Transport

[iwanttoscream]

Can a local authority count a grass verge 0.6 miles long as a footpath?
Which is on an A ROAD.
This is for a special school.
This is the route map the sen area manager has sent to all affected parents under the 2/3 mile rule.
As they have recently re-assessed the route up until now all the pupils have been legible for free transport.
Have asked what they have done to make it non-hazardous, waiting for a reply!
There is another road way round, but it means crossing over lots of busy junctions. DD quite often forgets to stop at the kerbs. When we remind her to stop, she gets angry with us, as she's nearly 12 and is getting very hormonal. But if we don't prompt her she forgets to stop!

Get a copy of the new transport policy and see if there is any information concerning this. Build up evidence why your child needs transport, eg GP, physio report etc. Does she have a blue badge? Take transport to an appeal/tribunal. Get your local councillor and or MP involved.

No question that if they say the child can walk to school it has to be a safe route taking into account their SN. Take photos, demand a copy of their risk assessment, suggest they try the route walking your child to school and fill her up with E-numbers beforehand

The most recent Govt guidance was withdrawn as they had not carried out any proper consultation on it. IPSEA threatened JR. They conceded. In the meantime they have reverted to the old guidance.

media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/g/2007%20h%20to%20s%20travel%20and%20transport%20guidance.pdf

I would suggest that you use the points raised above - particularly using H&S and risk assessments to force a change.

Thank you for all your replies, i shall follow up on your advice. Do any of you know, does the special school have to fund free home to school transport out of the school budget or is it the local authority? All replies very much appreciated.

It's the local authority

Have just put in writing via email to dd case officer and area manager, ALL the reasons why she should still be transported. If that fails, i then still have the right to appeal.
Thank you for all your replies and advice.
Thank goodness for mumsnet!

At least one LA in the country has been told that its transport policy is illegal this summer and many people I know were told that their children no longer qualified for transport.

For most of them it has been reinstated but some have had to appeal. Dont give in on this the LA's are trying it on in the hope that many parents wont realise they can fight!

Good luck

Having to do an appeal, as the reasons for dd to continue with transport has been denied. Have spoken with dd's consultant at our local hospital. He knows her well, been her consultant since she was born at 32 weeks. Hoping he can help with our appeal.
The vacant seats payment scheme is another possibility, but in the worst case if another child needs a seat we could possibly have only a weeks notice. That has made me decide i must battle on, i don't want to live my life in limbo!
I really despair with this with this f**king system, have contacted my mp as well. I would love to get back to work, or go back to doing some voluntary work.

Sometimes i feel like disappearing, anyone got a deserted island?