School transport issue - help please

[SteamPunkGoth]

My son started a special needs school last September.
The LA had me over a barrel & wouldn't give me the school place unless I signed to say that I would be responsible for getting him to & from school. I was desperate for his place. Tbh, I didn't realise what I had agreed to. I didn't physically sign anything either, was via email.

I know it sounds silly to say I didn't realise, but there is so much to go through & it's very stressful.

Their argument is that there is a special needs school closer by. This do school is also for children like my son. But it isn't suitable. It's for children more advanced than my son. He's 6 with the mental age of a 2 year old.

Even this school that he goes to says in the state,went that he would have to go to a different school if they could meet his social & emotional needs.

The school is closer as the crow flies. But due to morning traffic would take longer to get to due to having to cross a very busy A road.

I have argued with the LA & got nowhere so have let it go. 98% of the children are bused in btw.

But a little girl around the corner has just got transport to the school. She started just after my boy & initially her dad didn't want her taking the school transport so didn't even apply. He's taking the LA to court for other reasons. They kept asking him why he hadn't applied for transport. He did. Within 45 mins of his application being submitted (last Thursday 10th sept) his daughter got a place on one of the buses.

I don't think she SHOULDN'T have the place, but I am furious that my son is refused a place. (The dad is aware of my situation, that's why he told me!)

Legally, is there anything I can do?

Feel free to ask questions, im sure there's more I can tell you.

Many thanks for reading this.

Bump

Excuse typos. Am hopefully bumping.

Have a look on the local councils website for Sen children, if you have statement then your child is entitled to free transport

Ask for this to be moved to Special Needs Children - lot's of parents there who have been through this and will be able to advise.

Thank you. I will x

@CwtchesAndCuddles1

Ask for this to be moved to Special Needs Children - lot's of parents there who have been through this and will be able to advise.

We've done this for you
Best
MNHQ

Thanks Olivia x

Does it say on the statement that ds is placed at his current school on condition that you provide transport? If so, you're stuck with it for the moment.

You could ask at the next annual review for the statement to be amended to remove that condition, on the basis that the reality is that there is no suitable school nearer to you that is able to meet his needs: provide chapter and verse about how the nearby school cannot meet his needs, and that the journey would actually take longer. If at all possible, show the school they are suggesting reports from the current school and his statement and ask whether they think they could meet his needs - if they say no, send a copy to the LA. If they raise the issue of cost, point out that ds could presumably share the other little girl's taxi. If the LA refuses to amend, you could appeal to the tribunal.

Obviously there are risks to this strategy, but it seems to me that at the very least you have nothing to lose by asking.

I did find some nice case law in FB today you might like to read no idea how to get that into here so will try to dog back it's source

Ok here it is. It might not be exactly the right fit your case but it might be worth a read? ( bottom of page, open PDF, Harry's story)

Or phone ipsea?

sites.google.com/a/nastestlab.org/nastestlab/calendar/news/problemswithhealtheducationorsocialcare-probonolegaladvice

Thanks for the link, will give that a good read.

It is on his statement because they wouldn't give his school place workout that. It stinks. Imo.