Somerset parents worried by savings in SEND transport

Helix Saunders received travel training to help them get to a college placement in Weymouth

Parents are worried by £825,000 of savings earmarked from transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Somerset Council wants to tackle a projected £100m budget overspend.

But the authority said proposals for more teenagers with SEND to learn to use public transport were led by "improvement rather than savings".

Somerset Parent Carer Forum said it would monitor the policy as it is implemented.

Councillor Heather Shearer wants to reassure parents

The money would be saved over the next two years, according to the council's budget papers.

Liberal Democrat councillor Heather Shearer, lead member for children, said it wasn't a "one size fits all" decision.

"It happens to be cheaper but we're not pushing it because it's cheaper, we're pushing it because it's better," she said.

"We have to look at ways we can deliver services more effectively and more efficiently but also with better outcomes for children."

"Our job is to ensure children become more independent and live the lives they want to live," said Ms Shearer,

Ruth Hobbs, CEO Somerset Parent Carer Forum, says financial savings at the council make parents nervous

Ruth Hobbs, chief executive of Somerset Parent Carer Forum said there are "real benefits" to travel training when it's offered to "the right children".

Travel trainers help young people with SEND aged 14 and over learn how to use public transport so they can eventually travel to school, college or work, independently.

"There are some children who are never going to be able to travel independently and we need to accept that," Ms Hobbs said.

"I think there's always a nervousness when the council is talking about finances, everybody starts to get worried it's going to be a case of this being forced on people rather than a choice.

"I think that is something we need to monitor and watch over the next year to see how this is implemented," Ms Hobbs said.

Sarah from Highbridge has had a mixed experience with transport for her three children with SEND

Sarah from Highbridge has three children with additional needs who have all used SEND transport.

Her eldest son, Daniel, 17, received travel training to catch the bus to Bridgwater College.

"I was very, very hesitant because I thought 'he can't travel on his own, he's going to be all over the place - literally'," she said.

"The training was a success; I'm pleasantly surprised.

"I do worry because he's very vulnerable, he appears to be a normal young man but he's sometimes gullible, too trusting.

"I wouldn't like him to be taken advantage of by anybody, or he could be robbed - awful things go through my head," she said.

Helix Saunders feels travel training can be a positive experience

Helix Saunders, 18, from Yeovil is autistic and in their final year of a college course in animal care and management.

They wanted to undertake a placement at Weymouth Sea Life Centre, and after a long wait was offered travel training by Somerset Council.

Helix was "terrified" at the thought of catching the train to Weymouth.

"I was unable to travel independently. I could walk to places and get on and off the college bus but I'd never caught a train on my own before, I'd never caught a bus on my own before," they said.

"It was daunting at first. Even with the training I was very anxious but now I'm fairly confident I can get to where I need to go.

"If things go wrong I'm able to manage that in a way that doesn't cause mass panic - it's not been a terrible experience," they said.