To think this transport company is taking the piss?

[OrangeandGoldMrsDeVere]

Ds goes to a SN school.
He gets school transport because it his nearest suitable school and it is nearly 3 miles away.

The company providing the company has been a bit crap at times. Often very ate, frequent cap angle of personnel, poor communication etc.they once forgot to drop my son off at the right place, leaving him traumatised.

But I have sucked it up, bought up the more serious points with the sen team and got on with it.
I appreciate that transport is provided even if it is a bit unrealiable

I have just received my new pick up times for the new term (well I had to phone for them as ds starts on Monday)

They want to pick him up at 8.47am.

There is no way that he will arrive at school on time if he is picked up at this time. There are at least 3 children at his pick up point and one is a wheelchair user. It takes longer to load with chairs because they need to use the lift. They then have to drive through rush hour traffic, at least three sets of lighspts and a major roundabout to get to school.

They journey on a quite morning is at least 15 minutes (google says 8mins, but they do not factor traffic or lights). I am not sure if it's the last pick up point either.

Is it fair that my son is late everyday to school because he has to rely on transport? Does the LEA not have the same responsibilities to get children to school on time as I do?

This is also going to make it impossible for me to get my other children to school for 8.55 and nursery for 9am.

The borough pay a huge amount for this service. It should be fit for purpose. Just because my son has SN doesn't mean it's ok for him to miss school.

Last term pick up was 8.17. It would have been a rush to get them all in but doable.

Now I don't know how it's going to work out.

I have to say my MP is a bloody star.
I tweeted her to thank her for her imput and told her that the buses were still late and we had no change of pick up.
She got straight on to the head of purchasing/contracts and asked that the issue be escalated and we have answers by the end of the week (the head hand already emailed me promising me a full report in 20 days, I am assuming she means working days)

An investigation is needed but the pressing issue is actually getting the kids to school on time now!

I am happy with the response since. They have been up to the schools involved and taken details of 'various issues' (I wonder if everyone is taking the opportunity to get listened to for a change, we have all had loads of grumbles over the years but tend to give up under the force of utter disinterest) and insisted that the company must answer every single individual complaint!

There have been a lot of complaints and the schools are obviously very concerned. My son's school is a good one and has high expectations of the children.

I am just waiting to see how long the company will try and hold out with its stupid pick up times. I feel really sorry for the drivers and escorts. They are the ones facing the parents every day.

how's it going? any improvements from company? how are you managing school run? I know that it is not the LA's problem you have other (nt) children but I really feel for you juggling it.

Know so many people trying to manage different school runs because a child has SN and it is so tricky - makes it quite difficult to smile serenely when people tell you how lucky you are to have free school transport for your dc.

Thanks for asking :)
Buses are turning up more or less on time but still not getting to school on time.
The school have been collecting evidence of lateness.
I am very lucky that another boy gets on the bus and lives right next to the pick up, his mug is putting DS on the bus for me.
I don't want to rely on this long term as its not fair but it's a lifesaver ATM.

I want to complaina again but I cannot contact company by email as it gets returned after a few days
Does that mean its the wrong address or because his inbox is full? Emails are usually bounced straight back if I get the address wrong.

The school run is wearing me out tbh but I will have to get used to it!

Somebody at the local authority has buggered up the tender for this service or the bus company are not operating the service in accordance with the contract. These services are not provided commercially so it will be the council that has invited tenders and chosen the contractor. Speaking to the bus company will probably just result in you being told that they are merely following the council's contract requirements. Which, as said above, are wrong or being wrongly followed.

As someone whose dp manages many school transport services, he has occasionally received all sorts of ludicrous proposed schedules from the council and won't tender for services that aren't operationally possible. Especially since the council will, in any case, have guidelines about how long a child can spend on the bus travelling to school along with the expected requirement for all children to get to school on time.

So get in touch with the council. Don't waste time with the operator of the service.

If your ds is late for school then the bus is not turning up on time.

Ensure that you copy in someone from the council into the emails and forward all the returned ones to them as well as evidence of lack of accountability. Not being contactable by parents via email is another service failure imo

Very kind of other parent. I'm sure she understands your predicament and is ok with helping but I get how you feel about not presuming

The company has had the tender for four years.
I honestly think this has happened:
Company has been getting away with a sub par service for all this time. Lateness, bad communication etc.
Parents complain but individually and are fobbed off so give up.

This new term they decide to try and cut costs to the bone. Figure they have been getting away with stuff for so long, no one will make a fuss if they push their luck, after all they have still got the contract despite numerous complaints.

The person in charge at the LA is notoriously lax and the company are notorious for fobbing off parents.

So we reach this point. You can see why they thought they would get away with it.

I will try LA again tomorrow. He has yet to answer my original,emails. Luckily I work upstairs from him so I can drop a letter personally and be sure he gets it!

Excellent. Give him a week then escalate to relevant councillor and director.

Worth keeping parent partnership in loop so they can ensure any other complaints get logged?

We have parents forum with staff. I need to get in contact with them and see if they have spoken to to many parents. I suspect they have. Good idea about parent partnership!