Parents praise anti-bully drive

Ben Vodden hanged himself after being bullied on a school bus

The parents of a boy who hanged himself after being bullied on a school bus have welcomed a training scheme which aims to help drivers combat bullying.

Ben Vodden, 11, was found by his father, Paul, unconscious in his bedroom at home near Horsham in 2006.

The improvement of training of bus drivers was a key recommendation of a task force set up following his death.

Parents Paul and Caroline Vodden said the anti-bullying scheme could have helped prevent their son's death.

An open verdict was recorded at the inquest into the death of Ben, who was found in his room in Southwater, near Horsham, West Sussex, in December 2006.

Had such a scheme been in place prior to Ben's death, such a tragic outcome may have been prevented Paul and Caroline Vodden statement

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) announced that it was setting up a task force to look at school transport issues in May 2007 in response to a request made by the coroner at the inquest.

The training course includes discussions on how drivers could deal with behaviour and situations that might take place on school buses.

Feedback showed the majority of the people who took part in the first sessions felt they were useful in highlighting "bullying as a very serious and real issue" and showing ways of "tactfully dealing with an issue".

'Positive response'

In a statement, Mr and Mrs Vodden said: "We are very encouraged by the response to the recent driver training organised by West Sussex County Council.

"This is something we have pressed for since the events on the school bus which led to our 11-year old son's tragic death nearly three years ago, and we were very pleased when the council's Anti-Bullying Task Group included driver training in its recommendations.

"The overwhelmingly positive response of the drivers following the first voluntary training session validates our view that training drivers in bullying awareness and pupil management is not only essential to protect vulnerable children but also of benefit to the drivers themselves."

It continued: "Had such a scheme been in place prior to Ben's death, such a tragic outcome may have been prevented."