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The parents who have posted
references and contact details on this page are all happy to
be contacted by prospective parents, and to answer any
queries they can. Let them tell you about the
service just as it is, and to put your mind at rest that your
son or daughter will be just fine on the bus. Read and
enjoy...
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Added 23-01-2012
The bus has been a complete boon. My child uses it
every day, morning and afternoon. It’s reliable, efficient,
punctual, good-value and everyone loves using it. Pat always
keeps parents completely up to date about the service, which
is such a help. It’s been wonderful right from the start –
so much so that my second child is about to start using it
too.
Charlie, Great Milton
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Added 23-01-2012
Our daughter - OHS Y7 - has recently started on the
bus from Great Milton. We wanted to ease her in gently
and have been enormously impressed and touched by Pat's
flexibility and efficiency in slotting her in where there is
availability and according to our request. On her second
day, when she struggled to find her pass, Bill (the driver)
was already saying " Not to worry - you're one of the family
now". Bill's punctuality has been amazing too, which is
great for dropping her off and collecting her. It's been a
wholly positive experience for her and for us.
Beaty and Oliver, Great Haseley
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Added 16-02-2011
My son started at Leckford Place last September from
Wheatley. It is an opportunity for him to still meet his old
friends who are now going to other schools on the route. He
thinks the driver is very kind as he will wait if someone is
running to catch the bus. In fact he likes it so much he has
asked to continue using the bus next year. We appreciate all
the hard work Pat puts into making the bus community a safe
and welcoming place.
Tina 01865 874454
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Added 04-02-2011
My daughter Inez is nine years old and she started using
Rufty Tufty just last September 2010 (Headington – OHS
Junior). I was very nervous and worried to say the least. I
am glad Pat is the person running the bus. He is a very
meticulous and efficient administrator, but the great bonus
for me is that he is also a parent who cares about other
people’s children too.
Pat kindly arranged for an older girl to look after Inez
for the first few weeks (to my great relief and thanks). He
also answered all of my emails promptly. In fact, I think he
is so good with the school time table that I kind of rely on
his ‘remainder emails’ (end of term, etc.). He even prompts
parents to think about ‘extra snacks, wrap up warm, etc.’,
which I think shows care and genuine concern for the well
being of the little passengers. On top of that, he organised
the Christmas party on the bus too! My daughter now prefers
to travel to school by bus. She feels grown up and I
suspect, it is also fun.
The bus driver Bill is brilliant. There was one occasion
when my husband was two minutes late picking Inez up from
the bus stop. According to Inez, the bus which had just done
a U turn and now drove past her stopped short. Bill came
out, crossed the road and waited with her until my husband,
puffing and blowing, came. With the whole bus waiting I am
afraid to say (that was the only and hopefully last one, my
apologies here to other parents). Despite my deep
embarrassment (or annoyance to Inez’s dad), I was so
thankful to Bill. It was cold and dark, and Inez is tiny for
her age. It was only two minutes waiting, but Bill did not
hesitate to do something about it. I feel indebted to him.
So thanks Rufty Tufty, Pat and Bill. You have a very
satisfied customer here, if not a grateful Mum.
Ilona Pitt (01865) 766703
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Added 02-02-2011
My daughter aged 11 has benefitted greatly from using this
valuable bus service,
she transferred from a small prep school to a very much
larger senior school many
miles away (24) The driver is always the same calm,
reassuring chap whose smiling
face greets her as she boards the bus at 7am on a dark,
winter morning.
LC, Nettlebed
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Added 31-01-2011
"My daughter, age 9, started at Rye St Antony
in September 2010, having had a 5 minute walk to her
previous school in Great Milton. She was initially daunted,
as was I, at the thought of her travelling into Headington
on a school bus. We need not have worried. She was reassured
by the 'Pool party' Pat and his wife organised before the
start of term where she met others who would be starting and
some who already took the bus. She now prefers to take the
bus rather than have the occasional lift in with Dad.
The Tappins S2 is punctual, reliable and we are delighted
with the service."
Laura Mortimer 01844 278974
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Added 31-01-2011
"Our daughter started taking the bus in September 2010
from Watlington to Headington Prep (aged
8). The bus has been brilliant. It runs like clockwork and
from the very first day has made the journey easy. The bus
driver is fantastic and a really helps make the route such a
success. My daughter's experience has been very positive
and she has been able to make friends on the bus both in and
outside her school. Pat also does a great job - keeping
everything running smoothly especially keeping us informed
in the snow."
Katie 07785 790895
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Added 31-01-2011
"Our daughter started at secondary school in September 2010
and the Rufty Tufty Bus has been a great help to us all. The
convenience of a reliable trust-worthy service that is
extremely well managed is wonderful. It has also allowed us
to give our daughter some independence in a safe
environment."
