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AIBU?

To be absolutely boiling with rage over this?

42 replies

CiderBomb · 05/09/2013 16:50

I'm a school transport assistant, most people call us escorts though. I've recently been put on a run to a secondary school. It's a small mini bus that takes five kids to school. Two of the children, a brother and sister, are SEN and I'm their escort.

This morning we picked all of the children and dropped them off at school. Driver then drops me off a home and says "see you later". I'm supposed to be collected from my home at 2.45 to go and collect the kids, but I wait and wait, no sign of taxi. I phone the taxi company, no help, they blame traffic. I then look at the clock and panic because its gone 3pm and the kids come out at five past, so I ring the council. Woman at council agrees to chase taxi for me and find out what's going on.Bare in mind the brother and sister are absolutely not allowed to go in the taxi without me or another escort.

Eventually the woman from the council phones back at 3.30pm in a fluster to tell me that the brother and sister were not in school today and the taxi driver apparently phoned me to let me know this morning... Except they were in school, I bloody well picked them up and took them there, I even waved to their mum through the window! I say that maybe there is some confusion and they were collected by their mum at lunch time because they were unwell or had a doctors appointment or something and no one told me. But no, the taxi driver was adamant he'd not taken these kids to school this morning and he'd phoned me to tell me....

I'm so angry. The kids were in school this morning, I took them there, I'm being called a liar by someone obviously trying to cover their back because I think they just couldn't be bothered to come and get me (the driver has suggested that he doesn't think the kids need and escort and that its hassle coming for me). I'm angry because potentially two vulnerable kids who can't even fasten a seatbelt themselves have probably been taken home without me to keep an eye on them. I'm angry because I've missed out on an afternoon's pay...

Sorry, I know this is long. Would I be unreasonable to have it out with the driver tomorrow? If he picks me up of course? ;)

OP posts:

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LindyHemming · 12/09/2013 18:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FreeWee · 12/09/2013 18:15

Any update Cider?

nickelbabe · 07/09/2013 12:04

op, have you heard anything?

NatashaBee · 07/09/2013 02:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OnTheBottomWithAWomensWeekly · 07/09/2013 01:17

Boiling with rage and acusing people of coverups and lies and all kinds....calm down. Its more likely someone made amistake, histrionics wont help anyone. Be calm, get to the bottom of it, and then make sure it doesnt happen again. The drama and raging is unprofessinal and unhelpful.

Pixel · 06/09/2013 23:31

the council have said that they don't like us having the parents phone numbers. How odd, ds has used school transport for 9 years and the first thing we always do is swap phone numbers with the drivers and escorts. It makes life easier for everyone.

Don't worry OP, he can't tell a lie like that and not get found out, you have plenty of proof that they went to school, unless it's the only school in the country without a register.

catinabox · 06/09/2013 23:23

NYANBU. The main issue here is that these children have an escort in the taxi for a reason.

If they are travelling without one then there is a risk assessment somewhere that is being breached.

Contact the council and explain to them what has happened, also contact the school.

I think, if you can, just mention to your boss if you feel able to that you are worried because these children need an an escort because of their support needs etc and if anything happened on the journey it would mean that the taxi company's insurance might not pay out because they were not following procedures.

Other than that, there isn't a lot more you can do.

InLoveWithDavidTennant · 06/09/2013 23:15

blimey! id be raising merry hell if this ever happened to a child of mine if i had any anyway

and wth is the taxi driver thinking? does he really think his lies wont get found out? blooming idiot

FreeWee · 06/09/2013 22:27

Any update Cider?

Listentomum · 06/09/2013 21:01

But of he is saying they weren't in he wouldn't get paid either?

GibberTheMonkey · 06/09/2013 20:53

Would love to know what the driver said when called on it

LilRedWG · 06/09/2013 09:56

What have school said Cider?

CiderBomb · 05/09/2013 20:08

The other thee children don't need an escort. The council have a criteria. All children under eight have an escort regardless. Once the child is over eight they don't have an escort unless they have health problems or special needs. All of the drivers are CRB checked so I suppose the council assume that's enough.

OP posts:

LemonBreeland · 05/09/2013 18:22

Would the parent know if you weren't in the bus? Do yu rake the children to their door? If so the driver will get found out pretty quickly.

ihearsounds · 05/09/2013 18:15

And erm, who was on the escort today for the other 3 children on the bus?

ihearsounds · 05/09/2013 18:13

Do you not walk them into the school?
All our escorts have to walk the students into the school. Then at the end of the day, the escorts have to come onto the premises to collect. There is always staff that knows the escorts. When it's a new escort, the driver will also come with the escort so we get to know the escort. If a driver comes without the escort we question where the person is.

Ask in the school tomorrow about their policy of escorts. But you never know, you might get odd comments of oohh you must be feeling better etc.

HenriettaPye · 05/09/2013 18:06

YANBU. This is shocking and I would be furious if it was my child

PrincessFlirtyPants · 05/09/2013 18:02

I really hope there is an innocent explanation and the children are ok...

Ezio · 05/09/2013 17:58

There will be evidence on the register to say they were in class, and teachers and other staff can say when they went home, its not hard to find that out.

shockers · 05/09/2013 17:55

Perhaps they weren't in for the afternoon and he forgot to tell you.

We have our DD's escort's mobile no and she has ours. Once, when we were stuck in traffic after an accident, we phoned her in a panic and she took DD home with her. When we arrived to pick her up, she had milk and biscuits and was doing a jigsaw with the escort and her husband (who is DD's back-up escort). I think DD wishes we were late more often!

LilRedWG · 05/09/2013 17:54

Speak to the school tomorrow.Those poor children.

Blu · 05/09/2013 17:52

I don't think this is your responsibility to sort out directly with the driver. Whether the kids were in school is hardly a matter to be decided on the evidence of the taxi driver - the school and the mother will be able to verify that the children were in school.

Who is your employer? Is it the taxi / transport company? If so that is a little more difficult, but as it is a child protection issue I would write out a simple report of exactly what happened from your point of view, including the timings, and give it to your manager, copying in the school.

If this would compromise you, write your report, give it to your manager, tell your manager that if the children were collected without you it comprises a child protection issue, and say that you were waiting to be collected and chased the taxi driver, and that as such, you are due your pay for the day. Point out that it will be easy to verify with the school and parents that the children were in school.

Lilicat1013 · 05/09/2013 17:43

The mother should see they have come home without an escort, will she complain?

My son goes to preschool on a taxi with an escort. I would be shouting at someone if his escort wasn't in the taxi. We are lucky that both his escort and taxi driver are lovely and always do everything safely but if I had a concern I would definitely be calling Winchester and letting them know.

I hope you are able to get this sorted, the mother should be able to back up your side of the story. Do the children have sufficient communication skills to be able to say whether or not they had an escort with them?

CiderBomb · 05/09/2013 17:27

That possible cantspel, and its what I first thought had happened. But if that's the case why did the driver say they'd not been in school at all? No one has phoned me today. I've checked my landline and mobile.

I'll have to wait to hear the drivers side of the story I suppose, however I'm sure he will try and bullshit his way out of it.

OP posts:

cantspel · 05/09/2013 17:19

Are you sure that the mum hadn't made arrangement to pick them up early as i am sure by now the mum would be creating merry hell if they were still not home.

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