How do you do the school run for secondary school (SEN) with a younger child?

A local private nursery had a breakfast club and after school club for primary aged children and then transported them to and from their relevant school.

Secondary schools don't have wraparound care as such but highly likely to have a breakfast club and after school clubs from 07:30 -16:30/ 17:00 but they do tend to get cancelled for things like Parents Evening.so cannot be relied upon 100%

Local childminder will take Primary school aged children.

nah, you are right. if the school is your choice and there are schools nearer who can meet need, they will not provide a taxi..

You should consider transport further. Just because there is a nearer school that the LA think could meet needs doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no entitlement to transport. The IPSEA page linked to by a previous poster and this page by SENTAS can help you understand more about that. For example, there is case law showing a few thousand is not enough of a difference to prove inefficient use of resources.

What are you basing this choice of school on? What do you mean by ‘top 5’? I would say that one of the criterion should be whether or not your DC can access a school independently in the near future.

You should apply for transport. You might get a personal travel budget to employ a supporter to escort her on public transport. Make the case it will increase her independence skills in the long term ( and might be cheaper than a taxi for the LA)

Childminders don't advertise for older kids as there isn't much demand - most secondary age children are able to take care of themselves until parents are home. It might be worth looking to see if there are any childminders near the secondary and ask whether they would take her. I think over-8s don't count in their ratios, and if she could get herself there after school then they might be happy to have her.

Does the school have a sixth form? Might you be able to look for a reliable sixth-former (or two) who would take on bringing her home (and/or to school) as a part-time job? It would be a very convenient job for them if they live in your direction anyway.

You could reapply for transport and appeal if refused. If you need help appealing or the appeal isn’t successful, contact SENTAS.

Younger child in wrap around care and 2 hours a day of driving.

Is this the nearest suitable school? If so, you should get transport. Otherwise, is travel training an option?

If everything else fails, you need to send DC2 to the breakfast and after school club. I trained DC2 to walk to school and back once they got to y4 though. Is that an option?

Definitely ask about transport. Often there is a taxi or minibus that goes round picking various kids up and bringing them home.

I agree that your DD’s travel needs to be looked at again.

Otherwise many secondary schools here have the canteen open early for breakfast before school and a homework club or something on after school eg our school has 60 clubs that run so there is always something. Have a chat with the senco as well because there might be something suitable already in place.

Can your Y4 child do wraparound care at their school? Childminders should still take a Y4 child so ask around as well.

Although our mainstream secondary school doesn’t have wrap around care as such, the library is open after school and my dd often goes there for an hour or so and does homework while she’s waiting for me to collect.
or there are activity clubs on for an hour after school quite often.

I take my secondary school son to school everyday . He is ASD and unable to get public transport - tried it - was disastrous.
I have to juggle my job to accommodate school hours . There is no wraparound care at mainstream secondary. He sits in the library after school until I get there later . I’m a single parent and have no support . School transport got declined when I applied .

LA transport

I'm not a single parent but my husband mostly works over an hour away with little flex in his hours.
Pay for wraparound, pay for someone to take one or the other, use any free after school clubs hat the teachers offer - that's basically it.
Also, talk to both heads and say you're struggling because it gets really expensive and they might waive or reduce charges if you aren't using it to work, it's a SEN need. Good luck.

I think you’ll get transport if that helps but depending on reliability of taxis etc it might be worse than useless.

OP has expressly said it's a mainstream school.

@Jollofoldmaninaredsuit I would try speaking to the SENCO at ideal school. We've been told DC will be eligible for a "travel buddy" to accompany to school. Your area might offer something similar and the SENCO will know all the options.

The statutory walking distance does not apply to those who cannot walk to school because of their SEN/disability. Even if the LA claim there is a nearer school that can meet needs, parents can challenge it.

OP, relook at transport.

If your daughter is in the closest school that can meet her needs and it it at least 3 miles away then the LA may have to provide transport.

Have you checked the IPSEA website on this?

www.ipsea.org.uk/news/home-to-school-transport-understanding-your-rights

Contact SENTAS to find out your transport rights but if the school is named in section I you should be getting transport.

Additionally I have not worked in a secondary setting with wrap around care.

Do you mean you don’t know any who take Year 4 children? (Which I can believe as wraparound is a nightmare where I am). Because I would be looking at all options for wraparound for the younger child in order to get the secondary school child there and back - on the grounds that it’s easier to source care for a primary age child.

If breakfast/after school club at the primary is full, ask other parents as they may know of childminders or even babysitters who will cover the school.