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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be annoyed with school over this ?

111 replies

MyPandaisasecretmonster · 03/11/2014 09:21

Ds (almost 6) attends a free school which he has attended since he was 3 (nursery) it is a small school , 13 students per class .
Ds has ADHD & Aspergers .

Two days before the holidays just gone we received a letter saying they were starting a school mini bus for students without transport & who struggle to get to school so I sent a letter back the next day explaining how much I struggle getting Ds to school because of his problems.
Such as I can't use public transport because Ds has no concept of danger & he just runs in to roads in front of traffic also goes mad if somebody is in his seat on the bus .
So I have taken to using a taxi everyday to get him their and back which is a struggle as he opens the doors and sticks his head out of the window , the Taxis are costing me £11 a day we can't walk as its too far and I can't change his school as he would not cope in a mainstream school .

I didn't hear anything back from the school so I spoke to the Headteacher today & it turns out they already chose the students for the mini bus a week before sending the letter out , all the students that were chosen don't have special needs and all live within walking distance to the school & previously were taken by their parents in cars .

So AIBU to wonder why Ds wasn't offered/ given a seat when I barely manage to get him to school in one piece everyday yet the letter that was sent home stated that it was for 'children in need' which I & several other parents took to mean those without their own transport and those with special needs ?

OP posts:
Original poster
MyPandaisasecretmonster · 03/11/2014 10:06

I'm not sure what I would say in the letter though without coming across as though 'it's just not fair' iyswim

Also I didn't receive the letter late , I received it at the same time as the other parents

OP posts:
Unexpected · 03/11/2014 10:08

I realise this is off the point of the thread but is anyone else surprised that the Head is driving the school minibus every day?? What kind of Head has time for that? I guess that rules out before or after-school appointments for parents then!

ChasedByBees · 03/11/2014 10:10

Fight fight fight!

Demand to know:

  • how the other parents knew about this in advance?
  • what the selection criteria was
  • how is this being funded?
  • why were children without transport and with special needs not considered?

I'd also involve your MP and report any findings to LEA and OFSTED.

Original poster
MyPandaisasecretmonster · 03/11/2014 10:11

It's always been the Head driving the mini bus not sure why though it does explain why she is impossible to get hold of

OP posts:
GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 03/11/2014 10:11

Just set out what you've said here with timings. All public bodies have to make decisions in a fair and reasonable way. The schools behaviour here is irrational. Use some of these words in your letter!

QuillPen · 03/11/2014 10:15

"It has always been the head driving the minibus"

This makes it sound as though there has been a minibus to the school for a while. I got the impression from your OP that they were only just starting it. Please can you clarify?

BaffledSomeMore · 03/11/2014 10:17

Is there a more convenient school you could move him to?

Vycount · 03/11/2014 10:18

Don't write a letter. Ask for a copy of their complaints procedure (it's probably on their website) and follow it to the letter. As it's a free school the LA won't have any part in the complaint by the way, but you will be able to escalate it beyond the HT and governors if need be.
Be clear about what outcomes you want from the process.

Just a thought, I wonder if these families are registered as eligible for Pupil Premium funding? Transport could be a valid use of that in some circumstances I think.

Mrsjayy · 03/11/2014 10:18

Sounds as though the school is selective on who they include on their bus. Fwiw your s8n might be entitled to a taxi to school because of his disability contact your LEA or the headteacher I am not sure what a Free school is is it independent of Local Authority

FamiliesShareGerms · 03/11/2014 10:18

Good point Quill...

Anyway, if you don't get any joy with a further complaint to the head, you should follow the school's complaints procedure (usually through the governors) and if you still feel that their behaviour is unfair / discriminatory, you can complain to the Education Funding Agency (not the LEA)

If you are really unhappy at this school have you considered looking to move him?

2shoeprintsintheblood · 03/11/2014 10:19

have you tried getting free school transport due to your dc's sn?

Vycount · 03/11/2014 10:21

A free school is a type of academy, they are not controlled by the local authority and are directly funded by government.

Mrsjayy · 03/11/2014 10:21

But it isn't fair not in a foot stompy way but the school have been running a bus with kids already on it then parents got the letter, that is not fair

BarbarianMum · 03/11/2014 10:22

I realise this is off the point of the thread but is anyone else surprised that the Head is driving the school minibus every day?? What kind of Head has time for that? I guess that rules out before or after-school appointments for parents then!

My thoughts exactly. You'd think she'd have enough on her plate, you know, running the school.

Original poster
MyPandaisasecretmonster · 03/11/2014 10:22

Sorry I meant for school day trips the Head has always driven the mini bus

OP posts:
Missunreasonable · 03/11/2014 10:24

Can you get free travel from the LA due to your child's SN?
Local authorities have a duty to provide school transport in certain situations and one of those reasons is when the primary school is over two miles OR the school is less distance but the child's SN would make the journey impossible to do safely by walking.

You might have better chance getting the LA to fund a taxi instead of taking on a school who is making up rules as it goes along and has a head teacher seemingly offering favouritism to some pupils.

Original poster
MyPandaisasecretmonster · 03/11/2014 10:25

I can't move my Ds to a different school as they are all over subscribed and he just would not cope .

Can't approach the council for any help yet as still waiting on my Ds official diagnosis/statement

OP posts:
pantone363 · 03/11/2014 10:28

If your DS can't go on a public bus with you, how would he be ok on a bus without you?

ChippingInAutumnLover · 03/11/2014 10:30

I would escalate it. This kind of crap shouldn't just be ignored.

You can state the facts without sounding all 'it's not faiiiiir' they stand up for themselves, you just need to heard at a higher level than the Head, who, by the way, sounds like a right twonk.

Original poster
MyPandaisasecretmonster · 03/11/2014 10:31

Pantone he is absolutely fine when in his school environment I have said this several times already

OP posts:
ChippingInAutumnLover · 03/11/2014 10:31

Panettone the op has already said, several times, he is well behaved on the bus for the teachers, it's only her he plays up for!

BaffledSomeMore · 03/11/2014 10:33

Don't be so sure you can't move him. There's an appeals process and a decent school would help settle him.

Mrsjayy · 03/11/2014 10:42

I think the op and her son like the school she doesn't want to move him. I do think you should speak to somebody to get free transport for him or try and get a taxi contact so you are not shelling out so much id be tempted to tell the scchool to stick their precious mini bus somewhere tbh

LineRunner · 03/11/2014 10:47

I am guessing they didn't do any kind of equalities impact assessment.

Ask the chair of governors why not?

lljkk · 03/11/2014 10:48

all the students that were chosen don't have special needs and all live within walking distance to the school & previously were taken by their parents in cars.

ALL lived within walking distance. but ALL arrived by parent driving them?
It's a state school with class sizes only 13?
The HT themselves drives the minibus?
You're coughing up £11/day (£55/week)?
This is a weird school.