School parents react to Happy Haven OSHC incident in which a boy was locked on bus

Parents at the school of the young boy found locked inside an after-school care bus have expressed their horror at the situation and revealed they’ve taken action for change.

The bus was travelling from Lake Windemere b-6 school to Riverdale Primary School. Picture: Department of Education

Parents have reacted in horror to the news a young boy was left alone on a locked after-school care bus — with some saying it’s their worst fear come to life.

The sleeping child was left alone on a locked bus, which was driven back to its depot following an after-school trip.

The primary school-aged boy was discovered by staff at 4.50pm on Friday, and an investigation is under way.

Happy Haven OSHC, which runs services across the state, has confirmed the “serious incident” involved “a child who was not escorted off a bus and into the service at the conclusion of the afternoon transport run”.

The children were being transported from Lake Windemere B-6 School, Salisbury North, to Riverdale Primary School, in Salisbury Downs.

Lake Windemere b-6 school. Picture: Department of Education

In a letter to families obtained by the Advertiser, Lake Windemere principal Michelle Lennox-Pavlovich informed parents of the incident involving one of their young students on June 13.

“The provider of the Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) service that is run at Riverdale Primary School has written to parents about a matter that arose on Friday when, during the afternoon transportation run from Lake Windemere, one of the children was not escorted off the bus and into the service as required,” she said.

“The service provider has advised that the child was located safe and well inside the locked bus.

Lake Windemere principal Michelle Lennox.

Letter to parents from Lake Windemere principal regarding the OSHC student left on a bus.

“The matter, which is being investigated, has been reported to both the Department for Education and the Education Standards Board.

“Support has been provided to the family of the child involved.”

One concerned mum said she was shocked to hear the news and that the incident had confirmed her decision to avoid using the bus service.

“I have a young son here … we choose not to use it [the bus] out of fear of things like that,” she said.

“But some people don’t have a choice.

“It’s concerning for me being a working mum because you need to rely on after school care at times but I didn’t want my son on the bus for that particular reason.”

“It just kind of confirms all your worst fears.”

Another mum questioned the quality of the current OSHC provider.

“I was not impressed at all. Communication was very poor with the parents,” she said.

“There was an incident where my son was meant to bring something to the OSH to participate in an activity, and I wasn’t told. He got very upset because I didn’t bring the particular item and he was left out.”

The parents said she welcomed news a new OSH service was supposed to be coming to the school in term four, but families relying on the bus would have to wait until then.

“A lot of parents have been petitioning to the Education Department, myself included, because it is a need,” she said.

Another mother, who has previously withdrawn her daughter from OSHC due to bullying, said the news made her want to reconsider letting her daughter continue to ride the bus.

“I don’t know how they could have missed him like that,” said

“They let everyone get off the bus, and they don’t look through the bus to make sure all the kids are out? It’s just not on.”

Originally published as School parents react to Happy Haven OSHC incident in which a boy was locked on bus