Transport to specialist preschool

[Vikki7]

I have a 3 year old son who attends mainstream preschool 3 hours a day M-F.

The preschool is very small,1 room with a side kitchen.
The staff are wonderful and have built a beautiful relationship with my son over the past year.

They have asked that I visit a specialist preschool to see what additional resources and facilities would be available to him. It is about 10 miles from us.

My sons keyworker gave me a ride there as I don't drive. I went to visit last week and it's huge and fabulous and they would welcome him with open arms, they have on site SALT, OT and physio as well as sensory room/garden and therapy rooms.

He would do a dual placement with his mainstream preschool to keep the relationship with the staff there and for continuity of routine.
The problem is as I said earlier, I don't drive.

The special preschool operates a school bus that doesn't quite cover the distance we are from the preschool. The manager petitioned the transport managers who now told me that the journey to us would not be viable and they would call if ever it became viable.

I've talked to our local councils childrens/education and SEND team and awaiting a call back from SEND transport but does anyone know of any other options?

The specialist preschool would be of so much benefit to him and there's no way I want him to miss out!

There's no public transport that would work for us (we live in a village, 1 bus per hour) and learning to drive is not an option until he spends a full day at preschool/school as I have another daughter.

Unfortunately, transport for DC below CSA is at the discretion of the LA. If the LA refuse to provide it contact SENTAS who can help you appeal. In the meantime could you take a taxi either all the way or until the bus route starts?

Is his current pre-school within the school busses area? And if so could he be picked up from there?

Or dose the public bus from your village take you into the school busses area? You could maybe do half the journey then transfer onto bus?

Or even cycling? If the bus passes within a mile or so of your house, could you get a bike seat and meet the bus anywhere on the route?

Not that I think you should have to, but unfortunately the LA aren't legally required to provide transport until school age.

Sorry, wrong thread.

Thanks very much for your comment. This is great information and if I have no luck with the LA, I will be in touch with an advocate. Thank you :-)

Thanks for you comments and ideas to help with our situation :-)

Unfortunately the preschool bus only stops at each child's home address rather than a bus stop.

I'm unable to get him out of the village as we are surrounded by the A303!

I also have a 5 year old daughter who goes to school in the village so she can't be late/miss school either. She starts at 08:35-08:45. If we did manage to get transport, it's a 30-40 minute drive away. I think the furthest the preschool bus comes is 3 miles from us.

I think I will wait to hear from the LA and then if it hasn't gone the way I'd hoped then I will get in touch with SENTAS as another poster suggested.

Thanks again :-)

@Sprogonthetyne his current preschool is literally across the road from us, it's so handy!