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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be OUTRAGED at the cost of this school transport?

209 replies

FidgetyFingers · 21/08/2018 21:26

DS attends a Special School which requires him to use a LA provided school bus as it is too far for him to reach alone (SEN and 3 mile distance ) and he cannot be dropped off due to logistics (other DC need to be in a different place at same time, only have one car which is needed for DH to work).

Up until age 16 it is provided free but as 16-18 years apparently don't legally have to continue in education, the LA will not provide free transport so expect us to pay a 'contribution' of £25 per week! If I can't magic up £300 for the first term in advance, he won't be picked up! This is on top of all the normal back to school outgoings.

Considering a weekly unlimited bus ticket is £10 a week if he was going to college like his brother, AIBU to think this is extortionate?

I asked the LA to explain how they expect parents of SN children to have a greater income just because they have turned 16 and they couldn't explain other than to state 'policy'.

OP posts:
Jeanclaudejackety · 21/08/2018 22:03

www.familyfund.org.uk/News/school-transport

Have you considered getting a quote of a local cab company it may be less than what you think?

Lastly have you tried the turn2us website?

Nicpem1982 · 21/08/2018 22:05

Is independent travel training an option

Wildernesstips · 21/08/2018 22:07

We are being charged £800 for DS for a bus pass to take him to college 6 miles away where there is no local alternative. This has gone up £100 in a year. I have complained to the council stating that education post 16 is mandatory and they have said they will look into it.

Frankly, it is more expensive than me paying for my work car parking permit each month.

Sorry, I realise it must be even more frustrating for you with the SEN considerations.

danni0509 · 21/08/2018 22:08

Considering op said he attended a special needs school and won't be getting a part time job, I think the clue is in the answer why he can't walk.

I'm sure op wishes it was that easy to send him to walk to school alone.

Original poster
FidgetyFingers · 21/08/2018 22:08

Quite of exploring all ways of getting there and I've already said there isn't any so didn't need advice on that.

You don't remember being a GF on my other thread then?

OP posts:
BackforGood · 21/08/2018 22:09

Get in touch with 'Contact' (formerly known as 'Contact a Family') who have been running campaigns about school transport.
This link from a couple of days ago is all about a 19 yr old whose LA refused transport.

Jeanclaudejackety · 21/08/2018 22:09

I actually think my friends brother got some money for independent travel, he has downs syndrome. . He got the money for his dad and him to practise for a couple of weeks so it didn't cost anything to try and get a bus and it then covered a term of college as well. This would be 10 years ago now though.

Knittedfairies · 21/08/2018 22:10

@Clairetree1 - did you miss that this young man has special needs? If he is attending a special school it is likely that he has significant special needs.

Clairetree1 · 21/08/2018 22:10

Considering op said he attended a special needs school and won't be getting a part time job, I think the clue is in the answer why he can't walk.

I've worked in special schools where students walk similar distances to school. Just having SEN doesn't mean you can't walk to school.

Nicpem1982 · 21/08/2018 22:13

Knitted - we have no idea what sen this young person has there is a massive range and with that comes a massive range of capabilities

Nicpem1982 · 21/08/2018 22:14

The biggest lesson that I've learnt in my life is never underestimate some one because of a label

danni0509 · 21/08/2018 22:17

Clairetrees - Op said he had no chance of getting a part time job, which would lead me to believe he would need the transport and be unable to walk alone. That's Just how I read it.

Sockwomble · 21/08/2018 22:17

"My LA are changing their rules so that all sen transport is contributed to by the parents from reception upwards. Roughly about £400-500 a year."

I don't think that is lawful. Free transport has to be provided if disability means a child cannot walk there.

rwalker · 21/08/2018 22:17

can you claim the mobilty part of dla or what ever it is called now to cover the cost.

wibblywobblyfish · 21/08/2018 22:18

I feel your pain.... last year we paid £700 for my sons school transport for his final year of 6th form. It felt like a real kick in the teeth when the timetable for the 2 levels he was doing meant he only had to attend 3/5 days. The LA tried to placate me by saying he could use the ticket on any other local bus service - we live in the sticks and there is no other local bus service!

danni0509 · 21/08/2018 22:19

Nicpem I wouldn't underestimate anyone's ability, I've got a son with severe autism he surprises me on a daily basis with what he knows / can do.

I was just pointing out op said her son had no chance of getting a part time job so it would lead me to believe that he would need transport and couldn't walk alone.

cricketballs3 · 21/08/2018 22:19

The charge is similar to that of my LA - but they do allow DD payments so we pay £76 per month. Whilst I understand your anger, my feelings were that we had to purchase a bus pass for DS1 to get to college at 16 and given DS2 was being transported door to door with support it was worth it

youarenot · 21/08/2018 22:20

I would recommend 'contact' who may be able to signpost you to someone who can help if they can't themselves.

My son is only 7 and as you are aware, with all children but especially SEN/ASD they can make massive strides and come on massively, I wasn't worrying that far ahead until I read your thread. Especially as as he gets older he seems to get more anxious/nervous in regards to the noise of traffic. He is obsessed with buses and rather than watch where he's walking he'll look out for them - missing curbs/falling over. If he hears any truck of any kind he'll panic. If he sees someone getting in to a car, he'll panic - to the point of it's flight mode and doesn't care who or what is in his way.

We do have 9 years before he'd get to 16 but based on how he is now there is no way he'd be able to walk 3 miles to school.

Plainlycrackers · 21/08/2018 22:21

Have you looked at Motobility? I have no information but anecdotal knowledge of 2 different families that have cars provided by the motobility scheme because of having a child with SEN... one for the mother to drive young adult child around and the other with is adapted for the 16 year old with CP to drive himself to sixth form college (yes 16 is the driving age for some in certain circumstances). Neither family on v low income either. As I said I don’t know whether it is a feasible option because it will depend on the individual circumstances but might be worth exploring.

Nicpem1982 · 21/08/2018 22:21

Sockwomble- it's not lawful, the wording is the child needs to be able to walk there safely accompanied as necessary for a child under 8 the statutory distance is 2 miles and for over 8s its 3 miles however a child may qualify by virtue of there sen so broadly speaking the sen will trump distance everytime

BitOutOfPractice · 21/08/2018 22:22

Yanbu. That’s ridiculous. No sen here for comparison but here in Essex kids the day of their 16th birthday have to pay full adult fare on the bus to get to school. It’s awful.

Knittedfairies · 21/08/2018 22:23

My son who attended a special school could definitely have walked three miles, but not safely, or necessarily in the right direction.

RainySeptember · 21/08/2018 22:24

It's rubbish isn't it op, particularly as you weren't expecting it and have only had a few week's notice.

FWIW we pay £5 per day per child here too, four mile journey. I've got two dc in sixth form so that's obviously £50pw for us. I don't think any LA offer it FOC any more, they've cut the extras in order to maintain the mandatory provision I guess.

ExileOnMNStreet · 21/08/2018 22:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nicpem1982 · 21/08/2018 22:26

op when did the policy change and did you get involved with the consultation