Greg Connell, Chalgrove
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Added 30-01-2011
"Our daughter (age 8) started getting the bus in autumn
2010. She gets on at Wheatley and is one of the last to get
off at OHS junior. The other parents and children at the bus
stop are very friendly and on the first day a couple of
older girls from her school were volunteered to look after
her. Thus far the bus has been on time every day & it is
reassuring to see the same driver - our daughter tells me
that if you try to get off at a stop that isn't the right
one for you he stops you. Also the bus stops on the correct
side of the road for OHS Junior (right outside the gate).
"Because our younger child will be going to MCS in Sept I
suggested to Annalise that next year I would drive them as
Joshie is a bit young for travelling independently (he will
have only just turned 7) but she is adamant that she would
rather get the bus than be driven to school by mummy! I
think she likes being able to hang around with the older
children, and I like the fact that it gives her the
opportunity to meet local children as we don't live very
close to her school so her school friends mostly aren't
local.
"Because we have only used the bus for a term my experience
is limited but I am happy to share what little I know."
Freda 01865 876509
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Added 30-01-2011
"My daughter started at OHS (Y7) in September 2010, and
used the bus from day 1. I cannot recommend the rufty tufty
bus highly enough. It is really well organised, and very
reliable. There is a friendly atmosphere, enabling the
passengers to have bus friendships across age groups and
schools. It has definitely helped my daughter to settle into
a new school and feel confident about becoming more
independent. It really helps that it is almost always the
same driver. It is a great community service, arranged for
the benefit of all the families which use it."
Claire Pope 01865 361224
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Added 07-02-2010
"The Rufty Tufty bus has been used by our daughter (Oxford
High School) since Year 4, she is now in Year 7. We used to
drive her to school and back daily from Henley, till we came
to know about this bus service. It is reliable, the drivers
are trust worthy, it runs like clockwork through all kinds
of weather. The children have a great time and we have peace
of mind. Please feel free to contact us directly."
Updated 28-01-2012
Still going strong and loving it! Thanks to Pat and Bill
(driver) for making it possible. Please feel free to contact
me by phone (01491 413 714 ) and email (
anuaurora@aol.com).
Anu A
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Added 06-02-2010
"My 8 year old son Joel has been getting the Rufty Tufty bus
to and from Wheatley everyday since he started at Magdalen
Junior School in Sept 09 and not only has it made the
logistics of getting him and my other 2 children to school
easy for me, it has been a positive experience for him too.
It was a big thing to let my 'little boy' get to a new
school all on his own but the bus drivers are friendly, the
coach is always on time, and the atmosphere on the bus is
one of one big extended family with the older children often
looking out for the younger ones. I'm perfectly happy that
he's safe and he likes the feeling of independence it has
given him - in fact on the one occasion so far I have had to
pick him up myself from school, he was disappointed to miss
his Tappins bus trip home; what more can I say?"
Maggie Fyffe 01865 874763
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Added 04-02-2010
"My son travels on the Rufty Tufty Bus from Wheatley to
Magdalen College School. We transferred to
this bus partway through his first year following some
trouble on the alternative bus. The Rufty Tufty bus has
always been reliable. We are delighted with the service and
have every expectation of using it for our second son when
he is ready to change schools.
"I cannot praise Pat Read's organization of the bus highly
enough. He made the transfer to the Rufty Tufty bus very
easy for us. Throughout the disruption caused by the snow he
kept us informed of whether the bus would be running or not
with e-mails in the evenings and at 6 am each morning.
"Overall we are delighted with the service."
GS, Wheatley
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Added 04-02-2010
"My children are in Y9 (Rye St Antony) and
2nd Form (Magdalen) and have been using the
Rufty Tufty Bus since September 09. We are very happy with
the service the bus provides - it is extremely prompt and
reliable and the driver is kind and good-humoured (he waits
if he sees them running a bit late!). I prefer to pay a bit
more for a dedicated school bus than use a public bus
because the driver gets to know the children and if they
leave belongings on the bus they can pick them up the next
day.
"There is a real family feel to this bus service - during
the recent snow we were kept up to date with every detail of
changes to the service caused by the weather, and I loved
the Christmas party on the bus that Pat and his wife
organised for the kids, with party food bags given out to
every child on the way home one December day. It's a big
deal putting your 'little' 11 year old on a bus for the
first time instead of walking them to school (as I had done
every day for the previous 6 years), but trust me, they love
the journey - it's like going on a school trip!"
LW, Wheatley
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Added 14-02-2009
"This new Tappins Bus has made a huge difference to the
whole school transport issue for us as a family. I now don't
have to worry about arrangements because it's all taken care
of ! It also gives the girls more independence and using the
service means less cars in Oxford."
Anne Peet, Stadhampton
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Added 12-02-2009
"We are now into the second year of using the Rufty Tufty S2
bus for our two daughters. Looking back, I think the thing
that has impressed me the most has been the reliability of
the service: both my wife and I work and we have heard
horror stories about other school buses not turning up in
the morning or even driving past designated stops where
children were waiting. For a working family like our own
this would be a nightmare.
