Family vows to ‘keep fighting’ after Birmingham cuts for Send students
A parent who faces pulling her child out of his special educational needs school due to Birmingham City Council cuts has said it would be “the end of his world”.
Hayley Francey, 62, said Conner, 15, could end up in a residential unit if he can no longer attend school after the council announced huge cuts to school transport for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).
Conner travels more than an hour to and from his home in Birmingham to a school in Dudley in a taxi he shares with other Send children, supported by a trained guide.
As part of £300m in spending cuts approved by Birmingham City Council last week as it looks to balance its books after declaring itself effectively bankrupt, Send pupils aged 16 to 18 will no longer be eligible for council-funded taxis or minibuses for the school run from September.
Ms Francey, Conner’s legal guardian, said she is preparing to appeal against the council as her foster son could be affected by the cuts.
Birmingham City Council has extended a consultation for parents, carers and residents on changes to its travel assistance policy by a week, meaning it now closes on 22 March.
“If it doesn’t work I’ll be camped outside the council house in my wheelchair,” she said. “I have to fight for everything: his schooling, his life. He needs his education so I will keep fighting for him.”
Conner has complex needs and has attended a specialist school since he was in Year 2 – when he first got an education, health and care plan (EHCP) approved by the Government.
Councils are legally required to provide transport support for Send pupils aged five to 16 in state education, but are not legally bound to offer support services to Send children beyond the age of 16. Teenagers will still receive a travel pass or “personal travel budget” to help them get to and from school, as well as independent travel training.
But Ms Francey said this would not be appropriate for Conner and she is unable to drive him to school herself as she is disabled.
She expressed fears that Conner could end up in a residential Send school miles away from their home if her appeal is not successful.
A report by Birmingham City Council’s education, children and young people overview and scrutiny committee, published in July last year, showed the authority was already experiencing “capacity issues”.
A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said a consultation on the cuts to Send transport was ongoing – even though the budget cuts had already been approved. “The council is in a challenging period due to its financial position, and we understand it is an unsettling time for many of our residents,” they said.
“The service is transforming the way it helps students to use transport. It is aiming to be a sustainable, cost-efficient service which helps students to develop their independence.”