Ds has been smacked by his escort. . What sort of action should I take ?

[ApocalypseCheese]

This is the second time i've had an issue with an escort, there was an issue earlier in the year when dd was left alone for a few minutes, however, no harm was done and and the issue was resolved.

This time it's ds, different escort service entirely.

They only started in september, he's been at the school four yrs and except an issue at the start (which was resolved by changing bus) has had no problems.

Since going on this new bus (at start of term) he has had three extremely violent outbursts, he can be violent but most incidents can be avoided.

We've had an issue with her before, basicly she's quite 'shouty' and has a very high pitched tone, following an incident at the start of term has barked orders at him morning and afternoon (red rag to a bull time) for minor things such as touching the key hole on the bus

Also, the bus is very small, only an 8 seater and that's with two extremely large escorts and a driver, ds is asd and does not 'do' confined spaces.

I had found her attitude a problem and whenever I tried to broach problems found her very 'gruff'. Putting it bluntly I took an instant dislke to her, and was wary as with ds you need to know what your doing.

This was all due to be raised at ds's school review on Wednesday.

She brought him back this afternoon, very red in the face and immediately started screaming at me, 'he keeps attacking me, it's only me he goes, he's broke my glasses and I need to get them fixed, and so on. I listened calmly then said 'having heard the way you scream at him, i'm not surprised he's been kicking off' Then slammed the door in her face

I immediately phoned the school, said I wasn't happy with what had happened or the way she has spoken to ds, blah, blah, blah and I will be taking him (and dd, they're at the same school now) in myself until an alternative is found.

Went to find ds, in his usual position, on the sofa, hands over ears and blanket over head to ask what happened (find the trigger) and give the not hurt speech.

I asked why he hurt the lady on the bus ?

He said the lady shouting, she hurt me.

I asked how she hurt him, he said 'lady dragged me off the bus, she hurt my hand'

I asked 'how did that happen ?

He said ' smacking it' and started hitting himself.

Immediately phoned school again and let them know i'm not happy about this,etc also asked dd who confirmed ds was dragged off the bus and pushed up against the bus

What's going to happen now ?

Does anybody know ?

Sure she won't be able to continue in that job ? There are extremely vulnerable children on that bus, some are non verbal and violent so couldnt tell. I don't think she realised how good ds's verbal skills are as he only talks when he feels like it but is actually a real blabbermouth !

And now I feel like crap for not sorting out the bus issue in the beginning .

in any other job concerning the welfare of vulnerable children she would be suspended until a full investigation is carried out.

I am stunned that she has been allowed to continue working.

I would very much make it a police matter.
that way it will show up on her CRB and so prevent he from future jobs like this. she clearly isn't cut out for this work.

OMG that is dreadful - she should be suspended immediately. Vulnerable children are being put at risk by the LEAs failure to act

omg this is terrible !!!!!!! I as a LSA was once accused of a child protection issue....i was supposed to have gone on the yard and pushed him over.. as it was I had gone home sick that day so wansn't even there school did investigate though ionformally 1st before they would make it offical...they soon realised I was not on the premesis and the child then admited he had lied.... makes me shudder at thought that somone who oveously has hurt a child has not been made accountable.

OMG look at they typos sorry....

That is horrendous. i agree she should be suspended pending an inverstigation. Raise the bloody roof. Contact the police and your MP. These people are in a position of trust with children who are extremely vunerable. She should not be allowed to continue in that position for a moment longer. TBH if she is still on the bus, I would threaten to take things into my own hands and contact the local paper if they do not suspend her until the investigation is conducted. My god, if people are accused of stealing or using the internet in works time, they get suspended so why they hell should she be allowed to continue to interact with children who she may be harming? Makes my blood boil! Also, i would think about contacting a solicitor if you think that the LA aren't taking you seriously. She assualted your child. If she did it in the street she'd be arrested!

Absolutely police involvement, tell school, La and anyone else who needs to know you will not be putting him on the bus if she is on it and tell them they need to make alternative arrangements as he should not miss out on education because of her behaviour.

Good luck and hugs to both you and your wee boy. xx

Surely both the school and the la education department have a responsibility for child safety/child protection in this.....they can't just say it does not involve them, they should be pushing it. I would write to the governors of the school and copy it to the headteacher, the head of child services, head of transport department, and owner of the transport company if there is one. I am so shocked....and it is assault, if a teacher did this they would be investigated for assault by the police!

Fucking hell!
I can't believe you're still expected to put your child on a bus with that person!

My sentiments exactly!

Soon after ds started at his unit 30 miles away I was informed that there would be a temporary driver for one day as the driver was attending a funeral.
Ds like your child can speak but doesn't so on the day the taxi firm thought they'd pull a fast one and double up by taking ds onto another school to pick up another child.
When he was late getting back I kept phoning and they didn't answer my call.
I phoned the LEA at 9 o clock the next morning. Initially the transport manager said he would have to follow procedure, verbal warning, written warning, removal of contract.
By the time I'd got off the phone at 10-30am he was asking what outcome I would find acceptable. I said remove the contract I want his head on a plate
At 12 noon contracts manager phoned to inform me that he had taken the unprecedented step of immediate removal of contract and I agreed not to inform the local press about how a vulnerable child was subjected to such shoddy treatment with the apparent approval of the LEA and how council tax payers were being screwed by unscrupulous taxi firms with the County Council's knowledge and approval.
Pretty sure that the local rag would love a front page spread detailing what awful treatment your child has been subjected to.

Hello infuriated Ladies.

He isn't on the same bus as that charmer, I took him in myself until an alternative was found (they're both on one of the school owned buses now, with teachers as escorts)

Basicly, she's getting away with it.

The school know she hit him, I do, the woman at the LEA and yet nothing is being done. Nada. She's keeping her job because their hands are tied. It's not the schools issue, they agree with me and have sent a report detailing their concerns.

It's all down to the cuts in spending, the older. qualified people who used to do the transport have had to go and been replaced with cheaper, smaller alternatives (cheers Dave) who don't know what they're doing. Last yr it would have been unheard of in our school to have every seat taken in a tiny minibus (including one wheelchair)

They just see it as easy money, but unfortunately, if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

You need to involve the police. I don't get why that would even be a decision. I really feel for you, but she would certainly get taken off then as she would fail a CRB check if she'd been done for an assault on a child!

Totally, totally unacceptable. My son goes to a SN school and has a taxi and escort, in your position I would take son myself until this was resolved (if at all possible).

I did this 2 years ago when there were several problems with the taxi driver and the Council Transport team paid my expenses.

I would phone the police too and write to local council transport team, this woman should not be working with children never mind vulnerable children. Why has the driver not said anything????

I agree - I would be contacting the police about this.

Definitely tell the police. This is a situation where there's been violence against a vulnerable child and the person is free to do it again to someone else, that's a police matter.

The school do not stop having a duty of care because they've contracted out to someone else. That's absolutely not true. I'm a school Governor and I know that if we bring in outside contractors to provide transport to our pupils we absolutely do remain liable.

If they are telling you otherwise Take it to the local education authority at the Council, in writing, too. Copied to the local MP so they can see you've done that also.

I am deeply concerned about every single aspect of the way they were transporting him, to be honest. Utterly unacceptable from start to finish.