SEND school transport cancelled at last notice

"It's a logistical nightmare"

Late cancellation of school transport for some Plymouth pupils with special educational needs and disabilities as they were due to return to class this week has caused disruption to routines and a “logistical nightmare” for parents and guardians, it has been claimed.

One Devonport grandmother and guardian of a 13-year-old boy with autism who attends Tor View School near Tavistock said she got a text at 5pm on Tuesday from Plymouth City Council to say there would be no school transport the next day or the rest of the week, despite being given reassurance on Monday.

The taxi known as service TOR04 was due to transport four other children and a passenger assistant.

Jane Greenwood said the alternative had been to put her grandson in a taxi on his own, at the cost of £60 a day, and wait for a teacher the other end to come and get him.

The family had therefore rallied to take time off work so they could drive the 35 mile round trip.

“I work in a school and had just gone back after six weeks,” said Ms Greenwood. “I give one to one support to a child so it’s difficult to take time off at the drop of a hat. We expect the odd problem because of sickness but this is different.

“My grandson loves school and desperately wanted to go back. To tell us the evening before that there would be no transport has thrown out his whole routine.”

Ms Greenwood said she had to go to a tribunal, with help from the special educational needs coordinator (SENDCO), to get her grandson a school place as there were no available places left in Plymouth. The city council picked Tor View and is obiliged to fund transport to get him there and back home again.

“It’s been quite distressing,” she continued. “They said in the text they have cancelled the transport until Monday but I have not had a reply to my email yet so there’s no guarantee.”

Ms Greenwood said she would be reimbursed for private taxi fares but didn’t know how long it would take to get the money.

The school transport department of Plymouth City Council said in the text on Tuesday: “Good afternoon, the passenger assistant is new to our team and will be undertaking training this week so we are closing TOR04 until September 8 and cannot provide alternative transport.

“You can claim a personal allowance or taxi/bus reimbursement to support you taking your child to school during this closure period.”

A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: “We sincerely apologise to (named pupil) and his family, and to the other families affected by changes to their school transport and for not communicating these changes further in advance. We understand that this has been very difficult for families to manage at such late notice.

“We have seen growing need for all our services that support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including transport to school, and over the past few months have been working to recruit more passenger assistants to support the 250 routes that run in and around Plymouth every school day.

“We have recently recruited a number of new staff who are currently undergoing training and hope to be able to deliver this route again from Monday September 8.”