Changes to transport to special schools

[Carrera74]

Hello

 

I haven't been on here for ages as DS is now at the school I fought two years for and *touch wood* all is good at school. We had his annual review last week and all went well. Few blips here and there but we don't expect a smooth ride all the time - we know better!! Both school and us commented on how much he has improved and matured over the last few months - we all think this is to do with his school day being shortened due to the boy he shared the taxi with going to mainstream making DS's journey much shorter. He gets an extra 30 mins in bed - what a difference that makes!!!

 

We came away from the meeting feeling really positive and then the day after we received a letter from the LA advising of a consultation regarding proposed changes to the support for home to school/college transport. I feel another fight coming on and another stressful year, just when I thought fighting the LA was over and done with

 

DS currently has transport and an escort. Since he has been going to this school the only problems we have had really are to with transport. Originally he shared the taxi with a younger boy who wound my DS up. DS likes quiet, the other boy is a little hyper. Also DS had to be picked up first and dropped off last so it was such a long day but there was light at the end of the tunnel as the other boy was being reintegrated back to mainstream. Since Christmas DS has had the taxi to himself and he is a changed character. The extra 30 mins he gets in bed makes such a difference and he is home earlier too.

 

So now this 'consultation'. The booklet says a transport banding framework is to be introduced. Does anyone know anything about this? I may be worrying for no reason but experience tells me I am in for another fight :S I am so worried that now we have DS settled we are in for more upset - great timing LA as he'll be in the last year of high school.

[Kathryn]

Hi Carrera,

 

Good to hear your son is doing well.

 

The transport banding system sounds like someting which is specific to your LA. All LA's are under pressure to save money, so be wary, check what the proposals are and put forward your views and be prepared to defend your son's need for a taxi and escort. LA's still have to make suitable travel arrangements for eligible children, but they may redefine "suitable" if it is the more expensive option.

 

K x

[Sally44]

This is a link to the ipsea website and their info on transport http://www.ipsea.org...nt/HTML/?id=115

 

Remember that LA criteria is not the same as Special Educational Needs law. That means that the section on Transport in the Education Act trumps any new local authority criteria or even any government directive. Law is law and it cannot be changed until the law is changed through an amendment to the Education Act, or if the Education Act is challenged via an educational Tribunal and the Panel agree a different interpretation of the law.

 

But, in my experience, transport is never included in the Statement as something the LA has to provide - however transport, and who is eligible to receive it, is set out in the Education Act.

 

If you can bear to keep trying to phone ipsea [as it always takes ages to get through], it might be worth asking them direct and how you would challenge the decision IF the LA were to try to remove transport for your son.

 

At the present time he is clearly eligible due to his SEN needs, and he attends an eligible school.

Edited January 30, 2012 by Sally44

[chris54]

Our council are in the proses of reorganising all SENs provision. One of the much quoted reasons is to reduce the amount that is spent on school transport. Basically it intended to decentralise as much as possible with most SENs children going to mainstream schools.