West Sussex County Council has held the first of a series of courses for school bus drivers designed to combat bullying.
Improved training for school bus drivers was one of the key recommendations of an Anti-Bullying Task Force set up in 2007 by the Council, following the tragic death of 11 year-old Horsham schoolboy Ben Vodden.
His parents – Paul and Caroline Vodden – have been given details of the feedback from 52 drivers who filled out course evaluation forms. 49 felt the course has been either useful or very useful.
Among the aspects of the course singled out by drivers were – ‘that it highlighted bullying as a very serious and real issue’ and that it showed ways of ‘tactfully dealing with an issue’.
The course included discussions how to deal with behaviour and situations that might take place on school buses.
The Task Force was also set-up as a response to comments made by the Coroner who asked the County Council to look at home to school transport issues when recording an open verdict into Ben’s death.
The outcomes of the course are intended to help drivers:
· Know some definitions of bullying
· To have considered their roles and responsibilities in responding to bullying
· To understand forms of bullying
· To consider what is appropriate behaviour on school transport
· To consider ways to de-escalate a situation
· To consider different responses to difficult situations
Peter Griffiths, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Schools, said: “I felt it was important that the first people to know of the outcome of the initial course were Mr and Mrs Vodden.
“They rightly had concerns about school transport, but have conducted themselves throughout with enormous dignity, and played an important role in the Task Force’s recommendations.
“I am pleased that so many school bus and coach drivers felt the course was worthwhile. One company sent an email to us saying their staff had returned ‘full of it’, and asked to be informed of the next dates as soon as possible.”
Peter said more courses were being arranged, and he hoped to attend one himself to gain a better insight into what was being offered to drivers.
The Task Force looked at many other aspects of bullying and other recommendations put into practice have included:
· An anti-bullying line through the County Council Contact Centre to support parents/carers whose children are experiencing bullying – 0845 075 1010.
· Providing a casework service to work with children and young people who are experiencing more complex bullying.
· Updating the County Council’s Anti-Bullying Strategy and guidance to schools and youth organisations.
Paul and Caroline Vodden said:
“We are very encouraged by the response to the recent driver training organised by West Sussex County Council. This is something we have pressed for since the events on the school bus which led to our 11-year old son’s tragic death nearly three years ago, and we were very pleased when the Council’s Anti-Bullying Task Group included driver training in its recommendations.
“The overwhelmingly positive response of the drivers following the first voluntary training session validates our view that training drivers in bullying awareness and pupil management is not only essential to protect vulnerable children but also of benefit to the drivers themselves.
“We are convinced that formal training should now be rolled out across the County and, indeed, nationwide, and accompanied by a system of accreditation which recognises and affirms the important role and responsibilities which drivers carry in relation to the welfare of the students in their charge.
“Had such a scheme been in place prior to Ben’s death, such a tragic outcome may have been prevented.”
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