just want advice really what it is my son goes to a school with children with behavioral problems (add/adhd)which they require transport to and from school which is no problem just that they let them sit in the front of a mini bus and on Friday my son wanted to sit in the front with another child who sits there regular and the other child said no and they started fighting which started just before the bus set off which got me thinking that could have started while the bus was in motion and caused an accident so i got in touch with the council transport and asked what there policy was on letting children sit in the front so close to the driver and the transport said there was no policy but then i stated what happened & what could have happened and if it did who would be to blame and they said we don't know and they needed to consult there legal team which school said the same & is there anyone on the forum know more about the transport policy or who else i could phone before an accident happens not just for my child but other parents with children is the same situation.:confused::help:

isnt that the reason for the escort in the back to keep the children supervised ?
its nothing to do with the driver and it should be pollicy for the children to be in the back i think :)

yes but how could they get to them when thereis 2 head rests in the way and it only takes a minute to knock the driver or grab the steering wheel and according to transport there's no policy

I would say don't let any of the children sit in the front at all to be honest with you.

well then i think its up to the driver to say no to them all and for you to have a word with the driver.
you are right it could cause a accident and you cant say no to one child and not another.
or tell the escort im sure he,she will help.

The fact they dont have a policy and they have to consult there legal team speaks volums

I work quite closely with Transport departments in various Local Authorities (although not Sheffield) up and down the country and I have never known one to allow children to sit in the front seat of a vehicle (even cars). This has always been governed by best practice and I am not certain if there is a specific law to back this up, although in the back of my mind I think there may be something to do with the EU regulation governing seatbelts and children (depending upon the age of your child). In order for your complaint to be taken seriously you would be best putting your concerns in writing to both the school involved and the Transport department and maybe have a quiet word with the driver and escort on the vehicle as they have direct responsibility for your child when he is on the vehicle. For advice you could try looking on the Department for Transports website and the Community Transport Associations website as they can both offer advice.

to bus man you tell me i'm fuming because there is know one taking notice of me and they keep saying IF it happens and say say its fine but seem to forget these children don't see danger & could get in the mini bus best mates and then fall out and start fighting but no one seems to care or don't see that and see me as a moaning mother

what company is the transport from

sheffield council

sheffield councili worked as a driver for sheff council for 3 yrs special needs 6children on the bus 3 seats in the front, as a special treat they took it in turns to sit in front only 1 child,thus a spare seat between driver and child, my escort on my bus sat directly behind passenger seat never had a problem The children all had s/belts so shouldnt be able to fight and the escort is there to deal with any problems i have to say we had avery happy bus,these kids have enough problems to deal with so it would be a shame if they had a small treat like sitting in front taken off them wouldnt it?.I never heard of any accidents being caused in this way

to bus man you tell me i'm fuming because there is know one taking notice of me and they keep saying IF it happens and say say its fine but seem to forget these children don't see danger & could get in the mini bus best mates and then fall out and start fighting but no one seems to care or don't see that and see me as a moaning mother


THREE POINTS


I did not intentionally tell you, you were fuming I suspect the comments is in connection with the icons.

If you look at what I have said : I am saying that they should have a policy and the fact that they don’t, speaks volumes.

If they haven’t got a policy then it would suggest that they have failed to carry out a risk assessment if they have done a risk assessment then the quality of that said risk assessment seems to be lacking, based on the information you have given, the fact that they went straight to the legal team worries me - if you don’t get anywhere I suggest you contact a councillor preferably one who is connected with social services .

You say the transport is provided by Sheffield Council, while I do not have a lot of contact with the "social/community bus side " I seem to remember that the council transport was split into various bits


Family & Community Services

Central Transport

Sheffield Community Transport

Other contractors ie taxi or mini bus firms


Some of these sections may have merged or changed names, think you need to know who runs the service your child uses - there could be a name and address on the side of the bus (low down which will include the address ) or it could be on a green disk next to the task disk.

You could write to the operator of the vehcile and ask them if they have a policy on this subject

THREE POINTS


I did not intentionally tell you, you were fuming I suspect the comments is in connection with the icons.


I think her missing punctuation has caused you to misread her intent. It reads to me like she's saying "you tell me! I'm fuming!" meaning merely that she agrees with you. :)