Taxi Driver Online

Anger over deaf children’s school taxi changes



A number of parents are unhappy with changes to their deaf children’s school taxi service being changed.

Paul Jackson, of West Parade, Bexhill, complained after finding out his eight-year-old daughter Niamh’s journey to Willingdon Primary School would be much longer after East Sussex County Council (ESCC) decided to merge it with another.

This meant there would be twice as many children being picked up, with no one capable of sign language nor experience of dealing with autistic children.

After the complaint, ESCC said an escort would can sign would be with the taxi and it would go back to two cars, but Mr Jackson is still angry with the local authority.

“All of these children need routine, trust and most importantly the means to communicate their needs,” he said.

“The fact that one adult is now escorting seven to eight children and has little to no experience dealing with disabilities is a disgrace.

“ESCC have a duty of care which is being woefully neglected and needs to be investigated.“The case of the lowest bid who wins the contract to transport these kids is irrelevant.

“It’s about relationships, consistency, experience, routine and trust that these kids need, none of which ESCC seem to care about.

”Susan Stevens’ nine-year-old daughter Annabelle Bridger is also deaf and shares a taxi with Niamh.The mother, from Parsons Close, St Leonards, is worried about her child going back to school with a new taxi company because Annabelle gets frustrated with change and they have had little communication from ESCC.

“We didn’t get any information from the county council that it was going to change the situation and I’m really worried about my child being in that taxi as they have no signer and I don’t know anything about them,” she said. The children go back to Willingdon on Tuesday and both parents are not pleased with the timing of the changes which has given them a few days to prepare.

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: “All potential transport providers are pre-assessed before bidding for county council contracts to ensure they are equipped not only to safely transport children to school but to meet the transport requirements of children with a range of needs.

“However, we do understand Mr Jackson’s concerns over the new taxi provider and the lack of a driver with knowledge of sign language, therefore the new operator will be looking at providing an escort for Niamh who is able to sign.

“We understand that change can be difficult and to help the children get used to the new provider we are arranging a familiarisation visit before the start of the new school year.

“We have also taken on board concerns about the journey time and as a result, rather than seven or eight children using one taxi, we will be splitting the group into two taxis, to reduce the time of the journey.”

Read more at: http://www.bexhillobserver.net/news/ang ... -1-7558438

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

It's down to the cheapest tender it's not about how the child interacts with the driver or escort.

£ years ago we employed a driver and escort who had previously been employed by the County Council. They were both fully trained to work with autistic children. We employed them to work on a speciasl needs contract that required their expertise. Obviously the contract price reflected their expertise. At the end of the first year the Council decided to put the contract out to tender and we lost the job to a much lower tender. The parents were not happy with that decision.
Some of you may remember the fight I had on behalf of the 2 staff members to keep their jobs for them by invoking TUPE. The other company fought tooth and nail to avoid taking the pair on and it very nearly went to a tribunal. Fortunately the other company eventually gave up and we got the contract back. We still have it and the 2 staff members are still employed to carry out the contract.
I wonder if anyone fought for the original drivers and escorts on this job?

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Grandad,

Many school tender forms state that TUPE applies or did the other form just ignore that

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

But will TUPE apply in a few years time?

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IDFIMH

if hes that concerned why wont he take the kid himself? owt for nowt these fookers & they have the cheek to complain? just get off your ass mate, you get allowances for the kid so spend the fooker on a private taxi if you are that bothered, you greedy basdid, its your fooking kid after all do my fooking nut in these to$$ers, i have just signed up & said so, doubt i will get a reply though

The Council had not even considered that TUPE could apply. The other company would not employ them, they told them that they would be self employed and on a lot less money that they were being paid by us.

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Grandad,

Did you end up getting this run back Pete?

I sti;; have it, and th staff.

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Grandad,

Deleted, obviously out of shame

When does the new keyboard arrive?

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IDFIMH