Transport and schooling

Hsl500

Hiya I have 5 boys and 4 are special needs, 13yr old asd, adhd, global delay and dispraxia, 12 yr old severe adhd gets violent and now asd diagnosed last month, 7yr old, 5 yr old query asd and is waiting paed apt and youngest 3 yrs with minor brain damage mri showed up and he has walking probs query cp.

Our 12 yr old we got in a school esp for adhd got told was best choice even though a bit futher to travel, 1st son has a statment so he gets transport but ds 2 has been refused a statment because he is bright in school, he is very clever but vunrable will talk to strangers, has no concept of money and danger ie rds runs across them, we dont let him play outside or go local shop as wanders talking to ppl so no way will let him get 2 buses to school alone.
However we have been apealing since sept for free school transport and been knocked back yet again, they are saying that theres a nearer school more convient for him, the school they are on about is our local school but in juniors my son got bullied to the point of self harm and wanting to kill himself and the children who done that have now gone to the local senior school ,
we are now being told we will not get transport funded as its not his local school they are saying we should pull him out of his current school were he has settled really well and upset him as due to asd he hates change , to put him in the local senior school with the bullies who made his life hell in juniors.
with having the other boys at the moment my mum goes and collects ds2 from his school but that cant last, just wondering if anybody knows of anything that may help us try and win this case as been ongoing since sept and been knocked back 4 times so far, they have had hospital letters, gp letters, even a childrens inpatient ward letter which he stayed at for mental health.
I cant go and collect him as dont drive not got the confidence i have tried, i have another 3 children to collect and 13yr old so somebody has to wait in for when he gets home as he is another 1 to 1 .
my oh works and cant get time off his work are already at the end of him needing time off.
i dont know what else to do
sorry if in wrong place
thanks x

Savvy_Sue

I guess your problem is that this school isn't named on DS2's statement.

I don't know if IPSEA or Parent Partnership (google for that in your local area) might be able to help.

Hsl500

Hiya sue he cant get a statment as too bright we have been told he is clever at maths, and only just below average in his studies so they said wont get a statment, its the fact he is so vunrable doesnt seem to come into it which makes me mad.
thanks again parent partnership couldnt help as just get told same thing its transport issue and local council or free school transport.
x

Savvy_Sue

I didn't realise you could only get a statement for educational needs. Actually, I believe that's downright wrong, and that you can get a statement for other needs too - including purely physical or behavioural needs. That may or may not be relevant to your DS, of course, as if he doesn't need extra supervision while at school, it may not 'count' that he needs it out of school.

See if IPSEA are more helpful.

sheeps68

I would ask to speak to education welfare. The school can put you in touch. They may have ideas on transport and can look at over all needs eg local school not reasonable as already bullied there.

Indie_Kid

I would appeal against not being able to get a statement. I always thought they were given to those with disabilities which require extra support; nothing to do with how bright someone might be.

I do know people with physical disabilities who have had them; but they are bright.

Zziggi

I just wanted to say - I take my hat off to you Hsl500! 5 kids and 4 of them with special needs - you must be a very special parent!!! I've 2 kids both with special needs & I know how hard that can be.

Maybe my experience is relevant? We chose to send DS to a local school because it has smaller classes but it was not our catchement area school. We were told categorically that we would not get transport because it was not his catchment school. If we moved him to the catchment area school, then transport would be no problem. The only way we could get round this was if the school with smaller classes was named on a statement.

I think if you want transport you need either (a) a statement with the school named on it or (b) send your 12 year old to the catchement school. It seems so harsh to refuse you transport though with your personal family circumstances.

longhotbath

Have you and your children had an assessment from social services - as he doesnt qualify for a statement and school transport, could you do it from a social needs support angle and asking them for help?

Do you use chams - can they give you support?

carerof3

Have you spoken to your local councillor? - perhaps you could go to their next local surgery (if your councillors have one). With all your children - yes, I know it will be chaos! I took my two severely autistic children to my councillors surgery when fighting for help - it was held in a nursery school and my youngest son bends books! They understood my point about not being able to cope alone with two children who both needed one-to-one care - I got community care help from the next day!

[Deleted User]

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I didn't realise you could only get a statement for educational needs. Actually, I believe that's downright wrong, and that you can get a statement for other needs too - including purely physical or behavioural needs. That may or may not be relevant to your DS, of course, as if he doesn't need extra supervision while at school, it may not 'count' that he needs it out of school.

See if IPSEA are more helpful.

You can get statements for behavioural and disability needs, which covers ADHD. I work with lots of kids with statements for educational behavioural needs. You will have to push for it with the LEA and try not to focus on only his transport needs. Think about a standard day, he may well be very bright but does he get distracted in the classroom? Does he have difficulties in the playground? How is he with forming and sustaining relationships with teachers and other pupils? Does he get frustrated (ie could be seen as aggressive). How long can he sit and pay attention in class and during anything where he 'should' like school trips, assembley & stuff with the family like the movies, dinner time etc..

Get thinking and write a list, think of specific events where these things have happened and go back to the education social worker and parent partnership.

munchings-n-crunchings

I'm sure each LEA will have it's own practices where statements are concerned.

When I was looking for a secondary school place for my daughter with ASD, a school in the next county said they had a number of children on their role, with statements.
The grounds for the statements were that the children 'would be at risk of exclusion'
I presume any child with behavioural issues of any type would be more at risk of being excluded from school, and with a school being named in a statement, it would mean that a student could not be excluded easily, as the school would be named on the statement.

I think you will need to do a fair amount of research, and as already suggested, try the Parent Partnership, also worth a try is Inclusion Support at your local education authority. I can't see that Ed Welfare will have much interest, as you are managing to currently get him to school. But they may be a useful source of information.

Does your son receive DLA?
He should meet the criteria for Lower Rate Mobility, and this could, and in practice should be offset against needs like this.
Like you, I would pursue to free transport / statement option, but be prepared to explore taxi or shared transport options.
See if Social Services have anything to suggest.

You have made the commitment to your son's school, knowing it's location, so you have to try and make it work.

I know what it's like, although I only have 2 ASD children. But my youngest take a train and then bus to school. I do have to continually drum into her about stranger danger, and keeping herself safe. I can't be in 2 places at once, and until I perfect that, It's going to be a struggle. One of me, two of them, not good odds.

Persevere
Munchie