"Happily, we have found that you can set your watch by the
Rufty Tufty bus and we have never had to worry about the bus
not turning up: this is in part a reflection on Tappins, who
provide an excellent service, and the way in which it is
managed (on a not-for-profit basis!) by Pat Read. On the one
occasion that the bus did not run (during the snow last week
when no school buses ran) we received an update at 6am
informing us of the situation. Overall we are delighted, if
- like us - you would like a reliable, well organised bus
service to ferry your children to and from school then I
cannot recommend the Rufty Tufty service highly enough."
S Wells : 07771 880555
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Added 12-02-2009. Updated
23-01-2012
"Lizzie, has been a regular traveller on the bus since she
started at the High School five years ago. She really enjoys
being on the bus not only with her fellow High School
students, but because she meets people from other schools,
and has managed to build up a large and friendly social
network. For us the bus is a boon, saving us countless hours
which would otherwise have been spent in traffic: a round
trip on the days Lizzie doesn’t go by bus (which are rare,
thank goodness) takes half an hour, and that is if the
traffic is light. Financially, it can only make sense: it
would cost the best part of £4 a day for Lizzie to go to and
come back from school using any of the city bus services.
Finally, from a green perspective, using Rufty-Tufty reduces
our carbon footprint, stops us from adding to the traffic,
and reduces the amount of petrol we use! So, it’s a win-win
situation from start to finish: for which many thanks
Rufty-Tufty."
Adrian and Berne Bullock 01865 761997
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Added 11-02-2009
"I still have 2 children using the S2 from our village, we
have used since the start. One uses it both ways to
MCS and continues to enjoy it very much. I have
talked to him about switching to a public bus (cheaper)
but he wishes to remain on it as he likes the
atmosphere. The other older offspring is now in the 6th form
at Cherwell (formerly at OHS)
and takes the S2 part of the way to then catch a public bus
and this works very well too for us. It is so convenient
having a bus that they can walk to in the mornings. It is on
time, clean, Tappins answer the phone promptly when there
are weather issues and Pat emails early in the morning too
with updates. It really works. The big bonus is that it is
one less car on the road at each end of the day.
"Nothing beats that.
"Whatever it costs.
"Wish there were more such buses on the roads all full of
school kids and less cars with one passenger polluting our
precious world!"
Amanda Garrett, Great Milton
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Added 09-02-2009
"My daughter started at Oxford High School
in September 2008, and as a parent, I can honestly say, the
Rufty Tufty bus has been and continues to be, a thoroughly
reliable service. How many other school bus services, email
parents to update them with information and offer discounts
for an annual ticket or additional siblings? The Rufty
Tufty bus would not be possible without the hard work of one
parent (Pat Read) who understands the need for a reliable
and more reasonably priced service. In addition to this, my
daughter has made new friends who make her journey to school
more enjoyable."
Mum - Wheatley
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Added 27-01-2008
"My two daughters use the bus from Great Milton to
Oxford High Junior and Senior Schools. They were not at all
enthusiastic about travelling to school by bus, until Rufty
Tufty came along, but now they love it. There is a good
sense of community among the passengers, the driver is
helpful, responsible and kind and the bus is reliable,
punctual and safe. We have been able to rub out a little of
our carbon footprint and the day suddenly has a couple of
extra hours in it. And for a little added amusement, our one
year old son has discovered that Rufty Tufty is responsible
for collecting and delivering his sisters so, whenever he
sees an orange bus go past, he starts to wave vigorously and
calls out ‘Bye-Bye!' "
Updated 13-02-2009
“My children have been using this bus for over a year
now and really enjoy their journey. It is a very reliable,
safe and comfortable service as well as being extremely
convenient. The driver deserves a special mention since he
is always kind, has a good sense of humour and is most
tolerant of forgetful behaviour, waiting while violins,
cricket kit, coats and costumes are passed on board to find
their owners. He has recently become a bit of a hero, being
the pilot of the only school bus which managed to reach
Oxford during the snow (even though most of the usual
passengers were busily filling their gardens with forts and
igloos).”
Lizzy : 01844 278993
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Added 11-01-2008, Updated
31-01-2011.
"The Rufty Tufty bus is an excellent and sustainable
transport link in the Watlington area, which is poorly
served by regular bus routes. It is safe, very reliable and
my daughter particularly enjoys the fact that it is warm
and relaxing for her journey home each evening, with the
radio playing and the opportunity to do some prep! We has
been using the S2 bus since its inception, as we were keen
to support the establishment of this route, and have not
been disappointed in our choice. Claudia is now in the sixth
form at Headington School and we still use the bus as it is
so convenient and means she is relaxed after a long school
day."
Jill Hallam : 01491 613670
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