Fast answers please... Before/After School care... Transport... BLAAHHH!

[HonoraryImaginationMover]

Hello Ladies (and any Gents)

First time posting on here, have been lurking for a while, and need a little bit of advice if possible!
Basically, we are disputing the transport part of a statement for our son with autism, they are refusing to pay transport for him to get to our school, the school named on the statement, however, should we choose to change our minds about the school we want him at (even if it isn't the most appropriate school for his needs and is only 200m away from the school they are suggesting) to the special school, then they will pay it...
It's literally on the same road as the school we have picked, it's not the best place for him at this moment in time, and it's not an option for us to take him and pick him up ourselves.
Anyway, when completing the first load of forms for the IPF and the statement, it was asked if we use any after school care, he wasn't, isn't using any at the moment, but if he doesn't get this transport paid for then we will have to look at using the before school club, at least, possibly after school too, for 4 days a week at least... SO, I thought, if I include this in my SCATHING letter to them then it might make them think twice about refusing transport - as I THOUGHT they would be responsible for paying the extra hours of the welfare assistant (or whatever it's called, his one on one) for the extra hours.... but I can't find anything about this online????
Can anyone help me out? Will they have to pay more for this (obviously I know we'll have to pay the actual fees to the school for the use of the club) or not? It's not what we want, I think it's too much for him, but we wont have a lot of choice in the issue should the transport not be provided. However, I don't want to put it in the letter to them if they wont be responsible for paying the one to one, if you know what I mean??!!

Thanks ladies!

They just don't want to pay transport. The other school may already have a transport service that your DS could use without it costing them anything. Or they may be confident that you wouldn't accept the other school at any price, so can offer transport to it and look like they're being generous. LAs have to agree to parental choice on schools on statements but only if (amongst other things) they are cost effective. If, in their opinion, a different school with cheaper transport or no transport issues would also meet your DC's needs, they can still let you have your choice with the proviso that you pay transport costs. Is one school a SS and the other MS? That may affect transport funding also as they may be obliged to provide transport to the SS.

I know nothing about after school clubs, but your statement will specify hours of 1 to 1 and I've never heard of this bring extended to after school clubs in MS. Sorry, not much help.

might be worth having a read through this or give them a ring, their helpline is hard to get through to but it's worth persevering.

I've never heard of 1:1 in after school clubs paid through the statement
There is a duty under the Childcare Act to provide suitable childcare but I have yet to come across a LA who has implemented this in any meaningful way. Although some LAs do top up the 15 free nursery hours to 30 hours 1:1 so possibly it does apply.
But I suspect you would be in for a long fight on that one and unlikely to have a clear answer soon.
Possibly you could get direct payments and use that to pay 1:1 childcare

Are the schools different costs?
If they have named the school I would have thought they have to pay transport and should have argued this out before they named it. I don't see how they can unname it and blackmail you over transport but obviously would need to know more about what was said about transport before the statement was issued. As EJ says if the cost of transport is very different and both schools can meet need then you run into efficient use of resources arguments. Why did they name your school? Did they think both were suitable and name it on parental preference?

Is it worth talking to the school you want and finding out if your child could share transport and bring the cost down

You could also FOI them / both schools for the breakdown of costs. Although LAs rarely tell the truth about the real cost

I would try and speak to NAS or IPSEA helpline but probably call their bluff on transport eg your argument the costs on transport would be identical.

You can appeal for transport sounds like you have a good case.

Ask the LEA for the appeal form.