To be OUTRAGED at the cost of this school transport?

[FidgetyFingers]

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'.

rosie39forever I’m not surprised, because it’s always the way sadly.

The hassle we had trying to organise transport for DS1s transition to secondary was a nightmare.

There will always be those who seem decent enough but when it comes to it, would happily see disabled children miss out than take the hit themselves.

I think people need to be reminded that we are all one accident or illness away from disability, perhaps they’ll give a flying fuck then.

I doubt it. People like that will never give a shit about anyone but themselves.

Sorry Rosie that was really blunt! It wasn’t meant to be blunt towards you though, but towards them. Sorry.

Mumsnet is not a supportive place for parents of disabled children and never has been for the 5 years I've been on here, unless you go on the SN boards.

Absolutely agree with that fairgame

@YeTalkShiteHen👍

One is someone claiming mileage as part of their job and the other is the school run as part of being a parent.

MaisyPops

No, they aren't different in real terms. One is entitled to be reimbursed as part of their employment contract, the other is entitled to be reimbursed because the law says so. So what falls to be considered is the actual costs of travel, nothing more, nothing less. It's sheer hypocrisy to say that the Chief Executive is entitled to 50p per mile whilst parents transporting disabled children are only entitled to 20p.

Furthermore, it's not a standard school run. It's a journey which is generally longer than that done by most parents, and which they may have to do till their child is 18 or even later - where most parents expect to be able to stop when their child reaches the age of 11, or even earlier. Furthermore, they may well have to juggle it with finding a way for other children to get to a different school, and they may have to pay extra for things like specialist seat belts and seats, or larger cars to fit a wheelchair.

I'm not disputing the costs.
I'm saying there is no point making false comparisons to people's jobs.

You don't need to outline the cost to me. I'm not disputing that, nor am I disputing that there are challenges.

My point is that the case for reform needs to be based on the situation affecting those children (including all the endless struggles in the system & the implications of post 16 funding on students with SEND), not some silly comparisons to what other people may or may not get in their job.