Leeds Staff Fight Back Against Violent Pupils on School Runs

0:00On March 2nd, staff transporting kids with special educational needs and leads are facing regular attacks from pupils during school runs. Workers report bites, punches, hair pulling, and spitting, with some ending up in hospital for treatment like tetanus shots. One assistant was bitten three times by an eight-year-old boy last year, leaving a permanent scar. Last month, drivers and assistants went on strike over the safety issues. The United Union highlighted a lack of restraints, poor first-day training, and no proper wrist checks, blaming council cost cuts for rising violence. Frontline staff say the job they love now starts with a daily pep talk, due to the fear of injury. Many come home bruised and some have needed plastic surgery after severe bites or chunks taken from their arms. Drivers face the same risks as assistants. The council says it's aware of the problems and is teaming up with unions to boost bus safety. All staff get training, with refreshers every three years, and the authority remains focused

1:01on helping these young people reach school. While changes are in the works, workers are pushing hard for quicker action like self-defence classes and instant travel bans for aggressive pupils to. Protect everyone on board