Transport questions

[MommyUpNorth]

DS has just been picked up for his first day in his special needs school (P1). Now, they hadn't said what time they were coming or anything like that so we just waited for them... at 9:15 I rang to check someone was definitely coming (school is 16 miles away and starts at 9:30). They did come at 9:20 and said they will be later on Tuesdays, but then they actually said they'd be about this time everyday!?

Coming home, they'll get him out of school half an hour early to be back before I go to get the other kids. His school ends at 3, so by the time they all got into the car, etc, I would have been back from my school run... but they say they don't want to risk it.

Am I being a bit precious about the whole thing? I would expect that whatever transport they lay on they would get him to school on time, and he would stay for a full school day? Should I just be happy they're taking him? Not sure whether to complain or just keep my mouth shut so we don't end up with nothing!

IMO this is not acceptable and you are not being precious.

Sometimes the first few days of term are a bit topsy turvy as they sort out routes and timings, but they aim to get the kids to school on time and leave at the correct time.

If it was me (and as ds is now 14, I have plenty of experience) I would ring your transport bureau and ask to discuss this, as it is not acceptable that your DS is missing school - also if there are other children in the taxi it will be the same for them. If you get nowhere then it might be worth talking to the teacher - we had "issues" last year and when I rang the teacher to talk about it, she already been on to transport and sorted it as she was not pleased either!

Thank you so much for the reply... Actually the head teacher just rang to say that she wants to complain (just checking I was on board!). The transport wanted to take him out 45 minutes early every day, as well as being late in the morning. She's not having it! :)

She'll allow them to take him out 20 minutes early today, and will hopefully sort something more acceptable with the head of transport! Finally someone more proactive than me!!

That sounds good!!

Ds's school starts between 9 and 9.30 because of the distance some of the pupils travel. Ds travels 25 miles and is no way near the longest journey. But if it was a prompt 9am start then I'd expect the taxi to make sure he got there on time. I'd be unhappy about picking up early from school every day because that means ds is missing 2 and a half hours per week.
I'd be speaking to transport, some of the taxi services try it on, your ds should be in school for the whole of the day not to suit the taxi service at the end of the day.