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SN children

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

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Original poster

Well this sucks

20 replies

lou33 · 29/01/2007 12:03

I just had a call from the school ds2 goes to. They are trying to arrange a school trip on 19th february to some place near portsmouth. The only trouble is there is not one single coach company that can take a wheelchair , and they cant find one which has 3 point seatbelts either , so we can put him in a car seat for the journey. So that means i have to drive him and he misses out on the interaction on the coach with his mates. The school are not happy either. They have offered to contribute towards petrol but it's a real shame.

OP posts:

wotzsaname · 29/01/2007 12:06

cant they book 2 smaller buses, some of which are adpated better.

Original poster

lou33 · 29/01/2007 12:07

they said they have tried all the companies

the only option would be to call the transport who takes ds to school and back but it would cost 30 quid an hour, and its an all day trip

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wotzsaname · 29/01/2007 12:15

FWIW we have to make a 'donation' for all school trips, normally between £10 - £14 to cover entrance and appropriate coach hire for all children.

If there are not enough 'donations' trips may get cancelled.
Its not a private school.

I hope you get this fixed and your ds enjoys his day out with his mates.

reiver · 29/01/2007 12:30

That does seem a shame, lou. If the coach doesn't have 3 point seatbelts I'd be concerned about all the other children too - what age are they? As you say the interaction on the journey is often the most important part of a school trip - the teachers may not agree!

Original poster

lou33 · 29/01/2007 12:31

they are 5-7

OP posts:

wotzsaname · 29/01/2007 12:55

agree about seat belts, for all children, all ages.

The school should hunt around abit more. can you speak to anyone on the PTA to raise your concerns? You still have time.

If the hire is alot more, maybe parents wouldn't mind knowing that their children will be safer and pay a little towards the cost.

This is how our trip prices increased. We all agreed to pay the extra to know that they were in safe transport.

onlyjoking9329 · 29/01/2007 13:05

will they not be taking a staff car that your DS and his mates can go in, it stinks that they can't get a bus for all the kids to go on thou.

Original poster

lou33 · 29/01/2007 13:19

the coaches only have lap belts they said

i have asked them to contact the company who takes them swimming again, and ask them if they can release some buses for that day, as they have 3 point belts, but she said they already told her they were unable to do it as they had them booked out for that afternoon

she is going to call them again tho

OP posts:

wotzsaname · 29/01/2007 14:00

I think a review of policy on the lap belts vs 3 point belts is important. Especially with small children on school trips.
If its any help please see this link. 4th paragraph.

www.fernhill.co.uk/contract.htm or click here I know that are not that close, but you never know.

I have no experience of them, just found on google.

Blu · 29/01/2007 14:12

Lou - I checked with the company I use when we send young people on trips (Anderson Travel), as I know they use 3 point belts - they said they didn't have wheelchair accessible coaches ( whither the DDA?) but they recommended Tellings Golden Miller, 020 8757 4700, but are not certain whether they have 3 point belts!.

Sorry, London companies, too, but I would gyuess they cover a wide area.

Original poster

lou33 · 29/01/2007 14:31

oh blu thanks for that, i called them and the coach sounds good for ds, so i have passed the number to the school
fingers crossed!

OP posts:

wotzsaname · 29/01/2007 14:33

lou are the fernhill ones any good?

FioFio · 29/01/2007 14:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LadyTophamHatt · 29/01/2007 14:35

i know its not perfect solution but if you drove him could your ask if some of his friend can come in your car too?

Original poster

lou33 · 29/01/2007 14:41

sorry wotza, it wouldnt load up

i dont know if the complicated rules that abound nowadays would let me take a child that isnt mine

the bonus of it, if i do drive is that we can meet dp in portsmouth as he will be there that afternoon

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Fubsy · 29/01/2007 14:57

This has happened to several of "my" families. it gets worse in late primary when they do camping trips away, and of course there's the foreign trips in senior school.....

Im sure it would be possible for schools to organise trips etc that are accessible - is this another way of leaving out the kids who might be too much trouble?

I had to write loads of letters just to get a child to Paris once - you'd have thought she wanted to take a crate of semtex with her, not a wheelchair!

Original poster

lou33 · 29/01/2007 16:24

they arent trying to exclude him beause he might be too much trouble, he has 1 to 1 help, and they are really great with his needs, they are genuinely having trouble sourcing transport that is appropriate for all needs

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Fubsy · 29/01/2007 20:02

Sorry Lou, i didnt mean it to sound as if they werent trying to take your son on the trip. Trouble is I still come across schools that would prefer not to have the "burden" of SN kids.

The school I was referring to did take the child in question, but it was made very clear once over there, that her LSA was expected to stay with her at her pace, rather than the whole group doing things together. It was the LSA that asked me to write letters of complaint.

There was another child who couldnt go on a camping trip because the site didnt have disabled toilets, and another family who were asked to pay for transport.

I just dont think this should be allowed if education are supposed to be inclusive.

onlyjoking9329 · 29/01/2007 20:53

did the school manage to sort it Lou?

Original poster

lou33 · 29/01/2007 22:31

i havent heard back as of yet

fubsy, i cant stress how hard they try to give ds the same equal ops as the able bodied kids, they really are great

of course now my p is trying to persuade me to drive ds there, so he can see me for a few hours midweek lol

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