What am I supposed to do RE School?

[Soubriquet]

We no longer have a car. We cannot afford to replace it either which means we can no longer get the dc to school.

dd has council transport but it’s from the local town rather than our actual destination, which means she has to get the 7am bus, to get into town, in order to catch her 8am bus to school. Then the reverse happens and she doesn’t get home will gone 5. Purely because of the times plus it’s going to cost us £15 a week!!

ds on the other hand is still at primary school and his school is not in any form of walking distance, nor is there a bus that goes that way. The council has also declined us for transport (which I will appeal) because it’s not the nearest school. I’m aware it isn’t the nearest but he’s in year 6! Am I really supposed to transfer schools for 5 months, fork out for new uniforms, and uproot a child who is on the ECHP and SEN plan at his school? Where they know how to handle him?

It’s a bloody nightmare. He’s been absent the last two days because we genuinely cannot get him to school!!

We are in the process of talking to both schools to see if we can come up with a solution

You need to find a way to finance a new car.

Do you work? Do you have a partner?

Your children’s education is so important.

Your younger child hopefully should qualify for transport - fingers crossed for the appeal.
As for secondary. Is it technically your "catchment" school?

Is the school named in the EHCP?

How far away from schools are your DC? Can they use bikes? How do you get to work?

How far is the primary school? Is it catchment but not nearest?

if we could finance a new car, I wouldn’t be having this problem

We cannot afford a car. Simple as that.

Bikes are not possible for this school. It’s too far (the school was initially chosen as we lived within walking distance but we had to move. Then we didn’t have a problem because we had access to a car)

Yes the school is named in the ECHp

Use a taxi?? Ask the local authority for help in paying for it? they could drop youngest dc off then take older one to school after? If the school is more than 3 miles away from your home they should help with transport

Unfortunately the school aren't responsible for your transport problems. What about ridding bikes? Is their anyone else close by that your children can get a lift from temporary.

To be honest you might have to get a loan for a new car.
I don't know anything about cars but I see ones for sale on Facebook advertised costing £500.
Could you get a loan for that amount?

As neither are at the local school from what you are saying, it’s down to you to find a way, flip it around, why is it the council aka taxpayers responsibility to fund transportation? So you need to urgently change to a school that you can get them to or have longer journey times by public transport. My dd set off at 7.20, I set off at 7.30, it’s not unusual to start out quite early

No - if you are more than 3 miles away from your catchment secondary, or 2 miles from your catchment primary, then the LA will provide transport. It’s not just based on distance.

As PP, i was also wondering if you could consider a loan.

We have no family who can help, and I know it’s not the school’s responsibility yet we will be the ones fined if ds doesn’t attend!!

We are severely broke. We have sold everything we can. Even the kids crappy tvs have gone to help being in some funds

Not eligible. Bad credit score.

My year 7 leaves at 7.15am and gets home at 5.15pm, I don’t think that’s massively unusual.
Hopefully your appeal for your younger child will be successful as the school is named on their EHCP.

Do either of you work? How do you get to work?

@shellyleppard if you choose non catchment they don’t normally have to provide transport no matter the distance. I don’t think EHCP automatically guarantees paid transport, some factors will be taken into account

beg some driving school mums to help you? beg neighbours?
Child will have to lump 7am to 5pm routine as if they were in a child club for working parents.

Are you and your d both working? Either of you in employment with a workers credit union? How are you and dp getting to work?

I think unfortunately your older child will have to do that bus journey 🙁
Your younger child should get transport as he has a named school in the ECHP - so focus on that appeal.
Ask the school for work to do at home for him.

Is dd at secondary? How far is it to the local town?

I live in Cambridge and many dc do bike fairly long distances to school - a few miles or more.
obviously some journeys are not possible.

year 6 - talk to school. They will know if there is anyone else who goes to the school who lives near you who can possibly offer a lift. Taxis are very very expensive. Can he physically ride a bike?
normally by this point in year 6 many schools are starting to prepare for the transition to secondary and are doing bike ability etc - where will he be going for secondary and what is the plan for getting him there?

(I should have said my year 6 also leaves at 7.15am and gets home at 5.15pm as they both get a bus to an out of catchment school).

It must have cost more than the £15 a week that you're paying on bus fares to put fuel in the car. It is a long day for your daughter but many children who have wrap around care, ie breakfast and after school club, have really long days.

@Needmorelego our LA states transport assistance is not automatic with EHCP

im so sorry thigns are so tight for you