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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How do you do the school run for secondary school (SEN) with a younger child?

32 replies

Jollofoldmaninaredsuit · 23/10/2024 20:13

Hi,
My DD has an EHCP and our ideal school (mainstream) is in the centre of the city (UK top five). We live three miles out of town; getting into town on a morning is horrendous. I tend to cycle. I don't think we'll get a taxi as part of EHCP.

The problem is getting her there. She won't be able to get there on her own on public transport as she is too vulnerable and has no common sense (sorry dd!)
I can move my schedules around at work and cycle in with her but it would mean she would have to wait around for an hour/ two hours until I finished work to come home again.
My second problem is I have a younger child. He will be in year 4. How do I get him to school, at the same time as I am also cycling with dd?
What do other single parents do? Should I try to explore other schools that may have breakfast clubs? Do secondaries offer wrap around?

OP posts:
LoveWine123 · 23/10/2024 20:15

I pay for breakfast and afterschool club. Childminders are also an option. It works well.

Ohthatsabitshit · 23/10/2024 20:15

You pay someone to take one child or the other.

Original poster
Jollofoldmaninaredsuit · 23/10/2024 20:16

@LoveWine123 I don't know any childminders who offer for older children.

OP posts:
Bluestar23 · 23/10/2024 20:18

You should be entitled to transport for your daughter if she's attending a specialist setting and has an EHCP.
There should be a home school transport section on your local authority website.
Or have a look on the local offer for your area.

flea101 · 23/10/2024 20:18

I would investigate the transport. Before my son got his EHCP he went to a mainstream 3 miles away, he got a taxi as I argued he couldn't walk there safely (he demonstrated lack of danger awareness at school so they backed me up). Phone and have a chat with your council transport department, it may be something that can be sorted if you have evidence as to why she can't travel on public transport.

watchuswreckthemic · 23/10/2024 20:19

School transport of an echp might be in place or use a childminder for your younger one/ breakfast club

Eyerollexpert · 23/10/2024 20:20

What makes you think that your DD won't get a taxi under her EHCP?
Having worked at a few special schools I would have thought she might? And appeal if not. This would solve the problem yes?

CatStoleMyChocolate · 23/10/2024 20:21

Do you mean you don’t know any who take Year 4 children? (Which I can believe as wraparound is a nightmare where I am). Because I would be looking at all options for wraparound for the younger child in order to get the secondary school child there and back - on the grounds that it’s easier to source care for a primary age child.

If breakfast/after school club at the primary is full, ask other parents as they may know of childminders or even babysitters who will cover the school.

Eyerollexpert · 23/10/2024 20:21

Additionally I have not worked in a secondary setting with wrap around care.

PurpleOliveCupboard · 23/10/2024 20:22

Contact SENTAS to find out your transport rights but if the school is named in section I you should be getting transport.

Notonthestairs · 23/10/2024 20:22

Have you checked the IPSEA website on this?

www.ipsea.org.uk/news/home-to-school-transport-understanding-your-rights

Sagedragon · 23/10/2024 20:23

If your daughter is in the closest school that can meet her needs and it it at least 3 miles away then the LA may have to provide transport.

EndlessLight · 23/10/2024 20:28

Sagedragon · 23/10/2024 20:23

If your daughter is in the closest school that can meet her needs and it it at least 3 miles away then the LA may have to provide transport.

The statutory walking distance does not apply to those who cannot walk to school because of their SEN/disability. Even if the LA claim there is a nearer school that can meet needs, parents can challenge it.

OP, relook at transport.

Diggby · 23/10/2024 20:34

Bluestar23 · 23/10/2024 20:18

You should be entitled to transport for your daughter if she's attending a specialist setting and has an EHCP.
There should be a home school transport section on your local authority website.
Or have a look on the local offer for your area.

OP has expressly said it's a mainstream school.

@Jollofoldmaninaredsuit I would try speaking to the SENCO at ideal school. We've been told DC will be eligible for a "travel buddy" to accompany to school. Your area might offer something similar and the SENCO will know all the options.

