Considering a 5 hours per day school run

[Cactusowl]

My son has been offered a place at a lovely school which is around an hour away. It’s an independent SEN school and will suit him so much better than his current mainstream.
We are taking our council to a tribunal in the hope they will name the school on my sons EHCP and therefore pay the fees/taxi. The court date isn’t set until October. I have the option to pay for the school myself so he can start in September, I will have to drive him myself for a minimum of half a term or max 3 years if we lose our appeal.

Has anyone done a long school run like this? Was it manageable and did it get any easier? AIBU to even consider this journey is sustainable?

[NumberTheory]

Fantastic OP! So happy for you and your DC..

[WetWeekends]

Well done OP that’s great news. I hope he’s very happy there.

[secular39]

I'm so glad OP that you got this. I'm so happy that you didn't back down when some players were saying that you should move your DC home a nearer school. Unless you have a child with SEN or are deeply interested in their educations (as let's face it- some parents are not) they have no idea that we have very little choice in terms of schools, including a very good school which had a 100000 children on their waiting lists. Well done!!

[yacketyyak]

I'm delighted for you OP.
I currently do 2.5 hours of school runs daily and it really drains me.
Onwards and upwards for you x

[ThinWomansBrain]

Why not pay for taxis?

[catfunk]

Still don't get how it's 5 hours ?

[Zzelda]

Excellent, OP, I'm so glad the council has accepted its legal duties.

[SusannahSophia]

That’s brilliant, OP. Onwards and upwards.

[altiara]

Great news!

[wouldthatbeworse]

So pleased for you OP. Well done for fighting for your family

[WelliesandWine88]

Ok...so perspective from the child's side.

My mum did this for me. 4 hrs drive daily.. I am more thankful than she'll ever know! It was for one year (my last year at school). I'd been bullied horrifically at a, frankly crap school, by both parents and students alike.
I'd been in a private school, moved to a public school (where I was bullied, along with my siblings, in ways you wouldn't believe for 'being a posh snob') and after extensive research ended up in a sxhiil64 hrs away.
I LOVED it. Still friends with people now 16 years later. In one year I did 2years worth of work, first choice of uni, managed to almost fix the damage done to me emotionally /self esteem etc..

I am so so grateful to my parents for their immense efforts in that year. ❤️

[deliciouschilli]

Really happy for you and your son, hope it makes your lives lots easier.

[WhatAShilohPitt]

That’s great, OP! So happy for you!

[Clymene]

@Cactusowl

I thought I’d come back and update. The council have agreed to provide a taxi so I don’t have to do a 5 hour school run each day!

Oh well done!!! So pleased for you 🎉

[finallyme2018]

@Cactusowl

I thought I’d come back and update. The council have agreed to provide a taxi so I don’t have to do a 5 hour school run each day!

That's fantastic news so pleased for you both.

[finallyme2018]

My son has sen and every school he's been in whilst his last school supported him better its still a nightmare. Rather than looking forward to him starting secondary school I'm thinking we've only got another 5 years then he will be free of the he'll. If I thought the was a school that could support him fully and make his life a happier I travel hours to make it happen. If it meant I didn't need to hold my child whilst he is heartbroken as children have been nasty and teacher have glossed over it. Or the days where I break down as the fight for support and people making empty promises are just to much to deal with. Driving that distance would seem nothing if I could witness my child happy and enjoying life instead of existing.

[Cactusowl]

I thought I’d come back and update. The council have agreed to provide a taxi so I don’t have to do a 5 hour school run each day!

[vdbfamily]

I have a friend who did this but she got a job as aTA nearby so that she only drive there and back once a day. She was still in need by about 8.30 every night though as so tiring

[spongedog]

@Duchess379

I had to commute from home to work, which was 140 mile round trip. Every day. It nearly killed me! I sustained it for about 4yrs before my circumstances changed & I stopped going into London. I do not recommend it!

You did it for 4 years. OP said max would be 3 years.

I am not unsympathetic having moved from a job I loved which had a 45 mile round trip commute - but that could be up to 3 hours per day. Other commutes are more stable.

[goneroguetoday]

Could you be his 1-1 in mainstream until you get the SEN school officially provided

[QueenBee52]

I agree.. it's a lot of travel for a kid every day 😩

[Duchess379]

I had to commute from home to work, which was 140 mile round trip. Every day. It nearly killed me! I sustained it for about 4yrs before my circumstances changed & I stopped going into London. I do not recommend it!

[EversoDelighted]

I know several people who have moved their child and then successfully appealed for the place to be named on the EHCP. It's a gamble but there is so much at stake for the child that many consider it worth it.

[reader108]

Similar experience I paid for seven terms applied for an ECHP appealed and got the school named. First thing in LA educational psychologist report ‘It would be detrimental to remove Ds from’ this school.

[cakeflower]

I’d just like to comment about the people saying not to start at the school before winning tribunal. We did this - my child started at the independent sen school and then we appealed to get it named on ehcp. We won, and our child now goes by taxi. Actually I think it may have helped our case because the sen school were able to back us at the tribunal with their evidence of our child’s progress with them etc.