Transport to respite question

[saintlydamemrsturnip]

DS1 has been awarded overnight respite in an LEA run provision (a very good one). Transport have said that they don't have room on the bus so tough and to talk to SW.

Erm are there any legal requirements on Transport departments? I mean obviously we can hardly go round there in the morning to fetch ds1 to school or drop him at night come to that. 2 other kids; opposite side of the city, jobs etc.

I am a bit that I seem to be doing transport's job in sorting this out for them.

This sounds a bit grim! However, the fact that you've been told the bus is full is evidence that other families do benefit from transport - I would use this against the LEA to state your claim. I don't know if there are any legal requirements - perhaps your SW will know?

For weekday respite, my ds is taken from school and back again on the respite centre's transport. On Saturdays/Sundays and during holidays, we transport him ourselves.

My ds's respite centre is run by the Council, not the LEA so not sure if this make any difference?

Hmm ours might be the council rather than LEA (although attached to a school). I have just heard that another child gets transported in a taxi, so I assume they'll have to do that. Odd though that I seem to be having to sort it out rather than them double

This is an area that I really think needs national legislation as council's seem to be able to do what they want. Some central govt thing says that councils have to publish their transport guidelines but ours are really vague. I may ask them to clarify - but will talk to SW first (she's on a Away Day).

Oh meant to say thanks! It is useful to know what is the norm.

I think you have a case because during term-time, your ds is entitled to transport to/from school - just because he may be going to respite rather than returning home should make no difference to this entitlement. That's the way I see it anyway because where we live, it's the Council who organise transport for SN schools so transport to a Council-run respite unit during term-time is still their shout.

Well yes that's how I would have seen it as well. As he's transported HERE then surely he fulfills whatever criteria need to be fulfilled. So of he's going to a different place for respite (awarded by the council, funded by the council) then surely the issue of how he gets there is their problem.

The way it works where we live, Transport are technically right in what they are telling you. "Respite", if arranged by SS, means that the child is SS's responsibility for that period. And because when a child is "looked after" - ie in Care - SS pay for all transport (including to and from school) then the respite period works the same way: SS are liable to pay for it, not LEA.

In practice, if there is room on transport and the route is the same or shorter, LEA don't save anything by dropping the child, because their seat is paid for on a termly basis, not day by day. So often the existing transport arrangements are honoured. But, if it means an extra journey and additional funds, it would be SS's responsibility to pay for it.

There's a bit of a grey area with "unofficial" respite eg at a hospice where SS neither arrange nor pay for it.

Good luck with your claim - there's no way you want to be ferrying kids about in all directions. Rather defeats the point of having respite!

Do you know, I've got no idea whether SS or the Council pay for my ds's transport to/from respite from/to school. I will ask and let you know.

Well I couldn't ferry him about anyway, so will refuse to do that and then claim our needs are not being met if they don't sort it.

It sounds then from r3dh3d's post as if SS need to agree that yes they will be funding a taxi (or whatever) and then sort that out with transport. Why on earth one person in the council can't pick up the phone and talk to another person in the council rather than have parents ringing here there and everywhere I do not know. Mind you my council was a 0 star for a long time, so helping people isn't high on their list of priorities.

I agree about SS funding and organising the transport - thats what happens here - if the respite is on a school day then the school bus takes her, if a weekend and we can't do it then SS organise transport - but it is worth checking what sort - we have had a taxi with no escort turn up before - for a child who chokes!

And Well done on getting the respite - enjoy it!

I don't mind doing the run on Saturdays, but I just can't do it on a weekday. Thanks for the tip about the escort. DS1 grabs driver's necks so they will need an escort

No, well talking to the escorts this morning it seems that a number of children go by taxi and transport have sorted that out. ONe of the kids the Mum didn't know she had to do anything and transport rang her about it! I have no idea why they are being so difficult (not just to me, to the Mum whose son will be alternating his days with ds1). I have left a couple of messages for my social worker to ring back. If she doesn't I'll email transport and say I can't get hold of her and perhaps they could sort it (being their job and all that ).

The LEA transport department were very awkward with me too! First they told me it would be better for ds if we did the school run (actually he loves the taxi and escort especially now he is first on and last off- its the highlight of his day) then they told me they could only pick up and drop off from our address. Very 'Jobsworth' We sorted it ourselves with the taxi staff!
Hope you get it sorted happily.