(UK) Leeds: SPED transport staff "regularly subjected to attacks by pupils"

Mar 2, 2026, BBC News: SEND transport staff 'kicked and bitten by pupils' - AOL

Staff who transport children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to and from school have said they are regularly subjected to attacks by pupils lashing out on journeys.

Emma, a transport assistant for Leeds City Council, said she was bitten three times by the same eight-year-old boy and had been left with a permanent scar on her breast.

She said: "It's not what we signed up to do. We signed up to provide a service, we didn't sign up to be used as punch bags."

The authority said it was aware of concerns being raised and was "working closely with trade unions and colleagues across the council to improve safety on the buses".

Emma, who needed hospital treatment and a tetanus injection as a result of the attack last year, called for more support and self-defence training from the council.

She said she also wanted pupils who attacked staff to be given an immediate travel ban.

"I love my job but it's got to the point where you've got to give yourself a bit of a pep talk in the morning because of what might happen," she said.

"Some of the kids will just lean over and pull your hair or punch you around the face.

"I've spoken to many assistants who have been attacked or come home covered in bruises."