Sarah Sage
A special needs organisation that has campaigned for Derby City Council to change its proposed school transport criteria for the most vulnerable children in the city says it welcomes amendments made to the policy.
Derby City Council had planned to end travel assistance for the majority of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) between the ages of five and 15. The initial proposal said that taxi transport for eligible children would only be agreed “in exceptional circumstances”.
However, after Derby-based Sunshine Support – plus parents and teachers at schools across the city – voiced concerns over the proposals that were due to take affect from September 2023, the city council has amended the policy to broaden the eligibility criteria for those who require transport.
Sarah Sage, an independent SEND caseworker for Sunshine Support, said: “The Home to School transport policy recently updated by Derby City Council includes some amendments, which we welcome.
“Specifically, they have made the eligibility criteria for taxi and minibus transport broader than was initially proposed, meaning that children with multiple-complex needs that require support and intervention will now be eligible.”
Sarah says that this will come as a welcome relief to local parents, who had contacted the Spondon-based organisation to voice their concerns.
She said: “Parents with children living in Derby will see this as good news. The eligibility criteria initially proposed was incredibly narrow and ruled out many children, with complex needs who currently rely on taxis and minibuses for their access to education.
“It is also brilliant to see an equalities, diversity and inclusion section added into the policy which states that the nine protected characteristics included within the Equality Act 2010 will be given due consideration to ensure that parents/carers and their children have equal access to the application process and that suitable travel assistance arrangements will be made for all eligible children of compulsory school age.”
Chrissa Wadlow is the Founder of Sunshine Support.
She is also leading a campaign for young people with SEND – and their families – to “strike” in September, if they are able to.
She says that the education system needs a complete overhaul and while she supports industrial action by teaching staff earlier this year, Chrissa feels that children should also have a voice.
“We are fully in support of the NEU’s decision to strike to improve working conditions and funding for teachers,” said Chrissa. “If teachers are content and have their needs met then there is a better chance our children’s needs are met, too.
“Teachers are having their voice heard and we stand by them. It’s also time our children had their voices heard; they want to learn, too.
“The education system for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is underfunded – and that needs to change.”
