FACT is concerned to hear from SEND families about the transport challenges they are facing again this year. Delays, misplaced paperwork, and communication issues appear to be common, particularly for families with children transitioning to new schools or post-16 education. While we understand the financial constraints on local government, basic efficiency and clear communication are essential. We also recognize that some college placements are confirmed after exam results and that part-time timetables may not be available until term begins, both of which can delay travel arrangements. However, many of the cases reported this year could likely have been avoided with better planning.
We have already contacted the Service Director for Transport and the interim Head of iSEND Operations to express our concerns, and we have a meeting scheduled for later in September. Additionally, we are advocating for a public meeting where senior local authority officers can hear directly from families about the impact of the transport difficulties. We are also pushing for a written plan from the council by the end of term to prevent a recurrence next year.
At a strategic level, we continue to represent the parent perspective when changes to home-to-school travel policies are discussed. For post-16 transport, where the statutory obligations are less clear and funding pressures exist, we believe scaling back services would have negative long-term consequences for families and SEND students, potentially leading to higher costs in the future.
Although FACT cannot address individual cases directly with the local authority, we encourage families to continue sharing their experiences with us. For specific information, advice, or support, SENDIASS click here may be able to assist.
