Transport issues

[cricketballs]

whilst I understand that transport varies from LA to LA I am wondering if anyone else has had the following problem and if it was solved?

My DS is going into his 3rd year at FE, knowing that my LA can be arseholes his ECHP was written very heavily that he is extremely vulnerable and for him to travel by bus would put him at serious risk.

Job done we though, he was offered transport even though this is unusual for his age in my area.

Where the problem now lies is that for the past 10 years he has been picked up and dropped off from his grandparents house (1.4 miles away) as both DH and I work FT and they provide the care for him before and after school - this has never been an issue before for neither of the 2 taxi companies that have had this contract in the last 10 years.
This year a new taxi company, so I spoke to them and gave them with details of pick up etc....cue an email today from LA to say that pickup/drop off can only be from home address, so my reply was that this has never been an issue for the last 10 years so why the change. Apparently the other previous taxi companies shouldn't have done it.

We have appealed, but this takes up to 20 days and I don't think (even though I did go heavy on his need for routine) they will give in; anyone help with other ideas?

Transport shouldn't vary between LAs, as the law applies uniformly all over the country. However, post 16 there is much more room for discretion, and certainly most transport policies tend to say they will only pick up from the child's home. Is there any possibility of your parents coming over to your house to look after him there - if necessary with one of you picking them up?

Alternatively, your son is probably entitled to social work care: you could try asking them to provide carers before or after school. I suspect that in that event the LA would suddenly become keener on being flexible around transport.

Thank you for that idea Ceto; will call social services today with that request!

Hi there can anyone please give any advice I'm applying for school transport for my two children one has cp and gdd and a wheelchair user and have been refused school transport due to us living under the miles needed and my other daughter is in a special school and been rufused transport she has several traits of autism and gdd they both have statement of special needs I've appealed against the decision but havnt had a reply do I have any rights??

Mummy I know that at the moment in my adjacent LA (the LA where my son's school is) a lot of parents are having a nightmare atm, even worse than mine.

For my stage 1 appeal there was a form on the LA website that I had to complete and they had 20 days in which to respond. In the adjacent LA they have appeal meeting; you need to urgently contact your LA and SS.

I came on here just to update...

Following your advice Ceto I contacted SS that day, due to the urgency we were quickly referred for an assessment. The assessor who visited last week was amazed that this situation was happening, in her experience she had clients that either had no transport or no carers but she had never know the situation where we had everything in place, it had been in place and working fantastically for everyone involved and now suddenly 1.4 miles (on route to his FE) had forced a situation where care would need to be provided at home or either DH or I would have to stop working.

She did assess him as to not being able to be safely left at home so care would be needed, but she was also working on getting transport to change their minds.

We had his stage 1 appeal decision this week - and it has been turned down as they claim they have no evidence that another address has been used. So I had to spend time yesterday gathering evidence to start the stage 2 appeal. In the mean time my SS case worker says she feels like banging her head on the desk as she as the transport are not listening to SS and it can all be solved by agreeing to stop on the way to the college!

Thank you for your help I've contacted legal aid and they have suggested that I wait for the last decision to be made if it's still a no I should pursue a claim and I have a very strong case I wish you all the best with your battles I know how frustrating it all is 😤 i will keep you updated if I have any more news😥