New buses for special schools

Children at Lambeth special schools are set to enjoy a brand new fleet of buses incorporating a host of safety and sensory features.

These include:

• Buses fitted with halogen and blue LED lighting, recommended for passengers suffering from epilepsy
• Full climate controlled air conditioning
• Bright yellow grab rails fitted with Braille marker plates indicating the number of steps to help visually impaired children
• Floor lighting for the visually impaired and for fire escape aid
• Kneeling suspension, allowing the bus to drop to pavement level, to assist children who are mobility impaired
• Soft furnishings fitted to the saloon interior for safety
• Material design and colour selected to avoid the use of anything that would cause an adverse reaction among children with special needs
• Floor covering that is bright and non-slip and for which the use of strong cleaning agents is not required. This is important for students who react to cleaning agents, especially those with breathing difficulties.
• Smoke Alarm
• Prominent nameplates for drivers and escorts, which promotes interaction with their young charges

The new buses will be operated by Veolia Environmental Services, which has a five-year council contract and have been specially commissioned by Lambeth. The council's Children and Young People's Service consulted with experts and the pupils themselves before deciding what was needed.

The Livity School will be the first to get the new buses on 3 December.

For further information on the new buses, please email Sue Farr at sfarr@lambeth.gov.uk