I finally have ds transport appeal this week - 3rd time it's been rearranged!
Ds attends a secondary school 3.6 mi as the crow flies and 4.2 of you take the road.
He was at a school 1.1mi as crow flies - not catchment but same distance.
Lonnnnnnggggggg back story I won't go into all of it here! But you can AS and catch full gist if you so desire!
So my argument is that ds attends the nearest school that can meet his needs after other school failed to cope with his SN and ds declined in MH and had to be referred for CBT. I reapplied for EHCP after junior school application was declined.
There was an incident where ds became too scared to attend (part SN and part safeguarding) and SN department said not their issue as no EHCP (was awaiting appeal) and children's services referred to EIS who suggested managed move.
I wasn't keen (because I was told no more under Sen support and ds wasn't going to change so needed better placement iyswim?) but after discussions, being directed to Local offer and send reports of schools (I wasn't allowed to visit as MM) I chose the nearest school which offered the things stated on ds non statutory statement our county uses.
Now I'm being reused transport on basis LA say I chose to move him  and there's nearer schools.
I know I can use the loco parentis argument if they insist on the 'removal' line but any other advice on how I can get them to see this as an exceptional circumstance and a decision i HAD to make rather than chose to make.
Oh and to complicate things ds now has an EHCP and so SN department say any Ms school can meet his needs with this so he doesn't need the school he's in now .
Oh and at the time he started my parents helped out when I couldn't do transport due to work/unwell etc but my mum has cancer now and dads her carer and we don't know what the future holds and he has 3 more years at the school.
I want to keep my argument brief and am good at not being drawn into arguments and focusing on the outcome I want. I just wondered if anyone had any wise nuggets of advice.