Modbury Special School student ‘trapped in bus’ after being forgotten at drop-off

The Education Department is urgently reviewing an incident in which a child with a disability was left “trapped” inside a school bus – after the driver went home with him still aboard.

The education department will review an incident at Modbury Special School. Picture: Facebook/Modbury Special School

A northern suburbs boy with a disability was left locked inside a school bus after being forgotten during drop-off, prompting an urgent review from the education department.

Eight year old Modbury Special School student Harry, who has autism and is non-verbal, was picked up from their home in the school’s transport bus on Monday morning – but was never taken into the classroom.

It was only when the boy’s parents received an alarming message on the school’s ‘Seesaw’ app asking if their son was coming to class that they realised something was wrong.

Another parent at the school, who knew the family of the student, told The Advertiser the family was furious that their child had been “forgotten about” during drop-off.

She said the child was trapped in the back of the bus while another student was taken to a different school, before the bus driver returned to their home – locking him inside.

The child was trapped inside the bus for 10 to 15 minutes before being freed, she said.

A student with a disability was left locked inside a school bus after he was "forgotten"at drop-off. Picture: Facebook

“The young fella was locked in the bus until the driver found him … in different circumstances, he could have died,” she said.

The boy’s parents told 7NEWS they did not blame the bus driver – instead levelling fury at why school staff forgot about their son.

They met with school representatives on Wednesday afternoon, asking for urgent change and proof from the department that such an incident could not occur again.

Education Department chief executive Professor Martin Westwell said the student was “located safe in the vehicle” after the department was advised that he had not arrived at school earlier in the day.

EXCLUSIVE: A young Adelaide boy with a disability has been locked on a school bus by himself after he was forgotten at drop-off. 7NEWS was there as his parents were called into the school for an emergency meeting. Only in 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfGh39Y#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/FNiJcMRgLH

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) March 29, 2023

Prof Westwell said both the school and the department’s incident management team would review the incident, saying it “should not have occurred”.

“I have spoken to the family and advised them that the department is taking the matter extremely seriously,” Prof Westwell said.

“The department will take all action necessary to ensure it doesn’t happen again … both the school and the Department’s Incident Management team are reviewing the incident, to determine the full circumstances and to ensure appropriate practices are followed in the future.

“The department is also reminding all schools of their obligations in terms of appropriate practices to ensure all students are accounted for when disembarking from buses.”