Sen transport to school stressing me saying ds is not eligible

[downloadtoad]

We live 2.2 miles away from the Sen high school ds is starting this September. The threshold for transport is 3 miles, if you live in this you may not be eligible for transport. They now want evidence of why ds cannot walk the 1 hour journey to and from school, other than his diagnosis of autism and not being able to walk this journey alone what else am I meant to provide ?!
He already receives transport to his Sen primary in which we live just under the 2 miles threshold.

I don’t drive so am not able to take ds to school, ds dad works and cannot be available twice a day to take ds and pick him up. We also have 2 toddlers who need to be in nursery for 9am.

I am so so stressed out, also I cannot get in touch with anyone from the send team, they still haven’t told me ds has got a place at the high school, I emailed and rang numerous time, all ignored, in the end I had to phone the actual high school and ask if ds was on the list. Please help.

Thanks, I've reminded them. Just checked the LA portal and it still thinks the June 2025 review is due...it was done...

@Phineyj that is probably because the 2025 AR wasn’t completed if you only got to step 3 in my pp.

OK. I don't want to distract from the OP's thread. How much do you think it matters if I'm happy with the placement?

There are a couple factors to consider. Firstly, it depends whether you are also happy with the content of the EHCP. You may be happy with the current placement, but what about the other sections? If you aren’t, the correct process not being followed means you haven’t had the right of appeal. Secondly, give LAs an inch and they will often take a mile. LAs who see they can get away with acting unlawfully often continue to act unlawfully, and next time may be more significant for you.

@curliegirlie and this is why their strategy works, because we end up giving up eventually. Completely normal and rational, you can only do what you can do.

My advice to you is log these difficulties getting home, turn them into data, and consider whether it may be evidence of her needs not being met in her current school. Call an emergency AR if needed - though AR should be happening in the autumn term anyway if her primary ends in Y11.

A year is a hell of a long time to be in a school that is leaving you so dysregulated that at 10 years old you cannot cope with a walk. We have had similar, DS used to run away and hide or lie down on the pavement, and in hindsight I wish I had used that to advocate more strongly for things to change. So v much do as I say, not as I did. But 20/20 hindsight that is what I think I should have done.

I assume you're claiming PIP so why not use that money to pay for taxis - isn't that what the mobility part is for?

No.

No, it isn't. It's calculated on the basis that local authorities will comply with their statutory duty and arrange home to school transport.

An hour to walk 2.2miles!?. Or you mean there and back takes an hour? How about a scooter if he cannot bike?

He gets a mobility component of DLA. He's got a place at specialist school. Is it really beyond your imagination to conceive that he might take substantially longer to walk it than a typically developing child who is not in receipt of disability benefits?

Hi all. Just an update to say ds has had the transport approved, very lucky it was approved without having to go to appeal. I sent a very detailed letter along with the application so I think that may have helped. Thanks for all the help off the posters that understand.

That is excellent news, @downloadtoad - you must be very relieved.

Hurray!

Similarly my kids (8, 10 with Down’s syndrome, plus my baby in her buggy) and I often take half an hour to walk home from their school, a mile away. Or 25 minutes if we’re rushing. I can quite imagine that doing 2.2 miles could easily take an hour…

Congratulations @downloadtoadfor passing this last hurdle!

Brilliant news @downloadtoad !

As for some of the comments on this thread…. I can only assume that some posters have no idea how lucky they are that they know so little about SEN.

Also reflected by the poll showing only 22% voted YANBU 😢. People just don’t have a clue and instead just had a go at poor OP for having further kids (which is fairly irrelevant for the issue at hand). I’m so glad it looks like it’s now been sorted though.

I remember a thread years ago where school transport was leaving (iirc) a globally delayed and disabled child of about 12 on her doorstep without checking anyone was home. Posters barging in to say that the child should have a key, should be fine for half an hour, shouldn't have a taxi in the first place, would have to cope like anyone else...

Someone eventually asked if the same posters would be happy to have their four year old dropped unaccompanied outside their house and left for an unspecified time. I think a few posters got it after that.

Some posters will never get it as you can see from earlier answers
Why cant he ride a bike etc.

What the LA would provide would just be a taxi, if you would be happy with him taking an LA paid-for taxi why arent you happy with him taking one you pay for from his DLA?

It also sounds like you really need to learn to drive tbh, its a pretty core life skill really to be independent. Can you get applying for a provisional license and get some lessons booked?

It sounds like you arent working so if you could drive this would be far less of an issue, surely it doesn't really matter what time the toddlers are dropped at nursery and that could be fitted around taking your SEN son to school if you were able to drive yourself.

If you bothered to read the update transport has been provided for the Ops son
DLA is not for transport to school HTH.

And how do you know it would be a taxi? I presume you dont work for the transport department in the Op LA
My son has always travelked to his special school via mini bus with a PA hes been going since reception and is starts at their 6th form in september

Not all LA school transport is via a taxi. Even if it is, some have escorts where it is required, which makes it different to a self funded taxi.

How do you know DLA would cover the cost of a taxi every school day? For many, it wouldn’t. And as per Scope’s disability price tag research, many find disability benefits don’t cover the cost of disability related expenses, so many cannot afford to use DLA for school transport. Besides, the LA has a duty to provide transport separately to DLA.

Please stop having a go at poor OP for not being able to drive. I don’t know what her driving history is, but personally I spent 7 years on and off trying to learn to drive, failed 7 tests. It’s massively frustrating and I hate it, but I think the world is better off without me behind a wheel. And it sounds like school transport is sorted out for her son now, so now they can move onto preparing him for his new school.

Edit: Apologies, looks like I quoted the wrong poster, I was trying to reply to the poster you replied to!

I agree. Not to mention some people can’t drive for medical reasons. And some can’t afford driving lessons right now either. Even if learning to drive is an option, it wouldn’t be a solution for September and doesn’t relieve the LA of their duty.