New drivers will transport children to special needs schools next week

A retendering process has caused uproar amongst some parents who fear their children will be unable to cope with new drivers due to their medical conditions.

Worried parents have bombarded the Rotherham Borough Council with complaints, many asking for the previous drivers to be reinstated, and a protest was held outside the council’s offices last week (April 13).

The local authority is obliged by law to open up the service provision to retendering every four years and has pledged that new drivers — set to take over school travel when children go back next week — will be fully trained to cope with children with behavioural difficulties.

A council spokeswoman said this week: “The retendering is a legal process, so the new contracts remain in place.

“Meetings and conversations have been held or will take place for those families who will see a change of driver. These are still happening this week.”