Problems with transport

[RinkyDinkyDoo]

DS has started new SS, which is fab and he's had a very positive start. ??
We are second on the pick up on the morning. I realise it's only the first week back for him, his school is brand new and they needed extra time to get it ready,but we are already encountering issues. Me being late for work.
If he gets picked up on the dot at 8 I can just make it to work on time.
His pick up times have been 8am on the first morning, which is fine, then they have been 8.10, 8.15, 7.50 and today 8.10.
The problem is the child who is picked up before him. The first pick up.
The 7.50 was because the mum refused the pick up, she said they were too early and said drive on, and was cross about it.
The other days, the escorts have apologised and Said the child is not ready at pick up time. The 8.15 day, they said he wasn't even dressed.
I understand there are days where things go wrong, but it seems this parent doesn't seem to understand that it has knock effects for everyone else using the transport. The child is not new to the school, they have been at the school for 2 years, so is used to the system.
Am just wondering if it would be out of order to phone transport and let them know that I don't think this is acceptable. I think if youRe lucky enough to gain access to transport you should make sure your child is ready to go at the right time.

Can you be first pick up? Then they'd get to the first child a bit later.

It could be 1st child's mother isn't happy about a primary child travelling g for more than the max allowed 45 mins.

Ds' taxi time was 8:10 for a 9am start. When the taxi started turning up at 7:40 I told them he's not coming out until 8am at the earliest. They used to sit outside until then.

I would be happy to be first pick up, DS loves being in the bus,but escorts say it means doubling back and then on to 3rd pick up. DS is next to last drop off, 55 mins after schools finish, and the other child is on the bus then, so an hours travel for him.
Escorts say the child's parents aren't happy with that and have complained about the amount of time he is the bus. Which I can see their point.
But I really think they need to have him ready at the time stated for pick up.

I don't think you can have this argument with either the parents or the taxi company/escort.

It really needs to be taken up with the commissioner which is the LA. You need to state that you child is ready when stated and you have made arrangements that rely on the time given being adhered to.

Yes, I think a phone call to LEA transport is needed. Thanks.

It really isn't as easy as saying the other child should be ready in time. There may be several reasons to do with his SN or otherwise why this is difficult, e.g. if he has seizures or meltdowns, or if he struggles to deal with transitions and resists getting into the cab. What really needs to happen if it is problematic is for him to have his own taxi.

I'm going to encounter the same issue when I return to work from maternity leave !
Last year he was picked up at 8.30 shiv ment I got to work on time.
This year it's 8.45 which means I miss all my bus connections and will be very late.
I'm in discussion with transport as he can't possibly get to school in 15 minutes! (I've done the journey)
It takes them 45 mins to get home
(He is the only pupil both ways).
As if it's not hard enough working with a SN child and all there appointments ,then transport make it even worse.

Speak to the transport team at the LA because your child shouldn't be picked up so late because of someone else, it's not fair. My LA has a policy where the transport will only wait for 3 minutes after pick up time for a child before leaving. If the first pick up is struggling to be ready then maybe they can reschedule the route and pick somebody else up first.

We have the three minute rule here too which from the other side can be a pain if you have a school refuser that requires careful negotiation into the taxi.

Last year though ds1's taxi company showed similarly erratic pickup times even though he was transported on his own and he was often late to school. This year's is very punctual and much better.

I think it is reasonable to complain to the LA but probably more on the grounds of it upsetting your child / making your child late to school rather than the need of you getting to work as even the late arrivals are earlier than the average school day.