Secondary School Appeal could cry

[Boymumtimes4]

Just got the appeal pack and feeling hopeless. I thought we had a fighting chance given our reasons below but they’ve put that they’ve already taken an additional 15 students over pan and they can’t even take one more child and all these health and safety concerns etc I just feel like crying as there’s literally no other school I can do given the below reasons as a single parent with hardly any support

1. racism from students at allocated school well documented with police reports
2. Im Guardian to my 2 nephews both SEND. 1 is starting primary in sept and other attends school I want my son to go to. My argument is I can’t escort 3 children to 3 separate schools and older nephew is unable to travel independently due to his needs.
3. mental health implications well documented struggles doctor has wrote me a letter and we have a Camhs referral and also support at primary school

I’m confused. Why would the police say he needs an escort to a secondary school he hasn’t started yet?

@Lougle No social/medical criteria, I have police reports with their suggestions on how to keep my son safe. I don’t have anything saying he can’t walk to school independently but have lots of evidence stating his needs which address it in around about way. Still waiting on completed assessment for EHCP. The school nephew goes to is our nearest high school my son currently attends the feeder (he’s only one of 2 other children that hasn’t got in) school is 1.8 miles away. SW letter states they believe and they ask the appeal panel take into consideration our circumstances

@Mayflower282 I’m not allowed to move out of the area as it’s my nephews local area. This is written into the SGO

@SixAndJuliet The police says he needs escorted to from school because the children who were racist to him goes there. Furthermore with him being assaulted walking home before it is unsafe for him to walk independently.

I feel like I’m repeating myself lol gosh I hope I’m not grilled like this at panel although good practice

I guess the question you need to address is why the “escort” has to be you. How much further is the allocated school? Do you allow your ds out independently at other times? Are you not already managing three drop offs?

The escort has to be me as I’m a single parent. His dad works full time 10 miles away.

we don’t allow him out unless accompanied by myself not that he want to as he’s genuinely too scared.

not already managing 3 drop offs youngest is not in school yet. Starts in September. I currently drop off my nephew then take my son to his school We are frequently late the 3rd school is in the other direction and there’s not a bus available for part of the journey so id be waking a mile with a 4 year old with complex needs which would take at least an hour meaning we’d be arriving to school at 9.45 where school starts at 8.40

But a panel might take the view that his dad could help or you arrange someone else to take him. Is there a reason dn is going to that specific primary and not the one your ds currently attends? Might he qualify for transport?

If DN1 attends your nearest suitable school and cannot walk to school because of his SEN, did you challenge the LA’s refusal to provide transport? An EHCP is not required. Same when DN2 starts.

Where are you in the EHCP process?

Get in touch with your local SENDIASS to support your application, as your DS can be considered a child carer for your DN.
Your DN needs to have an assessment for an EHCP (doesn't need a diagnosis for that) and ask your SW to write in support of your appeal and the assessment request.

Be careful with SENDIASS. Some are good but too many repeat the LA’s unlawful policies.

@LIZS Who could dad organise to take he’s originally from Belfast he’s the only member of his family here my mum an only child had a stroke so not able no other siblings they live down south one of reasons we have social worker is they identified lack of support system

@scoopofmintchocchipicecream its their policy where I live that transport is only available to children with EHCP I wrote complaint got no where. EHCP is still in assessment process and we’ve just submitted to assess for youngest.

That is an unlawful policy. DC who are attending their nearest suitable school who cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school because of their SEN do not need an EHCP to be entitled to transport. When your complaint wasn’t successful, did you take it further?

Is the LA sticking to the EHCP timescales?

@scoopofmintchocchipicecream we can apply for assistance with transport but that’s in the form of a free travel card. Nephews would need an escort as explained previously so it falls to special provision which is only accessible with a EHCP sorry should have made that clear

I'm not an expert on this but I think you need to put all your reasons down.

One thing I do know is that there are trusts who will make grants to individuals. It's not easy to find them but they are there. A grant for travel, I would imagine, would make a huge difference.

Can your social worker refer you to auriga? You cannot self refer. I was referred to them by Severn Trent water.

www.aurigaservices.co.uk

This book is too expensive to buy but you should be able to find a copy in your local library.

https://www.dsc.org.uk/publication/the-directory-of-grant-making-trusts-2026-27/#

It's boring and time consuming but s a student, I was successful with quite a few. Also because they are one of charitable funds they do not effect benefits.

Other funds here https://www.turn2us.org.uk

I know you are probably thinking, "I have enough going on right now" but it can be worth it. Auriga go through your needs in a phone call, maybe leave the others for now.

And good luck.

https://childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/transport/#elementor-toc__heading-anchor-13

Try reading this. Your LA is not allowed to have policies that fall short of their legal obligations.

I'm a foster carer, and in this situation would tell DFCs social workers that unless they were given transport to school, I sadly couldn't continue the placement. I know the rules are somewhat different for guardians, and funding can be lower, but it would be worth a try to tackle it that way round.It would be incredibly shortsighted for social services to let the placement break down with a loving family member due to something as minimal for them to fund/arrange as school transport.