. So anyone who chooses to work with children with disabilities is likely to be an abuser. What an awful view of life. Some people are just nice people who want to do something good.

Octavia64 · 07/09/2026 15:43

Taxis are normal.

usually the driver and escort are both crb checked.

Needmorelego · 07/09/2026 15:40

@Namechangeanxiousstep you may be able to request a female driver/escort.
The car may be a minicab but often they are contracted for school runs by the LA during the drop off/pick up times.

Lomonald · 07/09/2026 15:19

Namechangeanxiousstep · 07/09/2026 15:10

Will see how dc copes tomorrow. Thank you all though, i spent all summer singing wheels on the bus with dc to prepare her!

It doesn't sound like the LA prepared you either which is a shame, at least she is sharing the journey with another child for company.

Lomonald · 07/09/2026 15:16

Namechangeanxiousstep · 07/09/2026 15:09

Yes, although I wouldve said I'll take her were it 2 women - the cab threw me off

Were it 2 men on the bus for example, I wouldnt have batted an eye

Now though, I have anxieties about her being in a car with 2 men

Show quote history

Oh no sorry, if it is just the taxi then that is the school run and there is nothing much you can do about it, but the taxi companies are vetted and the driver and escorts also vetted,

Theunamedcat · 07/09/2026 15:14

Its the same here i had two random people collect my son it changed a few times then it was two ladies in a car for atound a year sadly they changed company now ive got a couple of guys in an 8 seater ds does better than I thought with it

Original poster
Namechangeanxiousstep · 07/09/2026 15:10

Will see how dc copes tomorrow. Thank you all though, i spent all summer singing wheels on the bus with dc to prepare her!

OP posts:
Original poster
Namechangeanxiousstep · 07/09/2026 15:09

Lomonald · 07/09/2026 14:07

If you are unsure after speaking to the school or local authority who organised transport then you maybe need to just take them to school, i am assuming it is because it is 2 men that is unnerving you ?

Yes, although I wouldve said I'll take her were it 2 women - the cab threw me off

Were it 2 men on the bus for example, I wouldnt have batted an eye

Now though, I have anxieties about her being in a car with 2 men

OP posts:
Original poster
Namechangeanxiousstep · 07/09/2026 15:08

Needmorelego · 07/09/2026 13:28

I would assume one is the driver and one is the designated escort.
Is the same two each day? You usually get a specific driver (unless they are off sick or something and you will get a different one but they tell you in advance).
They should have ID badges and be known to the school.
Did you formally introduce yourself to them and vice versa?
Talk to the school if you are worried.

Edited

I didnt see an id badge but the car was clearly a minicab

I've calmed down now as I was really anxious. Will see if dc feels comfortable tomorrow, I am doing pick up myself today

They called me via WhatsApp call (which made me think, encrypted call?!)

OP posts:
Lomonald · 07/09/2026 14:07

If you are unsure after speaking to the school or local authority who organised transport then you maybe need to just take them to school, i am assuming it is because it is 2 men that is unnerving you ?

SpottyPyjama · 07/09/2026 14:03

This is normal. There won’t be enough children in the same area that qualify for transport to warrant a whole minibus full
of students.

Tbh if taking your child yourself is an option for you, then that’s what you should do.

Needmorelego · 07/09/2026 13:28

I would assume one is the driver and one is the designated escort.
Is the same two each day? You usually get a specific driver (unless they are off sick or something and you will get a different one but they tell you in advance).
They should have ID badges and be known to the school.
Did you formally introduce yourself to them and vice versa?
Talk to the school if you are worried.

BoredZelda · 07/09/2026 13:28

Absolutely normal. But if you aren’t happy with the chaperone you could ask to change it.

To be clear though, the council aren’t “kindly” offering anything, they are meeting their obligations under the law.

Original poster
Namechangeanxiousstep · 07/09/2026 13:22

Okay thank you

Phew

I dunno, immediately I was like RUN. Just two men in the cab, saying they were collecting another kid. I was polite to them though

Then when I saw them at the office with another child I calmed down

My dc is non verbal. You can imagine my anxiety here I think

Dc is at a provision in a mainstream @x2boys

@Meadowfinch about 8 miles there and back

I dunno, in my gut i feel I should just take her myself. Ive talked and talked to dc about the bus and then there were 2 men in a cab, who came late (not their fault, just first day admin issues)

OP posts:
Stade197 · 07/09/2026 13:21

This is normal, my nephew is at a SEN school and the council pays for his transport, its a taxi and they take 1 other student that lives nearby. I can imagine it would cost too much to have a bus drive round to all the different locations to pick students up

Lomonald · 07/09/2026 13:19

Unless your child is on a large school run you can't expect a mini bus, it is mostly taxis where i live 2 of my friends are escorts for taxi firms who do school runs, only thing you can do is ask about their disclosures.