Disabled parents and school

Richie-from-the-Boro

""" And no, I wouldn't be 'happy' at sending DS to school on his own in a taxi, but I'd rather that than have him miss school ""

- ok

blue_monkey_2

The kids that I know that get taxi's go unaccompanied unless they have severe disablement and need help getting the chair on and off the bus (they send a minibus in that case).

A local mum has a DD with CP, the local school refused to take her as 'she would be an inconveience' to the school and so the mum has a 50 mile round trip, twice a day, to get her daughter to a school that was happy to take her with her disabilities - a special school in the end - but as it was not 'local' the LEA would not pay. I don't know what I am more shocked about tbh.

Strapped

daska, do you have a community car scheme or similar where you are? They may be able to help.

daska

blue_monkey wrote: »

The kids that I know that get taxi's go unaccompanied unless they have severe disablement and need help getting the chair on and off the bus (they send a minibus in that case).

A local mum has a DD with CP, the local school refused to take her as 'she would be an inconveience' to the school and so the mum has a 50 mile round trip, twice a day, to get her daughter to a school that was happy to take her with her disabilities - a special school in the end - but as it was not 'local' the LEA would not pay. I don't know what I am more shocked about tbh.

I'm sure unaccompanied isn't a problem unless, like mine, he would be unable to communicate any problems to, or about, the driver. That's not intended as a slur on all taxi drivers but the fact is that CRB checks only prove that IF someone is up to no good they've not yet been caught, which makes those who can't communicate potentially more vulnerable.

I am shocked if the LEA refused to sort out a local place and then refused to pay for the transport, I would have thought that decision could be challenged. However these things are not always clearcut and it my have been that there was some element of choice exercised by your friend which influenced the funding. Again, it's possible that there's a whole lot more background to the school's decision. E.G. An old friend of mine is a governor at a mainstream primary school where they at one point they had a severely disabled child in each year (a mix of physical and learning disabilities) but one of the parents refused to have her child assessed and therefore that child got none of the necessary additional help funded - which of course put a strain on the school. They then had an application for another severely disabled child to join that same year and they were at their wits end trying to find a solution because they didn't want to say no but concluded that they had no choice given the timeframe acceptable to the new family. But being in a city there was a choice of local schools and no major transport implications.

daska

Strapped wrote: »

daska, do you have a community car scheme or similar where you are? They may be able to help.

There is a community transport that can occasionally help me to get to medical appointments etc but it has to be booked 24 hours in advance... for adults. I go round and round in circles LOL.

I am determined that I WILL find a solution that works for us, I just need to keep my mind, my ears and my eyes open.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

My 16 year old son has gone to a special residential school (he has asperger's) in another County (over 30 miles away) since he was 11 & the LEA paid for transport via Taxi.

I had a letter today saying that I will have to start & pay £600 a year for this transport unless i'm on a low income in which case i'll only have to pay 50% £300.

If this is being rolled out to all LEA's (I live in Northamptonshire) then I can't see how they will pay for the op's children to get to a local school when the family have a mobility car.

daska

Hasn't it always been that funding for travel has been discretionary if you choose a school other than the local one nominated by your LEA? Unless of course you choose a religious school when, for some reason, you qualify automatically - which personally I think is iniquitous.

sunnyone

daska wrote: »

Hasn't it always been that funding for travel has been discretionary if you choose a school other than the local one nominated by your LEA? Unless of course you choose a religious school when, for some reason, you qualify automatically - which personally I think is iniquitous.

They are limiting the free trasport to religious schools to as well where we live, it starts this year and its about the same rate as viki has posted.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

daska wrote: »

Hasn't it always been that funding for travel has been discretionary if you choose a school other than the local one nominated by your LEA? Unless of course you choose a religious school when, for some reason, you qualify automatically - which personally I think is iniquitous.

The LEA choose his school as it's the only one in our area that could meet his needs.

He only attended our local comprehensive for 3 months before they said they couldn't meet his needs.

Luckily he leaves school this year & will be attending a local college.

Obviously cut's are being made so I don't think the op has a chance in hell of getting funding for her kids.

daska

sunnyone wrote: »

They are limiting the free trasport to religious schools to as well where we live, it starts this year and its about the same rate as viki has posted.

I have to say I think that is a change that is long overdue.