School transport

[Oakmaiden]

Just wondering - if ds gets a statement and I ask the LEA to name a school which is not local but NOT a special school/unit... then will he still get transport from the LEA? (I believe he would if it was a special school....)

LAs often won't provide transport if they consider that there is another suitable school which is closer to you. They have to compare the total cost of the placement, including transport. So if there are two mainstream schools and you choose the more distant one, that one will work out more expensive because of the costs of transport. They will allow you to choose that one if you wish but only if you agree to fund transport yourself. Look at the Ipsea website for more details here.

OK - so probably only if there was a good reason (which the LEA agreed with) that the other school was more appropriate than a closer one. Worth bearing in mind....

My daughter is in a special unit northern Ireland I had a choice of taxi or take her myself I chose to take her myself and I got a one off payment of £675 for petrol allowance

My daughter is in a mainstream school with a statement and a SW. But the SW is working as a TA instead and ignoring my daughter. I'm very angry and want to change schools, will I get support with transport costs because I'm moving her due to discrimination by the SW and teacher because of her special needs. They've been excluding her because they cannot be bother, she's very intelligent and capable. I'm totally devastated and having sleepless nights.

I requested a sw for my daughter in order for me to deal with various medical problems my daughter has She was also bullied in all her previous schools ( mainstream school) due to her problems I was turned down for the sw

Wow, so sorry. That's terrible!