SEN school transport, we won appeal but...

[Icantpeopleanymore]

Hi all, I'm hoping someone might have some advice.

My daughter, nearly 14, has Ehlers-Danlos and since September has had issues with walking to school, pain and exhaustion meant that she wasn't able to manage the 35 min walk any longer. She's autistic and the pain can mean she refuses school if she's had to walk any distance at all the day before.

I started to drive her to school around my job as a teacher, 17 miles away. It caused multiple issues, she was waiting around outside school for over an hour for me to arrive after work, was having to be dropped off an hour before school so I could get to work. Despite this, just not walking to school has increased her attendance so much, she's much happier and less tired.

However, my work has suffered as I'm a teacher and I was having to run out of school as soon as I finished teaching, I was late most days and was having to work late every night to catch up as I wasn't getting anything done at school. I was driving for 2.5 hrs a day to get her to and from school.

So, applied for school transport, got denied twice, took it to appeal and was delighted yesterday to hear they have granted her a taxi every day.

Relief has quickly been replaced with worries though...prior to this she would go to her grandmother every day after school to have some dinner some days and wait for me to get there to collect her.

School transport will only pick up and collect from home, even though her grandmother is on the route and is actually closer. I live rurally, about a mile from her grandmothers, with only 3 neighbours.

They've also said someone has to be here to meet her and escort her to the taxi. I've no idea what the pick up and drop off times are yet, but if she arrives even 45 mins after she finishes school, there's no way I can get here and if I have to wait for her to be collected in the morning, I still might be late for work.

I can't stop worrying that even though she's fine to let herself in and wait at home alone for maybe 30 mins before I get home, that they won't let me do that. I have no idea how long it will take to arrange the transport, there's already a taxi available apparently with two other students, but my brain will not stop overthinking that I might have gone through 3 months of stress and applications and appeals to only end up having to continue as we are anyway because they won't drop off to childcare, only the home address. Added to this, I'm separated from her dad so his midweek contact (where he used to collect from her grandmother after she'd had dinner with her) might now not happen and I really, really need that midweek break so I can stay late at work and get caught up..he doesn't drive and won't finish work to collect the kids until 7pm, which was fine when they were with their grandmother but not if she's here alone and her brother is with her grandmother.

Just wondered if anyone had any experience of the driver's and their flexibility? Do they insist on seeing a parent, even with a teen? I know the council won't budge (even though it would cost less to drop her off at childcare!) But I'm just hoping there might be a workaround somehow. We are in Kent, so it's KCC.

[SearchingForSolitude]

This is common, unfortunately. The guidance states they don’t have to provide transport to alternative addresses, but it is sometimes possible to challenge it. Contact SENTAS for help.

[Icantpeopleanymore]

Thanks, I will. Just hoping the driver is reasonable and either might not check I'm there when he drops off or will drop off somewhere else..seems crazy that a child whose parents are separated or one that goes to childcare can't be accommodated.

[Toomanyminifigs]

Firstly, well done for securing transport for your DD. It's not easy and it's being made harder and harder. Councils are under enormous financial pressures ATM and cutting school transport is being looked at very closely by many.

I do wonder if some councils make it as difficult as possible for parents/carers to access school transport for their DC deliberately. However, they do have a duty of care to the child/young person. If a parent/carer has successfully argued that their DC needs transport due to SEN then the council has a legal duty to ensure that young person arrives to/from school safely. That could include ensuring that the DC has been handed over to a parent/trusted adult at the end of each day.

Sometimes there is an escort on school transport as well as a driver. It will depend on the needs of the DC. Usually, the driver/escort have to ensure that someone is there to meet the DC.
However, in my LA, their SEN transport policy states that they will consider applications for DC over the age of 12 to let themselves into the house providing a parent sign a 'key holder wavier form' - and the school is in agreement.

Otherwise, could her grandmother wait in your house? I'm just trying to think of options for you!

In terms of pick up, I know that it tends to be really early so you may be OK. For example my DS is picked up an hour before his school starts.

Now that you've been awarded transport, it should start quickly. If there's already a taxi set up that others DC are using, that could be sorted out in a few days. If they will have to organise a taxi specifically for your DD it may take longer as it will have to go out to tender - and some LAs especially rural ones - are finding it hard to find cab firms.

Does DD have an EHCP? If so, have you looked into Kent's Personal Travel Budget scheme?

I would also second speaking to SENTAS. I've used them in the past and they're really helpful.

[Icantpeopleanymore]

Thank you, that's really helpful.

It's going to be fairly quick I think, as there already is a taxi with two other students. It's a 15 min drive to her school but I've no idea where the other two students go.

No EHCP, she's doing ok at school and the Ehlers-Danlos has only been causing major problems in the last 6 months, actually since we have started to realise that was what was making her so tired and was causing her to struggle during the day, life has improved so much, she's much happier as we are making sure she gets enough rest.

Her grandmother doesn't drive and does the walk to pick up my son, so can't be here unfortunately. I've looked into having a mother's help etc for a few hours a day in the past, but can't find anyone.

My neighbours bless them are in all the time, so they've offered to step out the door and be the person that receives her, that just depends on the timings though.. hopefully just an adult to wave hello and let her into the house would be enough...she does have SEN but she's trustworthy enough to let herself in and wait for me to get home, I've just bought a ring doorbell for peace of mind so I can see her getting in, if they'll let me sign for her to let herself in that would be ideal. If there's really no workable solution then I guess more fighting to be done 🤷 it's still better than a 36 mile journey for me every day to get her there, just worried it's still not going to allow me to work still! Planning on asking for a couple of weeks of cover to allow me to get home in time and be here in the morning, just until she settles into the new routine and I get to know the driver and any escorts...but that's not a long term solution, I have to be at work by 8am.

Haven't looked at the travel budget, purely because logistics are the issue, there aren't any taxi firms as they all do school contracts and no buses that she can take, not that she would anyway!

[SearchingForSolitude]

You should look at requesting an EHCNA. IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

[StormySam]

Just wanted to send you my sympathies - it's so hard. My DS has had transport since year 7 - I have to be there to let him in and this will continue until post 16.
This has meant I have had to put my other children into after school club as I be in 2 places at once. It's worked out that it's actually costing me money but for his accessibility needs it means I have no choice. I know of people who have had to quit their jobs due to this ruling.

[Icantpeopleanymore]

I really hope that isn't the case as I really will have to just keep taking her if so..I still haven't heard anything about the arrangements, I've emailed but had no response. Just have to wait and see I guess...

[Morph22010]

@SearchingForSolitude

You should look at requesting an EHCNA. IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

This wouldn’t solve the transport issue though it would still be the same

[SearchingForSolitude]

@Morph22010

This wouldn’t solve the transport issue though it would still be the same

I didn’t say it would solve the transport issues, did I? If you read the thread, you will see I had already advised OP on the transport issue. My advice about an EHCP was in addition to that.

[SteveAP]

Hello. My son is getting amazing help with his school (SEN) Sadly we have to move soon to a village 10 miles away as local housing is not affordable.
I applied for school transport but council said we don't meet the 2-6 mile rule! I feel an appeal would be pointless as the 2-6 mile rule would still apply , has anyone any experience in appeals please.

[SearchingForSolitude]

@SteveAP

Hello. My son is getting amazing help with his school (SEN) Sadly we have to move soon to a village 10 miles away as local housing is not affordable.
I applied for school transport but council said we don't meet the 2-6 mile rule! I feel an appeal would be pointless as the 2-6 mile rule would still apply , has anyone any experience in appeals please.

The 2-6 mile rule doesn’t apply in your case, so definitely appeal.