Hi Everyone,
I applied for school transport for sept (son just turns 4 in June and has classic autism and absence seizures) and was turned down. Applied online on a monday night at 10pm and by 10am the next day there is a standard letter rejecting application because we are just within the 2 mile limit. I replied that day and asked if they could clarify whether a full assessment was done as distance doesnt matter with SEN and they had not asked for any supportive evidence. They have ignored my email which was 10 days ago and following a discusion with customer services yesterday I have been advised just to appeal.
Does anyone have any advice as to what I should say? I intend to highlight the EHC plan which recognises and documents that he is unsafe around roads and does not follow instructions, He also has ocd like behaviour and has to count gates and fence spikes constantly so a five minute journey by foot can take 30mins. Sensory wise my son gets distressed with noise and they are execting him to do a normal 30 min walk (for an adult) up a big hill on a main busy road to school! (the houses and cemetary are all fenced of course!) This will take him at least an hour each way, he will be grumpy aggressive and maybe asleep by 10am at school! This hill by foot is dangerous in winter as well! Alternative walking routes are way over 2 miles. I tried it out just to see the other day and we didnt even get to the top of the hill before he sat down and refused to move (journey had already taken us 40 mins). A friend luckily was driving past and took us home but that was a wake up call.
I was unsure as to put my circumstances down as well. I dont take him to nusery as I work out of county. There is only myself and my son and i have to work to support us. My mum is his carer in the am but she has arthritis and there is no way she can walk the route. Aparently they dont care about this and said its my responsibility to get him there. As the special school doesnt open till 9 I would have to quit my job. I am so infuriated if he didnt have sen issues then he would go to mainstream where they do fit in with working hours with breakfast clubs. Unfortunately he needs specialist support at the moment so thats not an option. Even worse the LA have recognised in the EHC plan he has these difficulties and still declined him!
Sorry this is a long email! Hope someone can advise what I should say constructively without getting all emotional in my appeal! Thank you for your help and again sorry for the long email.
x