Leicester: Families protest over end to SEND school transport

Parents and carers gathered ahead of the city council's education scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday

Families of older children with special needs have held a protest over the halting of school transport.

Leicester City Council is scrapping financial support and transport for pupils aged 16 to 19 from July.

A parent, who set up a petition in a bid to reverse the move, argues the "most vulnerable" children will suffer.

The city council has said it will consider requests from parents who believe their children have exceptional circumstances.

In a letter in January, the authority informed parents and carers that it would stop travel support for students aged over 16 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with a school placement over three miles from their home when the school year ends.

The decision to remove the support was made in 2022 following a consultation, but the city council said a transition period was extended for two years.

The authority said about 450 pupils could be affected by the change, and attributed the decision to funding cuts from the government.

'Heartless change'

Parents, carers and students gathered at City Hall ahead of the city council's education scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS)

One parent, Lisa Crabbe, has set up a petition urging the authority to change its decision.

Ms Crabbe, whose petition now has nearly 1,400 signatures, said: "I am campaigning for those who can't stand up for themselves. Those who look to their parents to put it right as they're unable.

"Once again the most vulnerable in society suffer again... and families put into financial deprivation.

"Leicester City Council must overturn their decision."

Parent Esther Cameron said: "There has been no consideration at all to our son's specific needs, details of which we provided [to the council] including identifying key barriers around his specific vulnerability.

"The email we received which declined our application offered travel training to a destination where there are no public transport links."

Another parent, Steve Score, said it was a "heartless change" by the council, adding: "It will make some of the most vulnerable young people in the city pay for the local government financial crisis."

A young adult, who is affected by the changes, added: "Why does no-one understand me, even when I write how I feel?

"Will I still be able to go? What will happen if we can't afford it?

"I love my college. I feel sad."

Parents fear vulnerable children will suffer and families will be put into financial deprivation if the move goes ahead

Ms Crabbe claimed many parents were not aware of a consultation before the decision was made in March 2022, and the letter was the first they had heard of any change.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Unfortunately, due to many years of severe government cuts to our funding, we are having to look at all of the services we provide that are not required by law.

"After considerable consultation, we gave parents more than two years notice of our intention to end this funding.

"Parents who believe they have exceptional circumstances can contact us."

Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for education, added: "Free training is also offered to all schools to support travel training for young people as part of preparing for adulthood.

"We recognise that there will be exceptions to this policy and we are currently working through a number of requests."