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

@Soontobesingles she had a car. It's died. She needs a replacement car that she currently can't afford.
Her life seems manageable if she has a car.

3rd paragraph of OP

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?

but we are now at a point where the state providing SEN children with transport to school is costing this country BILLIONS of pounds
If this is your way of advocating for more SEN provision Special Schools, so that children that require them don’t have to travel ridiculous distances to attend school, then I agree with you. That is what you meant, right? Though that won’t be cheaper than the transport costs.
An acquaintance has just been informed that now her DD has turned 16 her door to door transport will no longer be provided for her to attend sixth form, next academic year. The DD is in nappies, uses a wheelchair and with significant other difficulties that mean she can in no way navigate the public transport system alone (that, due to the distance to the Special School she attends, would involve three buses there, three back) and yet that is what the Reform council have suggested she do. Her mother works full time. But left with the only option of taking her herself - which will be between 3-4 hours travelling rounds trips, per day, she won’t be able to any longer. So will be claiming benefits that she currently does not. Any job she can get in the intervening hours won’t pay what her current role does. The state will have to pick that up with UC or whatever she will qualify for. How on earth is that better? She isn’t asking for it to be free - she’d pay for the same door to door adapted service they have now if only it was an option, but that isn’t available apparently and so she’s left with little choice.

As for the rest of your ‘not a terrible hardship’ diatribe against the ‘non working’ OP, do you think she chose to be disabled? Do you think she chose for her DS to be disabled? Do you think she chose for her DH to become disabled? A DH who, by all accounts, was working, bringing in money and affording to run a car until what sounds like a recent diagnosis. Are you, your children and your husband disabled? If not you’d do well to remember that any one of us can become disabled, at any time. How the most vulnerable are treated, and the attitudes towards them, are a good measure of a civilised society.

@Soontobesingles
But you don’t know what the “new approach “ to SEND provision actually will be or if it’s just more big talk from politicians who don’t have a clue how to run the country and who have let private care companies and private taxi firms and the NHS management heavy model etc. destroy public services..

I really would NOT count my chickens yet.

And when it comes to generalisation about welfare spending in terms of “SEND provision” it comes a lot closer to being “looked after children “ (children in care) who cost astronomical amounts with 2-1 or 3-1 carers and taxis literally everywhere they go, the homes themselves, funding to replace the shit life their parents gave them (these kids won’t have EHCPs or disabilities necessarily or often and are often vulnerable by dint of the horrendous abuse doled out by parents from all wealth brackets - my husband works with some of these facilities).

I’d pay good money to see what Labour or the Conservatives or the glorious Reform has to say about that cost instead of targeting the small number of children placed out of 2 or 3 miles in specialist schools because previous governments closed special schools..

And anyway SEND costs pale in comparison to Universal Credit Costs, PIP (only over 16s eligible do not exactly linked to education) and of course pensioners..

. But like I said it’s probably best this isn’t dropped on the OP’s door who is not long out of hospital with a brain infection and might just want support instead of having to stand up to PMQ type posts about costs…

Why are you so negative and scornful of a poster making some suggestions that might help OP make some income

Because, given the OPs current dire situation, some suggestions - like card making and knitting - are moronic and Let Them Eat Cake-esque, and do not deserve any serious consideration.

Just popped on to say
I'm really sorry this is your situation,it sounds very difficult
I really hope you get things sorted
You sound like your doing the best you can

Are you honestly saying a housing association has built new build houses in a location that is more than 2 miles from the nearest primary school and placed a disabled family with children there? Seriously?!

There's no primary school within 2 miles of where you live?!

When did the OP say it's a new build?
(however this is a problem with many new build estates.
Promised facilities like schools don't get built)

Sounds like it could be a plan.
But, er, maybe keep the fact you’ve got a disabled bus pass to yourself on this thread - or else someone will be along in a minute to tell you you’re bankrupting the country (single handedly) 🙄.

@SoubriquetHi, I have SEN children and I also help others with EHCPs and the LA etc.

Your child with the EHCP, if you have been up till now transporting your child you should have been receiving some travel expenses from the LA it can depend but it usually is around 45p per mile over x amount of miles. You may be able to apply for it retrospectively which might help with financing travel.

