A general moan about a horrible day!

[Lizzy Lemon]

The taxi Ashley goes to school in has lost the contract to another company, after being informed of this I still requested that he's picked up and dropped off every day at a cost to us of £140 for the next two terms. As we are within 2 miles of school (only just) he cannot get free transport and they are not obliged to pick him up at home. The new company want to pick him up from a place which is half way to school and after crossing two extremely busy roads without any crossings available either lollypop person or zebra crossing. I was shaking with anger that they can do this to a 10 year old child who is undergoing diagnosis for Autism and who has to go to this specialised unit not through choice. Luckily he has only 2 more terms there but its going to take an hour of my morning getting him there and getting home again, at least I have our car to pick him up in the afternoon. Sorry had to have a good moan, just as I was getting into the mood for Christmas a spanner has to be thrown in the works!!! And then this afternoon next door's drain blocked and DH had to go and sort it out as they are useless and claim it isn't them. But I'm going to stay calm (it's the new me, I'm starting my new years resolution early, I'm trying to chill).

 

[mandymouse]

You vent away Wendy, what a nuisance though about the taxi. Get all your frustrations out the way on here and then you'll be nice and calm for a wonderful Christmas

 

[Shane]

Ah that's a real pain!

I remember when I was at high school i also lived around 2 miles away and had to pay for transport everyday what was silly in itself (As it was a school bus that picked us up and we had to pay). That with everything else on your shoulders is not fun.

I hope everythings gets sorted and I'm sure you will have a great christmas

Take Care

Shane

 

[mumloveseeyore]

just wanted to give you I have been in a similar situation with special needs transport for my ds who has autism, the LEA suddenly decide he didnt need it, i know how frustrating it can be, feel free to vent. It may help if you can get access to transport included on his statement if this is applicable. thinking of you. Gill.

 

[pokemon_master]

Vent as much as you'd like to.

I had a similar problem when I was younger. A bus company that had the contract awhile back wanted to pick me up down the road, and not only A) the road very busy, b) there isn't any visible paths to walk on and C) it is far away for a school journey, it would also be troubling for me with AS to walk that far. So, after a couple of days of getting my mum to drive me to school (our situation is the opposite; we have free transport since DS is under 16 and I have special needs) they eventually decided to change the route back to the old method of picking me up at my house.

Keep at them is what I can say.

 

[arieliwish]

If they don't sort it out, hassle the council!! I work for a coach company that does 8 local school contracts and my boss is very good at helping parents out even when the council are being awkward. But when parents hassle county they crumble, they're scared to death of upsetting parents, even when their little darlings are vandalising our brand new coaches!!

We have a lot of children from surrounding farms, and one family has been given a taxi run to bring the kids 1 mile into our village for bus on mornings. Other families don't have this and we know why - the mother has the biggest mouth around! She works part time at a doctors surgery, and the father is a farmer who didn't restock after foot and mouth, rents his fields out and does handyman jobs in the area - they're always around at 8am but won't bring kids to bus stop!!

Believe me, make enough phone calls to the same person at the council and you should be ok!

Lynn


By the way we've just lost 6 of our contracts from easter, the boss found out from a local 'bad' bus operator when they were meant to be secret sealed bids, he queried this with the council and was 'given' 1 back, may yet get another one - to keep quiet???

 

[KayleeUK]

Hope the day gets better

 

[Minniespal]

What a rotten day.

 

[wideeyes]

I would agree with this, I had an educational special needs statement and found that any recommendations in it where met by the school and the LEA.

I lived half a mile from school and the educational psychologist would not allow me to go on a bus to school.

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Thanks for listening, after my initial angry response at the news I calmly went and found some correspondence which stated he would be picked up from home (it had been included in the new quote) so I queried this point to be told he would still be subsidised (the road runs parallel to the road they want him to be picked up from - only an extra mile a journey would be needed), so the lady I spoke to said she would speak to her supervisor to see if they can make an exception in this case even if it is just for the morning journey. I should hear today or tomorrow.

 

[wideeyes]

hope you get it sorted

 

[arieljasmine]

I really hope this gets sorted out to your satisfaction, Wendy, and then you can relax and enjoy Christmas.

ArielJasmine