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

Why dont you read the actual thread?

Many disabled people have high additional costs.

as well, you can either use pip to lease a wheelchair or a car. Not both. I am fortunate that before my accident I worked in a reasonably highly paid job (teacher) and so was able to buy a second hand wheelchair and lease a car.

I do have friends who cannot afford both and lease the wheelchair as that is what makes most difference to their daily lives.

I'm left wing but I think its time to get a job

She’s disabled.

Disabled people can't work? I do, I'm deaf

OP had to move as her landlord wanted their property back. She's now in a housing association property so likely had little choice as to where to move.

This sounds so difficult 💐

If your eldest can cycle for the second bus then there are quite a lot of charities and schemes where you might get help to get one.

Do they have an obligation to if the person moved away though?
Because I'd guess the OP moved rather than this was what they were given.

Some can't, no. That's pretty fucking self explanatory. And sometimes even if you can it doesn't mean there's a magically suitable and accessible job round the corner.

Well that very much depends on your disability and how it impacts you doesnt it?

Why can’t you earn money?

OP was forced to move, it wasn't her choice. I think that should work as an argument during the appeal.

Some can, some can’t. Surely you know not all disabled people are the same?

The repeated inability of people to understand how circumstances can sometimes happen to you is dire. In fact the repeated inability of people to understand a single fucking thing about how other people live.

Why cant yoy read the thread ?

Sigh..... another thread that's descended into "I'm more disabled than you but I work....blah blah" etc and it's gone all anti benefits.
Somedays I hate society.
Sorry @Soubriquet I am ranting on your thread. Apologies 💐

There are very people profoundly disabled enough that they can't do any form of work. If you can post on mumsnet you can do an administrative based role part time, easily.

Then move. I'm afraid life can be messy and difficult and it's up to individuals to figure that out and be resourceful

Well thats a massive generalisation
Without knowing the Ops disabilities
You have no idea wether she can work or not.

If you’re both on UC, then you’ve got money coming into your household. What are you spending it on that is higher priority than getting your child to school? It’s your responsibility

To get some quick cash in hand I would post on Facebook/spread word that you are open to babysitting, it is cash in hand and you could then save up

Absolutely it should be an argument in an appeal, but it isn't a forgone conclusion.

Round us the council are cutting so much back on transport (one village that has been funded for years has recently been told their kids can walk around 90 minutes through an unlit path (through woods and very muddy/floods when wet) there and back.

Op, do you have RL support who can fight with you? Citizen Advice maybe if they're good in your area?

Even if she wanted to change DS' school it's too late in the year. To change a school's name on an ehcp I think there's 1 x meeting to discuss change > case worker visits school at a time they are available and convenient for SENCO > x however many schools > school have a think about if they can meet needs > formal responses received > another (emergency review?) Meeting to discuss what school to allocate. I considered it for my own son in Oct of Y2 and the SENCO advised it would take so long to process he might as well wait to September of juniors.

Ime that is unlikely to be sorted before easter and I dont think most schools would agree to take on a child right at the end of term/beginning of SATS and would likely advise they cant meet need.

You need to appeal your DS' transport. If DD wants to move you can waitlist local schools

Agree..these times for your older child are fine. Some kids around here i see on their way at 7am. Hopefully you will get it sorted for the younger one. Unfortunately its on you to find a solution...taxi, friend lift

Leaving the house at 7:15 and back at 5:15 is what lots of secondary school pupils do, including my Y7.

Re your youngest, you chose to keep him at his current school when you moved. Why didn’t you find a new home in the same area? Many renters are asked to move, that doesn’t mean suddenly the taxpayer is responsible for finding the commute to school.

What you can do now: move him to the local school / ask his classmates for lifts / find out if someone working at the school lives in your area and would be willing to help.

It's a good point re the house move, but it is a consideration not an absolute especially if they were rehoused. I think OP that you have constraints that some PPs are struggling to imagine.

The transport appeal will hopefully will be expedited as he is out of school. You might be able to negotiate temporary transport until the appeal in the circumstances, which might buy you a few weeks.

You might need to start thinking ahead for Y7 too. Do you need to call an AR?

A left field suggestion that I know has happened in our family. Apologies if it's already been suggested and/or ruled out. Another relative bought a small, cheap to insure car outright at auction and retained ownership. They lent it to the family, insurance and docs all legit. The family used the car for a while, then handed the keys back & the owner resold it. No one needed credit. Obviously this involved both cost and risk for the car owner, so it would be a big ask.

Also another left field suggestion, you could look into cost of rental cars and ask for a transport budget equivalent to that, which would probably be much cheaper than taxis. It might be a compromise position you could reach with the LA. You can rent a little car long term for much cheaper than the headline prices the big chains give for brand new 75 plates.