Although the advice to call citizens advice and talk to the school SENDCO is good, the person you actually need to speak to is your child's EHCP Co-ordinator, if you cant get through to them then your SEND family services at the LA will be able to help. It is possible to get transport as an emergency from the council although the emergency provision is usually for 6 weeks. Long term travel arrangements will be processed along side this.

Anyone you talk to, always follow up with an email so that if someone has an issue with it you can prove they were aware and that you tried to get help.

Seeing as your other child is so far from their school they should also be able to get transport however it will depend on the LA and I dont know as much about mainstream provisions.

If anyone in the household gets high rate mobility for DLA or PIP, as long as you have 12month left on your award you can get a motability vehicle. There are options that dont take all of the mobility part of the award and there are grants available if there is an advance fee.

If youd like anymore help, feel free to message me or reply on here if you'd rather.

That is exactly right. It’s a brand new estate
built just outside of the town.
The bus service is regular, I can get a bus every hour either in to the town, or to the nearest city.

The nearest school is just over 2 miles. So yes it’s a PITA but it’s a house where we are secure. Like a PP said, providing rent is paid each month, we don’t have to move again. And we have moved plenty.

I used to leave home at 7:10am and get home at 5pm for my entire secondary education; and I had a walk to the bus stop each side of ten mins.

Your child can manage that at secondary and I agree you need a car or an electric bike, or a lift. Speak to the school and see if they can help organise some kind of car pool??? Really I think it’s for you to solve without public funding..

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
I have quoted the whole sentence not just the first part - but I would imagine that if the main concern was that the school nearby was not suitable she would have mentioned it, at least before the uniform…

oh dear. Shouldnt mention my blue badge either really should I?

People have asked for my disabilities. I am happy to disclose them

I have
fibromyalgia
autism
adhd
deafness
heart condition
and now a brain condition.

so those who said you can still work, yes technically I can. But it’s finding the employment. I have to find somewhere that doesn’t require me using a telephone, one that doesn’t require heavy lifting, one that allows me to sit down as much as possible, and now I have to also find someone who will allow me time off to visit various hospitals for appointments. And that’s just ME!

I am constantly on the lookout for something suitable. So far, I can’t find anything because I don’t have the qualifications they are looking for, or they require the use of a telephone. I cannot use a phone easily. If you have any form of accent, I can’t understand you.

I will admit that I bitched a little at having to purchase new uniforms, but that was me being stressed and ranting. Uniform isn’t a problem. I just have to get white shirts. Everything else is the same.

You either need to move or one or both of you need to get a job even if its part time or work from home job anything.

A lot of the dv services are about preventing murders and other assaults that are the consequence of dv.

if someone is murdered by their partner that is absolutely a matter for the state. Preventing crime is also a matter for the state and that is why dv services mostly exist because if you can support women and children to leave fewer people get killed or are left long term disabled as a result of a severe assault.

i genuinely can’t believe I am having to explain why the state tries to prevent murders. Public safety and order is a basic function of the state.

If you stick your details into turn2us grant finder there will be loads of different grants you can apply for based on your health or financial situations.

Do individual searches for each member of your family as different grants come up for different ages- adult/children etc and various disabilities.

In our local authority area transport applications are assessed and approved/declined against the standard criteria initially, and it's only at appeal that you put forward any special circumstances.

So you should definitely appeal the transport for your Y6 child and you will probably win.

People forget that some people can’t just magically make money appear from their arses

they think people could have a spare £100 someqhere

shocking. .

you could home educate

It’s not that easy for some peple

shes jus had a brain infection.

@youalright
The OP has already addressed why she currently doesn’t work..

Are you not eligible for the motorbility scheme?

Nice to see the usual unrealistic comments from people who have never struggled for money!

Isn’t it just?

“find an old banger it’s only £500”

Christ, if I had a spare £500 I wouldn’t be having problems!! We are flat out broke. We have some change in the house to allow the dc to school and that is it! Luckily we have a full freezer and a good amount of food in the cupboards and fridge so it’s not a huge concern and I get paid next week