7:50am Thursday 9th September 2010
By Matthew Edwards
Changes to a school bus service have left their children spending up to four hours a day on the vehicle, say angry parents.
Pupils at Brimble Hill Special School have had their daily routine disrupted after the service was changed to pick up more pupils in one bus.
Eight-year-old Callum Ellis has used the bus for the four years he has been at the school and before this term was picked up at 8.20am, with the bus picking up one more child before arriving at school for 9.15am.
Now the bus picks Callum up at 7.35am, meaning the youngster, who is autistic, has to be up at 6.30am to be at school for 9.15am.
Callum is the second child to be picked up and the bus then goes on to pick up 10 more children, all with special needs.
Callum, of Grasmere, in Liden, was diagnosed with autism six years ago and routine is an important factor in his life.
His father, Jonathan Ellis who works night shifts, has decided not to send Callum on the bus any more and is taking him to school himself.
He said: “We’re having to rush around in the mornings. It would be a lot easier to send him on the bus, but now it has all changed.
“I know the council needs to make cuts but not when it comes to special needs children. The system has been working for the last five or six years so why change it now?”
Emma Jenkins, of Eldene, said the change has disrupted her son Jamie’s studies. Jamie, eight, who has autism and severe learning difficulties, now spends nearly four hours a day on the bus.
“I’m shocked. I’ve not been sending him on the bus this term,” she said.
“It’s frustrating because it has been in Jamie’s routine. It’s quite distressing for as he doesn’t really understand what is going on.
“He had such a good term last year, but I am worried this is going to affect that as he is going to become more tired and frustrated with the long days. Why should the council damage a routine of special needs children just to cut costs? It’s outrageous.”
Another parent likened the trip her son had to take as being the same as commuting to the capital.
Marina McCubbin, of Wroughton, whose son Matthew also suffers from autism and is profoundly deaf, said: “It’s like the children commuting to London – there are people who work nine to five in Swindon who don’t leave for work as early as Matthew.
“It’s not acceptable. These are the most disadvantage children, I appreciate the transport, it’s a big help, well it was.”
A council spokesman said: “We fully understand the concerns expressed by some parents following the route changes, and we are working to resolve them as soon as possible.
“The routes have to be altered every year because of variations in the locations, numbers and destinations of the children. Despite our best efforts we don’t always get it right for everyone first time, because problems can sometimes only be apparent when the services operate for real.”
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