Changes to travel arrangements for children with S.E.N. ...

[GossipWitch]

A friend and I went to our local autism drop in centre this week to find that a council official was there and was telling us about the proposed changes for our children and their transport to their special needs schools.

Just so that you understand what I'm writing about there is a link here.

The government are trying to put these measurements in place across the country, you just have to google it and find out for yourself.

I personally feel that this is discrimination against the disabled children and young people of this country and I don't think this is fair to us or our children at all.

This could also have a huge knock on effect to other organisations like the social services etc. Have a read through and tell me if you agree please.

[GossipWitch]

there is a meeting on Wednesday night that my friend may be attending who may be able to put this forward, however if that fails and my ds does need to go to the SEN school, then I will be straight on the blower to the LEA, council, etc etc to try and sort this, this is really why we need the whole thing opposing to be fair, life is hard enough for parents of children with SEN and they really are making it harder, and I know for a fact the majority of parents who's children are disabled have it a lot harder than me so this is for them really (still clinging on to hope of mainstream comp).

[GossipWitch]

What if you tried to pretend to insist on a place at MS with 1.5 TA - your child and tried for transport as a bargain?

sorry peachy, your going to have to explain this one to me as if I'm 12, I don't understand it. Particularly the MS with 1.5 TA - your child and bit.

[silverfrog]

you can use transport as a bargaining chip with the LA (anythign that saves them money!). we did, but the other way around (ie we promised not to put in for transport if they named the placement we wanted. since we were talking about a lengthy out of county placement, transport would have cost a fortune, so it was worthwhile for our LA to listen)

I am confused - is your ds starting school, or transitioning to secondary (sorry, I can't keep up!). If starting school - do you know what the waiting lists are like for the SN school? you might find that the LA are as keen as you are to have him at the MS school (which school woudl you want for him educationally?)

[Peachy]

Well, if you refused the Sn placement as you are allowed and demanded a place in MS but with 1.5 TAs allocated to your child- but offered to back down if they sorted transport?

But yes, SF speaks sense. MS places are SO much cheaper after all. Most LEAs would want you to give it a shot.

[GossipWitch]

my ds is 9 he is educationally able to do mainstream (possible AS) however as his headteacher said he may not make it to ms high school due to his behaviour, I have a ms high school on my doorstep, believe me it would be very convenient to go there, however I also have to weigh up the whole what's best for my son emotionally and tbh I don't think mainstream would be due to workload, changing lessons, and social expectancy, he had a meltdown during homework earlier so it really is a case of seeing how much he can improve in the next 2 years.

[GossipWitch]

1'5 TA's is that teaching assistants??

[GossipWitch]

He's already statemented for 10 hours 1-1 per week and needs a teaching assistant with him pretty much constantly as it is, his teacher is bringing her own mother in to help at the moment, I also think it may be something to do with the fact that she was an evacuee, and they are learning about ww2, luckily mother loves ds.