Cinnamon Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 My 2 daughters have always got the school coach which is provided to us in the outlying villages. Never had too many problems,but yesterday my youngest got on in the morning, it went to the next stop & the children were told to walk back home as the coach was full Naturally,the same problem arose at home time,with the last 10 or so children not being able to get a seat. It seems that it is over subscribed by 10 places. In the morning it is not a problem for us as we are one of the first stops,but in the evening its every man for himself to get a seat Those who do not get a seat have to make their own way home...................... The coach company do not have a larger coach to send out, & have not been paid enough to send out 2. Lots of fun for working parents who now have to drive to get children to or from school Oh, & I hear talk of parents from the further stops on the morning route now dropping their children at the earlier stops to guarantee a place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Your local council will have someone responsible for school transport and if you are legally entittled to transport (the criteria is if you live more than a certain distance and is dependant on age) then they will have to organise transport. If you don't fit on bus, or on my case there is no bus, then they have to arrange alternative e.g. taxi or pay mileage. I would ring the relevant person and let them know of the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 How ridiculous They do have to provide transport though. If they can't afford a coach then at CatieB said, they may have to organise a taxi to mop up the extras. Our local authority still hasn't sent my ES's bus pass through. I had to pay £350 for it so I am not impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 That is very poor in all cases above. If the local authority are issuing passes for children to use the school bus/coach, then surely they are bound to get their act together and ensure that there are enough spaces provided for that number of people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 7, 2010 Author Share Posted September 7, 2010 Well,I phoned the school who say that they are aware of the problem & are waiting to hear from the bus company & the local authority. Goodness knows what level of incompetence lead to 10 more bus passes being issued than there are seats on the bus though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Lack of 'joined up thinking' I guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 What a horrible situation. It is stressful enough for youngsters returning to school or starting a new school without having to worry about how they get there and back. We use a school coach, it is not local authority provided because, we chose to send out children to grammar schools 10 miles away rather than the local school. We pay a lot for the service, but at least it is realiable and safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Flipping heck...cutbacks eh...don't tell me about it, I know, (see post). That really is incompetence isn't it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I could bore you all to death with the stories of the problems that we had with our school bus. Very quickly:- 20 children to get on the bus and only a 16 seaterSmoking just outside the bus so that the whole vehicle stinks of smoke.Arriving at school for the pick up over an hour lateNew drivers not knowing the route and then refusing to drop the last three students off at their stop but driving a mile past and then being really aggressive and telling them to get out - leaving a walk along a main dual carriageway. I could go on... I have been in constant communication with the County Council - the poor chap is now thoroughly fed up of me. Sarah - I am sure that your council would be as helpful as ours have been. The contract is between the company and the council and, if the terms of the contract are not honoured, they are able to take action. I hope that you managed to get it sorted. We are waiting to see what happens with the company this year. The council did try and get another firm but weren't able to so I am now worried that the original company has no incentive to improve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 7, 2010 Author Share Posted September 7, 2010 All sorted! The school rang to say they have juggled things about & put on another bus,so I can rest easy that she will get home every night I must say that I am impressed with the school - they are never usually this competent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 What a horrible situation. It is stressful enough for youngsters returning to school or starting a new school without having to worry about how they get there and back. We use a school coach, it is not local authority provided because, we chose to send out children to grammar schools 10 miles away rather than the local school. We pay a lot for the service, but at least it is realiable and safe. Almost £800 a year we have to pay for a school bus - even then it is full, so friends who have travelled together for 5 years have been split over two different coaches this time. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 What a shame that they have split friends up over different routes. I was really nervous that I wouldn't get my 3 on the same coach, but fortunately they are all together but at a cost of £2,400 a year We will review this over the year to decide if it would be more economical to drive them there. I would rather not do this because it would be a pain with work commitments and their independence. A lot will depend on after school activities etc. The grammar schools get more popular every year, therefore the coaches become more over subcribed. When my ED started there were only 3 people at her stop there are now 11. I am so glad that I don't have to worry about school entry anymore. I am glad that the school have acted quickly to sort out the problems Sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 £2,400 a year Yikes 2 of my 3 have free transport (coach) as we live in a rural community some miles from the school. This year I have to pay £350 for ES who is in 6th Form (subsidised). I would love to be able to buy a public bus pass for him so that he could be more flexible but it would cost £800 and the public bus doesn't really get him beyond school We do however have a pretty good service barring the odd power crazy driver that likes to bully the kids and enjoys watching them running down for the bus and driving off before they get there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 £2,400 a year Yikes 2 of my 3 have free transport (coach) as we live in a rural community some miles from the school. This year I have to pay £350 for ES who is in 6th Form (subsidised). I would love to be able to buy a public bus pass for him so that he could be more flexible but it would cost £800 and the public bus doesn't really get him beyond school We do however have a pretty good service barring the odd power crazy driver that likes to bully the kids and enjoys watching them running down for the bus and driving off before they get there I know exactly what you mean! It reminds me of the old Bob Newhart sketch **here** It lasts a while but is very amusing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 It reminds me of the old Bob Newhart sketch **here** It lasts a while but is very amusing! That is so funny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Glad you've got it sorted out. It reminds me of the old Bob Newhart sketch **here** It lasts a while but is very amusing! You beat me to it. A brilliant sketch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
