Plea to school (From Warrington Guardian)

Plea to school

A HEADTEACHER has been criticised for not allowing a minibus that ferries little ones to and from school to park in the school grounds.

Kids' Cabin wants Bexton Primary to let its taxi service drive into the car park before there is an accident.

"To get parked safely in the road is pretty impossible," said Gill Warman.

"We're actually taking an additional member of staff to help out."

Kids' Cabin provides before school, after school and school holiday clubs for four to 11-year-olds.

Darker evenings

Its services, which start at 8am, include transport to and from St Vincent's in Manor Park South and Bexton Primary in Blackhill Lane.

The minibus usually picks up about 13 schoolchildren.

But Mrs Warman, who has worked in childcare for more than 20 years, claimed parking outside Bexton Primary was dangerous especially during darker evenings.

"We've sat on this for a long time because we don't like to upset anyone," she said.

"But I don't understand it because the minibus is never left unattended."

As the Guardian went to press, headteacher Sandra Heard and school governor Tony Ranfield were unavailable to comment.

Bexton Primary has worked for years to improve safety in Blackhill Lane during morning and afternoon school runs. Teachers try to share car journeys and children who live nearby are encouraged to walk.

Bexton, which has about 450 pupils, also runs its own out of school club.

But last week Mrs Warman said parents also wanted the school to support Kids' Cabin.

"It was a service that needed providing," she said. "I've even had parents writing into the school in support."

It costs parents £25 to register with Kids' Cabin. They then pay £4.50 for a breakfast club session, £7 for an after school club session or £55 for a week of both sessions.

Mrs Warman said the company should be allowed to take children into Bexton Primary School's grounds.

"It's become quite a concern for me now," she said. "I honestly would love to know why we're not allowed in."

Last month Shona Risley-Bannister, of Merlin Avenue, Knutsford, warned that a child would be injured if parents continued to drive dangerously near Bexton Primary School.