By Dan Ball
A parent Facebook group is challenging a proposed Leicester City Council policy to end funding for school transport for post-16 children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
STILL SEND 16+ is a community of parents in Leicester battling against attempts to cut transport for disabled children.
The council is proposing to withdraw funding that enables more than 500 SEND children to attend further education.
One of the group organisers, Esther Cameron, 53, said: “Our aim at the moment is to ensure that the consultation reaches as many affected families as possible – this was the failing of the council before.”
Esther’s son is 16 with complex needs which mean he is unable to attend mainstream school.
These policy changes would mean that the council no longer pay for a taxi to his specialist education setting, and the family would be liable for the costs instead.
The daily cost for this taxi would be £85+VAT, amounting to at least £250 a week and £1,000 a month.
Esther stressed: “This is not affordable for us and would jeopardise our son’s ability to continue in education.”
Esther would have to give up her job to transport her son to and from his education setting.
Cuts were originally due to take effect this academic year after previous consultation by the council of just four recipients.
She added: “We were able to get this paused and existing travel arrangements for post-16 kids reversed for this academic year.”
Due to years of government austerity, council finances are strained.
It currently spends upwards of £4 million on this service which is funded through local taxation, as there is no funding provided by central government.
Consultations with young people and their families were started on November 7 and will remain open until January 2, 2025.
If this policy change is likely to impact you, visit the consultation website here and have your say.
You can also join the STILL SEND Facebook group here.
