To be pissed off with transport for my SEN child?

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Urgh. We live 2 miles from SEN autism school. DS14 has been there for 4 years and DH gave up work to look after him when mainstream failed him and he was at home for 2 years. He's doing really well at school now and really thriving. DH really wants to go back to work (and we REALLY need the money). He has been offered a job for September.

• School transport refused as we live too close. They feel it's appropriate to expect a parent to take him to school and that's not disability discrimination (most 14yos don't have a parent walk them to school). Appeal done and refused.
• can't pay for school taxi as it's not a guaranteed place and they don't accept applications until after October half term
• can't pay for a private taxi as all the DBS drivers are doing LEA runs.
• DS can't walk alone the 4 mile round trip as it's a main road, he's autistic, sensory averse, highly anxious and a flight risk
• DS can't get the bus alone as it's too cognitively complex (plus anxious / sensory) and involves crossing 2 major roads.

DS is ok in the house for an hour ish pre and post school. He's pretty good / safe in the house. Would be fine getting dressed and waiting for taxi / waiting for me to get home 30 mins after drop off.

But out the house alone - total disaster.

What do we do??

Would a childminder or similar be able to do drop offs initially until the October when you can hopefully apply?

Contact SENTAS for advice, they are an independent service.

As far as I’m aware a parent must be home when the child arrives home so that may be an issue. Saying that my child’s driver this year drops and drives straight off before I’ve opened the door.

sentas.co.uk/parental-preference-of-school-in-a-statement-or-ehcp-and-home-to-school-transport/

Can one of you drop him off, the other pick him up on way to and from work?

You'd need to be 6 miles away from the school, my child's Sen school is the same.

That said I'm expected to be home when he gets in by the transport/school so this may be an issue as well.

I'm guessing moving isn't a option, I'd speak to SENDIASS failing that you'll have to work out between you on doing the school run.

Distance is irrelevant when it comes to SEN transport though the LA may try to convince people otherwise.

I believe rules are changing as the current system is overwhelmed. I believe distance does now play a part according to the email I got for my DC from LA. Luckily we are further a field so still qualify. Our transport has already been confirmed but lots of changes are coming.

If your employers can offer flexibility then that could be a good solution, one if you drop off, one if you pick up.
However it is not the parents responsibility to ensure an EHCP is implemented, it's the LAs. If the LA refusing transport means you DD can't access provision then I think they are acting unlawfully. There should not be a blanket rule for SEN transport I think it's meant to be needs based.
Do you have any evidence of why he can't manage public transport ? For example OT, SALT or EP reports?
Letter from school or medical professional? DLA for mobility component? Try and obtain as much supportive evidence as you can. Is there anything within his needs in EHCP that would support transport?
I would do a stage 1 complaint and speak to organisation mentioned upthread and also sossen or ipsea.
Possibly would be a case for a pre action Jr letter in September if DS can't get to school.
It's a constant battle - good luck

I'm in exactly the same situation op. DD is now settled in a SEN school 4.5 miles away after a year out of education. I would love to get back to work but our application for school transport has been refused.

I've always struggled to get SEN transport for my sons. DH had to go self employed and take a massive pay cut in the end.

I think your husband needs a part time job, so he can drop off and collect. Could he apply to be a TA at your sons school? You're not going to get anything funded for transport. It's been overhauled to save money.

so much misinformation. The statutory walking distance (which is 2 miles for primary and 3 miles for secondary by the way and not 6 miles) does not apply to students with disabilities. It's all very clear in the transport guidance.

Possibly slightly contentious, but you’re 2 miles from the school so why should the council pay for transport?

You will have to take responsibility for getting them to a place which is in great demand, especially with the lack of money in the sector.

Yes your husband might need to go back to work but you still need to care for your child. Part time hours to fit around the schooling is your best hope - many a parent have been doing this for a long time.

It's something to look into definitely.

The October paying thing is only a possibility as it depends on there being a free seat and you can lose it with a weeks notice.

For some reason our LEA allow you to say whether you take responsibility for the house being empty and then they are happy to leave them on the doorstep. (Tells you a bit about the type of LEA they are!)

Across a two week period there's a few times we can do that (probably about 5/20 school runs) but otherwise no. Public sector - hospital and teacher - have to work to set time patterns with no exceptions.

3 miles here but yes. Lots of rules. Apparently it's policy not law but they can do what they like apparently!

I've supplied all the evidence we have. And there was plenty of evidence. But they said it was appropriate to expect a parent to accompany him 🤷‍♀️ (at 14)

Can his PIP not pay for a private taxi, and you travel with him ?

Can you imagine if every parent of a 14 yo + being told that they have to work part time so they can drive their child to school and they couldn't be expected to make their own way there?!

No? Because it's disability discrimination. Non SEN 14yos can walk 2 miles or get a bus.

My child gets transport and we are 0.6 miles away. It is primary though.

Transitioning to secondary in September and school is 2.5 miles away, they have agreed to transport with no issue, after initially offering me a personal budget which I turned down.

Do you have the preparation for adulthood team involved? Might be called something different but there she be something for those young people with an EHCP starting in year 9/age 14.

Travel training is often something they can offer, helping prepare the young person for independently catching the bus or whatever othe local travel options make sense.

If the travel training team feel theres no appropriate route and/or the young person is not able to make the journey safely and independently that's strong evidence to take back to transport.

Because at 14, without disabilities, he would be able to walk to our local MS secondary which is less than a mile away. Or he could get a school bus and have the skills to manage.

The LEA places him in this school because his needs are severe.

Does every parent of a 14yo take their child to school, there and back every day??? I wasn't aware of this. I took myself to school at that age because I was not disabled?

We can't get a private taxi. I've tried a few companies and all the DBS drivers are on school runs for the Lea.

If we went with him we wouldn't need transport as we'd have given up work and would take him in the car.

That's a really good shout actually that I hadn't thought of - thank you very much!!!

A bit left field but could you pay a student or older teenager to take him on the bus?
We found a student through childcare.co.uk who walked our DS home from his PRU a couple of days a week for a while - it clashed with DD school pickup. It was a mile and he'd probably have been fine (he's now in Y7 and would definitely be fine with that journey but is further away now).