Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

SN children

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

Flip

Original poster

School transport an hour and half before school starts?

15 replies

claw2 · 15/10/2013 07:43

Is this the norm?

Ds has taken transport provided by LA for the first time today. Looks as if he is the first to be picked up. Journey to school (no heavy traffic) takes about 25 minutes.

OP posts:

TheBuskersDog · 15/10/2013 07:54

It depends how many others are being picked up and where they are. It may be that after doing the run for a few days they find that it takes less time than expected and they'll start to pick him up later.

Original poster

claw2 · 15/10/2013 08:16

Thanks, new to this, just seems very early. We are having to get up at 5.30, makes it a very long day.

OP posts:

PinocchiosLeftNostril · 15/10/2013 08:16

So that'll be 3 hours a day in total? When my dd used to get council transport, it was a taxi that picked her up first then another little girl in a different town. She just about coped but used to scream a lot just to get out some energy. How do you think your son will cope with such a long trip? Could you request he gets picked up a bit later than everyone else?

Original poster

claw2 · 15/10/2013 08:25

Well LA phoned yesterday and told me pick up and drop off times. 40 minutes before school and drop off 25 minutes after school.

She then phoned back while I was out and left a message with my older son, saying pick up hour and half before school.

Maybe they are doing ds first to be picked up and first to be dropped off.

I will see what time they drop him off and how he copes.

OP posts:

Original poster

claw2 · 15/10/2013 08:39

Just checked on IPSEA and non stressful transport 'maximum reasonable journey times for all children of 45 minutes for primary school children, and 75 minutes for secondary school children, and that this may be shorter for children with SEN and/or a disability: the child’s age and disability would have to be taken into account'.

Seems to me they are just trying to cram as many journeys as possible, rather than worry about 'non stressful'.

OP posts:

nennypops · 15/10/2013 09:21

You're right, claw, and that is official guidance that IPSEA is quoting. I suggest you ask whether it is going to stay at that time and, if so, write formally to them referring to the guidance and asking that they make arrangements that comply with it. They could, for instance, put on two taxis rather than one. If they refuse, say you want to appeal it. If you can put in something like medical evidence and evidence from the school that this is bad for ds, so much the better.

Original poster

claw2 · 15/10/2013 10:16

Thanks Nenny, I will see what time he gets home and how he copes.

OP posts:

autumnsmum · 15/10/2013 10:21

My dd2 who was 4 in sept gets picked up an hour before school starts and apparently the minibus picks up 7 more children before school happily she likes it . At lunch time she is home in ten minutes

davidsotherhalf · 15/10/2013 10:41

the lea try and make own rules up when it comes to transport, they tried to put my dd in a school about 25 miles away,(only lasted 2 days) first day taxi picked my dd up at 7-30 to arrive at school for 9, school phoned me at 11, asking if dd was going to school, as she hadn't arrived, I phoned taxi company up and was told the driver was out of radio area and they didn't know what had happened, dd arrived at school at 11-40, driver didn't know where the school was and had got lost, I couldn't understand why the driver hadn't asked for directions, day 2 they picked dd up at 7-30, and got her to school for 11, by this time dd was in meltdown, school excluded her, I found out why taxi was taking so long, taxi came from different county, neither driver or escort spoke a word of English, dd said the driver and escort was talking in a different language, couldn't talk to dd to reassure her or calm her down, but the lea said it was dd fault she got excluded as she should be able to cope with being in taxi for hours.

vjg13 · 15/10/2013 11:17

Get a copy of your own LEA transport policy, the one I have does state a maximum of 75 mins for secondary school aged children.

Transport here has really gone to s###t and we have had more problems in this first half term than the 10 years before!

Original poster

claw2 · 15/10/2013 18:03

Ds was home slightly earlier and was the last to be dropped off. He seemed to enjoy it. Although he did say he was scratching on the way home and has cuts on his legs (he scratches when anxious). Although im not sure if the scratching is related to the travelling or some other things he was telling me about or maybe a combination. I will have to keep an eye on it.

He is sharing the journey with 3 much older boys, one in sixth form and a younger girl. He says they were all chatting about x-box etc.

OP posts:

mommapiggy · 15/10/2013 23:26

DD started at SS when she was 7 and does 80 minute journeys which we can do in 20 minutes. First one on last one off. I was dreading it. She loves it highlight of her day, she enjoys the journey the most, she's probably learnt as much on the bus as she has at school as the escort and driver are fab. If I have a day where I can take her in and she can stay at home or an hour longer she just begs to go on the bus! I think transport can be so variable, just see how it goes first, you'll soon know if its working for him or not, if not then point to the guidelines and push for an alternative arrangement. However be warned that the people who determine the routes and times are clueless and to them they have no appreciation that its an actual child involved. Drivers and escorts who do the job day in day out are much more in the real world and appreciate their role. Good luck x

nennypops · 15/10/2013 23:29

davidsotherhalf, I do hope you put in a formal complaint? The person who thought your daughter should be able to cope with 4 hour journeys really shouldn't be in that job.

Original poster

claw2 · 16/10/2013 08:00

Ds seemed to enjoy it and was looking forward to going in the taxi again today, he is sharing with an 18, 17 and 15 year old boys, this is ideal for ds, as he really cannot tolerate younger children. They seem to have lots in common. He also saw the younger boy (not a girl) in the playground that day and they waved to each other!

Apparently he was chatting away and the older boys told him 'we like you, you are funny' which ds is absolutely delighted with.

Worth the hour and half, rather than sitting in silence for a shorter journey, I think.

OP posts:

tryingtokeepintune · 16/10/2013 12:55

Agree with you Claw.

Ds takes an hour and a quarter to get to school but only 35 mins to get back because of rush hour traffic. However, he enjoys the journey and the other children and now has a huge knowledge of all different radio channels and songs and he comes home and finds them on YouTube.

Flip