Ohthatsabitshit · 23/10/2024 20:46

I think you’ll get transport if that helps but depending on reliability of taxis etc it might be worse than useless.

ilikecatsandponies · 23/10/2024 20:57

I'm not a single parent but my husband mostly works over an hour away with little flex in his hours.
Pay for wraparound, pay for someone to take one or the other, use any free after school clubs hat the teachers offer - that's basically it.
Also, talk to both heads and say you're struggling because it gets really expensive and they might waive or reduce charges if you aren't using it to work, it's a SEN need. Good luck.

Nursingadvice · 23/10/2024 20:58

LA transport

Fidgety31 · 23/10/2024 21:03

I take my secondary school son to school everyday . He is ASD and unable to get public transport - tried it - was disastrous.
I have to juggle my job to accommodate school hours . There is no wraparound care at mainstream secondary. He sits in the library after school until I get there later . I’m a single parent and have no support . School transport got declined when I applied .

User364837 · 23/10/2024 21:06

Although our mainstream secondary school doesn’t have wrap around care as such, the library is open after school and my dd often goes there for an hour or so and does homework while she’s waiting for me to collect.
or there are activity clubs on for an hour after school quite often.

FuzzyGoblin · 23/10/2024 21:22

I agree that your DD’s travel needs to be looked at again.

Otherwise many secondary schools here have the canteen open early for breakfast before school and a homework club or something on after school eg our school has 60 clubs that run so there is always something. Have a chat with the senco as well because there might be something suitable already in place.

Can your Y4 child do wraparound care at their school? Childminders should still take a Y4 child so ask around as well.

Arran2024 · 23/10/2024 21:42

Definitely ask about transport. Often there is a taxi or minibus that goes round picking various kids up and bringing them home.

helloMickey · 23/10/2024 22:02

Jollofoldmaninaredsuit · 23/10/2024 20:13

Hi,
My DD has an EHCP and our ideal school (mainstream) is in the centre of the city (UK top five). We live three miles out of town; getting into town on a morning is horrendous. I tend to cycle. I don't think we'll get a taxi as part of EHCP.

The problem is getting her there. She won't be able to get there on her own on public transport as she is too vulnerable and has no common sense (sorry dd!)
I can move my schedules around at work and cycle in with her but it would mean she would have to wait around for an hour/ two hours until I finished work to come home again.
My second problem is I have a younger child. He will be in year 4. How do I get him to school, at the same time as I am also cycling with dd?
What do other single parents do? Should I try to explore other schools that may have breakfast clubs? Do secondaries offer wrap around?

Is this the nearest suitable school? If so, you should get transport. Otherwise, is travel training an option?

If everything else fails, you need to send DC2 to the breakfast and after school club. I trained DC2 to walk to school and back once they got to y4 though. Is that an option?

ThespTheo · 23/10/2024 22:05

Younger child in wrap around care and 2 hours a day of driving.

EndlessLight · 23/10/2024 22:26

Fidgety31 · 23/10/2024 21:03

I take my secondary school son to school everyday . He is ASD and unable to get public transport - tried it - was disastrous.
I have to juggle my job to accommodate school hours . There is no wraparound care at mainstream secondary. He sits in the library after school until I get there later . I’m a single parent and have no support . School transport got declined when I applied .

You could reapply for transport and appeal if refused. If you need help appealing or the appeal isn’t successful, contact SENTAS.

lanthanum · 23/10/2024 22:47

Childminders don't advertise for older kids as there isn't much demand - most secondary age children are able to take care of themselves until parents are home. It might be worth looking to see if there are any childminders near the secondary and ask whether they would take her. I think over-8s don't count in their ratios, and if she could get herself there after school then they might be happy to have her.

Does the school have a sixth form? Might you be able to look for a reliable sixth-former (or two) who would take on bringing her home (and/or to school) as a part-time job? It would be a very convenient job for them if they live in your direction anyway.