School bus times changed without warning

[MockneyReject]

For 2 years, the school bus has arrived at 08:00.
I see DS on, and then rush to work, for 08:15ish. I'm meant to start at 08:00, so spend the morning catching up (home care visits).

As of 2 weeks ago, the regular company have stopped trading. So, the Local Authority have issued a temporary contract. The new providers have been late, every day, both morning and afternoon. Parents received a text, usually once the bus was half an hour late. So, middle school children (9-13) are waiting around for between 30 and 60 minutes.
They used to arrive home at around 3:50. Lately, it has been 4:30 ish. Again, no communication.

Today, parents have received an update, in response to all the complaints. From now until possibly the end of this school year, the bus will pick up at 9ish and collect the children from school at 4.
So, they will arrive 45 minutes late for the school day, and will return home 45 minutes to an hour late.
Apparently, the new firm is struggling, due to broken down buses and lack of drivers. The buses that are turning up are quite random - old with no seatbelts.

I phoned the LA today, explaining that I am unwilling to leave my child home alone, every morning, to get himself to school.
More importantly, he won't be home before I leave for my evening shift, so will have to let himself in, cook his own dinner and put himself to bed, 2-3 times a week. I get home at about 8:30.
Usually, he comes with me, and has dinner with a friend, close to my work, if I'm doing a split shift.

Their response was that I have a choice.
Either, tell my employer that I'm simply not coming in to work (I already had to phone in at the last minute, this evening, as I was frantically looking out for the bus) which cost me £35 earnings. My manager is already annoyed with me.
OR advertise on SM for a stranger to take him and collect him, as I don't know any other parents.

They refused to allow me to apply for a Personal Travel Budget, to cover taxis.

They stated that seatbelts are preferable, but not a duty.

So, tomorrow, he will have to come to work with me, instead of going to school. He will likely have to come with me all next week, and sit in the car, while I do care visits - usually 30-60 minutes each.

AIBU to think they are failing to meet their obligation?
And to be worried sick, as my options are:
Give up work and be unable to pay the rent/bills/food.
Keep DS off school, risking court/fines.

I just wanted to say how sorry I am, OP, that you're having to deal with this. It sounds like you've already had a tough time if you've been relocated by WA, you're doing an amazing, woefully underpaid job and this has now been thrown at you. You'd be forgiven for just saying fuck it all and going on benefits so you can be there for your son.

Yes - they have to, now.
My rota is available to me, 48 hours in advance. It is typically 6.5 hours of back to back visits. Eg, one gentleman lives very rurally. His visit is a 20 mile round trip. There is no travel time on the rota, but it is added to my pay.
So, on paper, I am working 6.5 hours, without a break. In reality, it is 7-8 hours. I am paid travel time for all except the first and last visits, which are considered commuting. Of course, 'the system' does not allow for the added time it takes, driving in to a tourist seaside town, on a bank holiday weekend. I'm paid for 15 minutes, even though it sometimes takes an hour.

It is not neglectful for a child to wait outside school for 30 minutes.

I sympathise with your situation. It's absolutely not right that he and others will be missing 45 minutes of school per day. Nor is it right that they change this with no warning, giving you no time to rearrange your life to fit these timings.

But saying your 12-year-old can't wait at home or at school for up to an hour is unreasonable.

There's no way SS will be remotely bothered about your son hanging around the school waiting for it to open. If they were to get in touch all you'd need to say is 'yes I have to drop him that early on my way to work as otherwise he has to get the school bus which no longer comes to my house until 9am meaning he misses nearly an hour of lessons every day.' Then they'd say, right you are then, well done for ensuring he gets to school on time.

OP, I know you said you don't know the other parents but at 12 is he not able to speak to the other kids in his classes and find someone who either gets a lift and comes near your house who could pick him up on the way or who lives near the school whose house he could sit in until nearer the time of school starting?

What's your point?
Most husband/fathers I know, spend more than an hour a day with their families. In fact, most of them don't even sleep alone. Yet, somehow, my 12 year old is to spend 23 hours a day, without seeing his only relative? Most of it alone?

Whilst the form may state that, have you asked to renegotiate?

For what it’s worth, I was a latchkey kid from younger than 12. At 12 you should be fine to be alone at home.

It's not 'up to an hour' alone. It's the other way around, ie, seeing each other for up to an hour in the morning.

For 23 hours a day?

If you’re earning minimum wage then your employer is breaking the law by not paying you for the actual time it takes you to travel between jobs.

They can’t just use a standard “optimal” journey time. They have to pay you for how long it actually takes, otherwise you’re earning below minimum wage.

It’s scandalous how many employers try to avoid paying what’s legally required, it makes me so angry. And it always affects the workers who can least afford it.

Thank you.
I'll never say 'f**k it all' because he needs to see a work ethic. But, bloody hell, it's tempting, when I add up/subtract minimum wage - tax - NI - 55% UC deductions - babysitter - petrol - car parking fees - a packet of Paracetamol because I'm so tired my head is throbbing, and work out that I've dumped my kid and made him miserable all weekend, only to end up £1.50 better off than if I'd stayed in bed!

