Anyone claim for a taxi to school?

[SoBlue]

Although my ds is in mainstream it has been discussed that he go to a sn school. These are out of my walking distance/bus route (I don't drive).Iv heard that some people with sn children claim for a taxi if school isn't near???

[mulsey]

Where we live in Scotland the local council provide a taxi to take my daughter to school, her school is 12 miles from our village. Basically,if the educational psychologist recommends a school, then the council have a statutory obligation in Scotland at least to pay for transport........... If you call the local LEA, they will have either a transport department or someone who can advise you - good luck with it all.

[SoBlue]

Thanks its all in the early stages of the Stat. Statement. But i need to name a school and it would be good if i could make up my mind. Ed Psy did discuss it briefly maybe we should have another chat.

[Fio2]

yes you can!! It is a right pain in the bum and the council will tell you are not entitled to it, believe me!

Ring the LEA and ask for transport services. this may come under LEA or your local council. Ours comes under Kent county council, so ask your council's transport services dept. say your child is starting at SN school and are they aware she/he will be needing transport. keep the persons name who you speak for and just keep pestering Also tell the school your child will need transport tooas they will flag it up, so to speak

[lynny70]

Message deleted

[Fio2]

no thats right lynny

[Hulababy]

You can apply for it - don't know the process I am afraid, and like everything else I suspect it is lengthy and unnecessarily a hassle. But go for it - your ds is most likely entitled to it.#

However it may not be a taxi, and it may not be for him alone. School transport in such cases can be taxis or mini buses and can obviously be shared by anyone else deemed on the same route - sometimes going slightly out of the way to pick someone up. Until you know which school, etc. it will be difficult (or impossible) to arrange the transport, for this reason.

My mum works in this area of our local council - not the processing and applying bit, but the arranging of the transport. They have so many strict rules and guidelines to follow you'd never believe!

Depending on the age and SN your ds has they may also have one or more escorts too, to accompany the driver.

Or and you'd never believe how much some taxi firms charge for the really short journeys. It is extortionate and there is nothing people like my mum can do about it - it just has to be paid. But those taxi drivers, in many cases, are making a nice tidy profit I can tell you

[Davros]

Transport should be provided, whether taxi or minibus, and should be discussed during statementing. BUT, I believe that LEA's are not OBLIGED to pay for transport for children with learning disabilities, only physical. The practice, however, is that they do provide transport. Our LEA decided to cut costs a few years ago by cutting transport for children with learning disability with very little notice, they provided each child with a Freedom Pass instead so they could use public transport. Can you imagine? There was an outcry and I think they had to change back but one or two children did start to use public transport and learn some independence. They provide a minibus for my DS who goes to an SN school in a neighbouring borough.

[Fio2]

I am shocked that they thought public transport would be appropriate

[SoBlue]

Thanks for all your advice, I am torn between keeping him ms and sn school. They cope well but he has a very tolerant teacher at the moment. He has tantrums where he hits and kicks her and she tells him she knows he doesn't mean it! Im sure they are not all going to be like that.At least i can go and have a look, now i know transport is available.

[sahara]

My son is about to start a program, as all sn schools are full in my borough.

I have been told from the outset that transport will be provided for him. (only 15 hours per week and he is 6).

Whilst I could just about manage it now, I have 2 more kids and ds2 is starting mainstream nursery in september, at that stage there would be no way I could do it.

As far as I was aware they have to provide transport, But I wasn't aware of it being based on physical or learning difficulties. My son is being assessed for ADHD at the mo, so I hope they don't introduce that policy here.

Good luck

[Davros]

I think most of them are reasonable and won't consider not providing transport so I'd just play dumb and assume its going to be provided. As most of us can't send our kids to a school on the doorstep if they are going to SN school its not as if we have any choice and its not as if other NT children can go to the same school.... Don't worry too much about it, but remember to ask.

[sparklymieow]

DS and DD1 went to a SN nursery and the council provided a taxi as it wasn't the nearest nursery that the could have gone to if they didn't need the SALT input that the SN nursery provided...

[Rhubarb]

My brother used to go to a sn school and he had his transport paid for by the local authority. I think you will have to contact them though, can your social worker not sort this one out for you?

[YAH]

My understanding is that if a child attends the nearest appropriate school, then they will get transport if that school is over 2 miles (for under 8's) and over 3 miles (for 8's and over).

[coppertop]

I'd wondered about this issue because there is a 6yr-old who lives down my street who has a taxi and escort to get to school each morning. He goes to a m/s school and has no SN AFAIK (the family is well-known in this area). We are less than 5 minutes walk away from the local school but he goes to the m/s school about 2 miles away. It wasn't that there were no places at the local school as it is usually undersubscribed. I just can't work out why he is entitled to this when families of children with SN have to fight for it.