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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

transport to special school

15 replies

chocjunkie · 14/11/2011 20:26

DD is due to start school next year and we are looking at special schools atm (SA in progress). The available special schools would be betweeb 6 and 8 miles from home.

I have been told that our LEA does not automatically provide school transport and that I might have to sort it myself. I have to do the nursery run for DC2, commute to work. I would not be in a position to drive and pick up DD from a SS school at the other end of the borough.

is this normal to expect parents to do the school run under such ciorcumstances?

OP posts:

TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 14/11/2011 20:41

I feel we are living parallel lives Dd3's school is 7 miles away and across 2 boroughs away, LEA doesn't automatically provide transport but did for us on the grounds of having younger (and older) siblings to get to/collect from school.

Original poster

chocjunkie · 14/11/2011 20:57

thanks again. if your parallel theory is right, then I have something less to worry about

OP posts:

blueemerald · 14/11/2011 21:47

I work at a special needs secondary school and out of roughly 60 students 2 are brought by mum/a nanny. The vast majority are brought by mini bus and about 10 are brought by taxi/cab. I suspect the borough are trying it on hoping you will sort something out.

Nigel1 · 14/11/2011 23:55

Get a copy of 0037-2007BKT-EN on www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications
Gives it to you in detail.

MissKittyEliza · 15/11/2011 09:53

Join the club....

My ds has been told categorically that the (excellent) school no more than 50 paces from our front door, cannot accommodate his needs as he is right now. We have therefore applied for a place at a mainstream school with special needs attached unit, some 16 miles away.

No transport. So, I either drive a 65 mile to/from school service or we move house.

MissKittyEliza · 15/11/2011 09:55

He has ASD (but is HF and bright, not genius!) with (and this is the killer) OCD/Tourettes style verbal tics.

Debs75 · 15/11/2011 09:58

DS gets transport to his school and some kids come in from 30 miles away. We were told that it should go on his statement that school x is the preferred school the LEA want him to go to and transport will be provided by the LEA. Do you have any disability support nurses who can clarify for you

starfishmummy · 15/11/2011 14:58

Have you spoken to the school chocjunkie - I'm sure they will know what procedure to follow.
I couldn't access the link from Nigel1 but I know of this - www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationdetail/page1/DFES-00373-2007

vjg13 · 15/11/2011 15:37

I would get hold of the transport policy. I know our local LEA have been really trying it on with parents and refusing transport and then giving it on appeal. That will still save them some money as some parents give up. Good luck.

bigbluebus · 15/11/2011 15:58

My DD goes to a SN school 14 miles away and has always had free school transport. AFAIK virtuallly all 300 children at the school get free transport provided ( mixture of LA buses, taxis, voluntary car scheme) and in cases where child doesn't cope on transport, parents are paid mileage allowance to take child themselves!!!
My DS also has SN but goes to MS secondary (not our catchment school though) and he too gets free transport as school is named in his statement.
I would add though that we live in a rural county and the school transport bill is massive for both MS & SN pupils - so I guess they will be looking to make cuts in this area - but doubt they will pick on SN kids first.
You have an impossible (not to mention expensive) task if you have to take your DD to school yourself. Just because it says the LA doesn't "automatically" provide transport doesn't mean it won't.

brandy77 · 15/11/2011 16:46

at the special school my son attends under 11 years you have to live within 2.5 miles of the school to get a free taxi, after age 11 its over 3 miles to get a free taxi......odd rule if you ask me, must depend on what council you are under as to what rules they apply......i take my son as hes only 7 and no way would he get in a taxi

Pixel · 15/11/2011 16:59

DS has always had transport on the grounds that I had to get his sister to school, but when she moved to secondary and was able to get there herself I was worrying over filling out ds's form and imagining myself having to drive 2hrs per day taking him to and fro, (not to mention how to afford the petrol, the unreliability of my ancient car and the fact that ds stresses like mad if I have to leave him at school). I mentioned it at his IEP meeting and the deputy head said "oh no, don't worry, all our children have transport" which was a relief. Mind you, I suspect it is partly to do with the fact that there is virtually no parking, just a circle where the taxis drop off in a convoy, and a few crowded side-streets that are on the other side of a very busy main road. Not the easiest place to drop off 'challenging' children or even find a space big enough to get a wheelchair out!
Brandy77 my ds has been going in the taxi since he was 4 with no problems but it is actually a minibus with lots of his schoolfriends from our area so not like going off in a stranger's car. Maybe if this was the case with your ds he might not mind going by taxi?

brandy77 · 15/11/2011 17:02

hi pixel, no he wont go in anyone elses car full stop, took a few years before he would venture into my mums and school have problems every wednesday when they take them out in the minibus and he cries and doesnt want to go, he doesnt like the seat belts, well thats what hes always said, might be something totally different and hes saying that because he doesnt quite know what it is lol.

ilovesprouts · 15/11/2011 20:28

ds2 sn school is only 5 mins away and he get took there and back

NoHaudinMaWheest · 16/11/2011 10:34

My understanding was (though I could be wrong) that if the school is named on the statement it is the child's designated school and if it is more than 2 miles away for under 8s or 3 miles for over 8s then they are entitled to free transport in the same way as they would be if their catchment school was more than that distance from home. I think this is a statutory duty and not up to the individual LA. I also believe that if transport is specified as a need on the statement it must be provided - like other provision - regardless of distance. We are just under 3 miles from designated secondary school (not his catchment school), he is too anxious to travel independently so transport is specified on the statement and we have had no difficulties with its provision. OP it is worth checking out what the statutory position is and then arguing your case.

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