A bit miffed at nursery/transport

[Lynden]

Logan gets a taxi to and from his developmental nursery. Its fantastic, both the nursery and his escort. C (his escort who Logan adores) did mention last week that another escort may have to take over because of their runs changing. That was all that was said though. On Friday another escort V turned up and said that she'd be taking him two days per week and C would be taking him two days per week. Now V is lovely too, and Logan although initially hesitant did go with her. He was having a good day though, had he been having an off day it would have been a nightmare.

 

But my issue is that we weren't warned about this and I think we should have been so we could prepare him for someone different. He has the same driver all the time which definitely helps because there's someone familiar but I think we should be kept informed.

 

Would you drop them a wee note to say could we be informed of any changes etc or would you let it lie this once?

 

Lynne

[jb1964]

Hi Lynne,

 

So glad that Logan was having a good day and this didn't kick start something.

 

For me personally - I'd find this one particularly difficult to answer for my daughter. She is very routine and if something is changing she wants to know absolutely everything that is happening - if I'd told her she would have found this difficult to get round because although she would know someone new was coming into the frame she would want to know what they looked like what they were like personality wise if you know what I mean - and I wouldn't be able to answer that (I think that's why going to secondary school was such a big thing - with loads of new teachers as opposed to primary). Sometimes she copes better without knowing this and other times she doesn't - but again it depends mostly on how anxious she is at that particular time and what the 'new' person is like - if they are friendly, pleasant and puts her at ease - she'll cope better than someone who is loud, boisterous or stern, etc.

 

Take care,

 

Edit: sorry Lynne - just re-read your post and yes I definitely think you should have been informed and then it would have been up to you to decide when to tell your son.

 

Jb

Edited October 9, 2006 by jb1964

[Bagpuss]

Lynne, might be worth having a word. Our dd 6 gets transport and have to say the chaperones on the whole are lovely......apart from one exception and she no longer works as a chaperone. Have to say though, ours have in the past been changed without notice, as have the drivers.

[cmuir]

Hi

 

I'd make your feelings known. It's great that everything has worked out, but it might not have! Obviously there are things which crop up which cannot be accounted for, but for those things that are known in advance you really need to know so that you can prepare your child if necessary. People in the 'outside' world haven't a clue how difficult it can be and I guess than unless they find themselves in our situations, they aren't likely to fully understand. But making them aware is all you can do in the hope that they are more considerate in future should anything crop up.

 

C.

[Kathryn]

Hi Lynne

 

I agree with everyone here - let them know - politely. Better to do it now and head off any future problems. It probably hasn't even occurred to them that change is such a problem - they need to learn to see things through your son's eyes.

 

L has transprot to college and we've had escort and driver changes and I've had to speak to the boss of the transport company a few times. I try to stay calm and pleasant when dealing with all of them - that way I hope they'll cooperate with me and try to understand that I'm not just fussing about nothing. I must admit though, the day the bus turned up filled with balloons was a real test of my patience!

 

Glad things are going well for Logan so far!

 

K x

[Bullet]

I don't see anything wrong with you wanting to know of any changes.

[KarenT]

You should have been informed regardless of your child's special needs. How else would you know that the changeover was genuine? Keeping things official prevents the less scrupulous members of society getting their hands on our kids - you should have had it in writing from the service provider.

 

As well as causing potential disruption for your child this also raises issues about stranger danger. This new driver was a complete stranger to you and yet you were expected to send your child off with her without discussion. And how do you explain that to ANY child? Not appropriate at all, in my opinion.

 

Karen

x

[Paula]

I work as a escort on special school buses.Its not always that easy to know if and when the driver or the escort are to be changed.People phone in sick at the last minute and other escorts have to step into the breach often we dont have a clue who the kids are or where the bus is going.Its not our fault its just the nature of the job.

 

But we all have to carry a id card saying were approved and vetted it has our photo on and an issue number.I show it to all the parents so they know im legit and if a parent asks to see it i must show it if i dont beacause its not on me they have the right to say there child wont go with me.

 

Ive seen it from both sides as a parent with my son traveling on transport and now as an escort.Its not easy for any body.

 

This week alone i was phoned at 10.30 pm sunday evening to say go here with this bus.I know nothing about the kids but ive to get on with it.It can be stresfull all round.

 

Luckily ive some understanding due to my aspie son.

[Jericho]

I think it's worth telling them that in future you would like some warning before these kinds of changes happen.

[Paula]

Just to add

 

Sometimes changes are made because the bus route takes too long,or kids are argueing on the bus so have to go on another if they dont get on.Or the driver says the escort lives too far away from the area the kids are collected from and he wont pick her up.

 

What people dont realise is that school transport has literaly hundreds of bus routes with hundreds of escorts,releif escorts,and drivers all trundling round picking kids up and dropping them of.Its difficult to coordinate.

 

And although our children are the most important thing in the world to us i know mine is to transport its just a job just legistics and money.Take it from some one whos been doing it 12 months i know.

 

I love the job but wouldnt want to cooardinate it all.I just go and do what im told.