School run takes 90 minutes after 'council failure'

Liz Ball said the college has been supportive while the family tried to secure transport

A "cross" mum of three said she had to go on a 90-minute round trip to take her autistic son to and from college after a council failed to provide transport.

Liz Ball, from High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire, had to drive her son Lewis to Reading College after transport he was entitled to was not sorted out.

"Not knowing how he is going to get there is really difficult for all of us because we can't make concrete plans," said Ms Ball. "It's a lot of juggling."

Buckinghamshire Council admitted there had been delays with transport due to processing a "high volume of [SEND] applications".

Ms Ball claimed the council had known since February about her son's transport needs

Lewis has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), a legal document setting out his needs and how they should be met.

Ms Ball said she felt cross that Buckinghamshire Council had not arranged a vehicle as his place at college was sorted in February and it was "clearly stated" on the plan.

"All young people who are entitled to transport get the transport in place prior to the start of term, particularly if it's a change of placement," she said.

"When you have had a child that has really struggled, the thought of them changing setting is [already] stressful."

She said the college has been supportive while the family tried to secure transport, but added: "New transport routes can cause him a lot of anxiety.

"When his anxiety is really, really heightened, he has been known to run away, and as a parent, I am not prepared to put him through that again."

'Quite unbelievable'

Fiona Prescott, a trustee at the Buckinghamshire Disability Service, said: "I'm really sorry to hear that Lewis has had so many problems with this.

"I think it is really quite unbelievable they [the council] have had since February....

"It is really unsettling for young people, especially if you have autism or a disability, you need to know, you need to have some security."

Conservative councillor, Steven Broadbent, deputy leader and cabinet member for transport, said the council provided transport help for 7,500 students who are eligible.

"We have received a high volume of applications for SEND transport for the start of the new school year and are dealing with an administrative issue that has delayed the arrangement of transport for some students, particularly those who are now 16 years old or over," he said.

"It is worth noting that meaningful action to address the unsustainable demand for home-to-school transport is dependent on longer-term change at a national level."