I'm amazed that so many people think it's up to OP to resolve this. The simple fact is that the council is acting unlawfully. Children are entitled to full time education, and these arrangements mean that they are missing 4-5 hours education per week. I doubt that the school is too pleased at having the beginning of the school day so badly disrupted - and who is looking after the children after school till the bus turns up?

As people suggest, you need to contact your councillor and MPs, and enter formal complaints. I would suggest you also write formally telling the council that if they don't rectify this you will have to take judicial review action to enforce your child's rights. They won't risk you going to court, because you would get legal aid in your child's name to pursue any case, so they know it is a real risk and that they would lose.

Unfortunately your difficulty handling both work and parenting isn't really the council's problem.

But I agree with previous posters that the local authority has a legal duty to provide transport and that surely, obviously, means the school bus arrives at the school on time. That's the angle I would take. The return should also be reasonably prompt after the school closes - 45 minutes is pushing it a bit (and are the kids waiting in the school or are they thrown out?).

PS: Poke around on a map and see if there's any footpaths or bridleways that might be useful. 4 or 5 miles on a car-free path is an easy bike ride and a longish but doable walk.

Could you collect him from school after your shift so that you get a bit more time together? I know it's not ideal for you to travel more but might make it up to him a bit. I get the guilt it's awful. You sound like you're managing so much on your own. You should cut yourself some slack, he'll be proud of how hard you work.

This is fucking batshit mental. How can the local authority possibly think it is acceptable to have children arrive late for school and then wait for however long to be collected again.

It is awful that it is affecting your work and I can't imagine how stressful that is. I don't suppose the LA give a shit about it though. But the fact that they are failing to give children their full education is completely and utterly unacceptable.

Our children's education is absolutely the most important thing and the privileged bastards that run this country are failing them spectacularly.

Kick up a holy stink OP. If this really is happening elsewhere in the country then find evidence and see if you can get it reported on nationally. It is NOT okay!!!

From a practical sense... Since he would miss the start of school anyway could you take him with you until after the 9.30 rush (start at 7.30) and then run him to school in a break. Doesn't solve your evening but perhaps a start?

Sorry you are dealing with this.

My difficulty handling both work and parenting, has only arisen since the school bus was withdrawn.
It may not be the LA's. problem, but my problem is a result of their decision to shirk their obligations.
It's irrelevant whose fault it is. My landlord doesn't care.

There are no useful fields/bridleways/mountain passes/fjords/ski lifts etc - if there were, then the LA wouldn't have accepted the responsibility for transport.

Thank you for getting it.
The round.trip from work to school is over an hour. I don't get a break, so the earliest I could do that run is 3pm, so he would arrive just in time to get on the (delayed) bus home!

No advice but I remember this happening to me when I was at school, I had a disabled parent who couldn't drive so I was just late every day. It's rubbish this is still happening.

Thank you.
This is very useful, and kinda what I was looking for.

@UpUpUpU

Such a good point. I bet the op has not thought of it once

Then that isn’t how your post reads. No one can blame you for being annoyed at him attending school late and leaving late. It is disruptive to his education. But your work hours obviously leave very little flexibility either side regardless.

I think this is for the council to resolve it’s completely unacceptable that your child is missing hours of lessons each week.

I’m also rural and get buses to school so completely understand that it is not at all feasible to cycle. Our road is lethal, cars whizzing along at 60mph, blind bends etc. There are quad bike trails but nothing that’d go in a handy straight line by the road!

It is no wonder your employer appreciates you. They are taking advantage by not paying you accurate travel time so you’re effectively earning less than minimum wage.

You may find that it will resolve post summer and they will just eke it out till then. Have you considered trying to cut your hours for a bit. I’ve done the min wage/ Uc combo and sometimes the figures don’t stack up. By the time you pay tax/ ni then knock off 55% taper rate its down to 30p per pound. I worked out I made £10 per six hour shift once I’d taken off petrol.

If you can I’d look to retrain to something better paid. Also put yourself out there a bit. Communities can be super helpful

Are you on universal credit? If so, I'd just drop some hours. The UC will make up the shortfall.

The council should have a contract with the bus company and if they are not carrying out their contractual duties, it will be a breach of contact. I would Ask for a copy under FOI to understand what they contractually have to provide. That might help - rather than the council accepting a worse service.

The only thing the LA have any obligation about is the 45 min late arrival at school each day. That is the bit you need to concentrate on.

OP, you mention a 79 year old neighbour. Any chance you could utilise them more. It's not like you son needs a babysitter babysitter but having the neighbour check in on him might help. A lot of 79 year olds are at home a lot anyway.
It the type of thing my Mum might like to do.

I also wonder if it's worth asking on Facebook/NextDoor or whatever if there is anyone who could give your son a lift - again maybe you could return the favour at times.
I'd also double check the local buses - loads and loads of kids use them where I live. I think the idea that they are always late and a really unreliable is a bit outdated. ( although maybe they are in other areas)
Good luck. It must be very stressful.