Council error which meant children can't catch bus on first day of school
It follows a change in arrangements
Parents at a Northamptonshire school have been left in the dark over home to school transport arrangements after a council blunder and have been left scrambling to find alternative transport for their children’s very first day.
Sending your kids back to school at the end of the holidays, especially when they are moving up to secondary school, can always be a stressful time: trying to buy new uniforms and stationery, yanking them out of bed in the morning and making up packed lunches once again.
But, extra stress was put on parents who rely on school buses after North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) failed to inform parents where, when and if their kids would be picked up in the morning.
Many parents with children due to start at Montsaye Academy did not get any communication about the transport before the start of term on Wednesday (September 4), despite numerous emails and phone calls.
The council has acknowledged that the service has failed to meet the ‘high standards’ expected of it and says it apologises ‘unreservedly’.
One mother told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “ I feel like banging my head against a brick wall at the minute. It’s very upsetting and distressing for both parents and, more importantly children, who are all new starters without any information for their first day in school.
“When I phone the council they say they can’t give information over the phone or it’s not available and then when other people are phoning the same number they’re given information.
“It just feels like nobody actually knows.”
Her son is just starting year seven at Montsaye Academy in Rothwell. Without the promised bus transport to school each morning he would have to walk from Desborough on the side of a national speed limit road, which many parents have complained is dangerous.
The Desborough mum, who has asked not to be named, said she sent an email to the council at the beginning of August to check that transport had been put in place, but received zero response. The night before, she decided to carpool and drive her son and a few of his friends to school on his first day to avoid any trouble with the buses refusing them.
She added: “We were quite fortunate because we knew we had room in the diary, but not all parents are in that situation.
“There are people that just can’t manage that and have that not knowing. And it’s stressful not knowing because you just want to know that when you go to work in the morning your children are sorted, they’re fine, they’re going to get on with their day and you’ll see them later.
“It creates an extra layer of worry into the day.”
Cllr Matt Binley, North Northamptonshire Council’s executive member for highways, travel and assets, said: “We are aware of some issues regarding home to school transport for pupils travelling to Montsaye School and are working hard to resolve any problems.
“Unfortunately, a number of pupils have not been notified of their travel arrangements for this year. We are investigating to fully understand how this has happened and will work to make sure that processes are strengthened so this is not repeated and we are sorry that this occurred.
“We are liaising with the school to resolve the matter as quickly as possible and have sent a transport list, so they know who is to travel on which route.
“In the meantime, we would encourage any Montsaye pupils who believe they are entitled to bus transport to get on any Montsaye School bus until passes are issued. This should ensure all pupils who are entitled to free home to school transport are able to get a bus while we fully resolve the issues.
“We know that this is a stressful time for pupils and their families and carers at the beginning of the school year. We acknowledge that in some cases the service has failed to meet the high standards we expect of it and for that we apologise unreservedly.”