Transport woes

[Stradbroke]

Hi,
I was wondering if people could have me think through the logistics of getting my daughter to and from school from September and whether a taxi is a reasonable thing to do.

I work part time and would like to continue to do so. We have managed to get my daughter a place in a special school in a neighbouring borough. Our LA have refused to provide transport as they say there is a suitable school closer. We have been provided with some budget for transport.

Ideally I need to get DD to and from school three days a week somehow that doesn’t involve me (I will take her and drop her off the other two days). Is asking her to get in a taxi a terrible thing to do?

She is 8, has ASD and is verbal, but wouldn’t know what to do if something went wrong. I have called taxi firms and no luck so far. I have also advertised for someone to pick her up and take her home and stay with her and also no luck.

The simplest thing seems to be for me to give up work and take her and pick her up, but that is not what I want to do.

What do other people do in this situation? The LA will not pay and whilst I could take them to tribunal I do not have the mental strength to keep battling them.

Thanks so much.

Hi Stradbroke

LAs rely on people like you being worn down and giving up, but totally understand why you don't want to fight them.

For what it's worth my son (aged 6, non-verbal) travels to his centre school by taxi each day with a class mate, and only has a taxi driver to supervise. While I think this is less than ideal, it appears to be pretty standard unless a child has "exceptional" needs in some way. With our LA, taxi drivers and escorts I believe are only DBS checked, they are not required to have any qualifications or experience with kids with SEND. Sad but true!

Perhaps you could ask your LA for their list of approved taxi firms? At least you would be using the same firms as you would do if you won your case at tribunal. If they were being difficult, you could ask for the information under an FOI request, but I don't imagine they would be.

Also this is a good website to check out:

sentas.co.uk/

Best of luck,
GG

I have just been through this! LA offered DS my preferred school but I had to take him or their preferred school and LA would take him. Difference in fees was small and I had already offered to pay that difference. School I wanted was only slightly further away. I instructed Nigel Pugh and now have preferred school with transport. He was able to help straightaway and it didn't cost much. Also have you asked the school whether there are any other children coming in from your area, in particular, if they are your daughter's age? At DS's school there are at least 3 and he is likely to travel with child who currently is on their own in the taxi.