(UK) Hull: 8 y.o. with autism can't afford transport to school

Nov 11, 2023, Hull Daily Mail: Autistic girl, 8, off school because she can't cope with the bus - but taxis cost £240 [$293] a month https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/autistic-girl-8-school-because-8896679.amp

NE England

A dad says his eight-year-old daughter has been "badly let down" by the council because there is no way for her to get to and from her school, an hour and 40 minutes walk away.

Felicity, who is non-verbal and has sensory issues, started at Northcott special education school in September. Because her educational needs are complex, she requires one-to-one support and can only attend the school two days a week.

But because Hull City Council will only pay £135 [$165] a month towards her taxi fare, she is currently not attending at all. For the 16 journeys Felicity makes to and from school each month, the taxi would have to cost just £8.44 [$10.32] per journey.

Her dad, Paul Moore, 39, said the monthly taxi fare actually averages out as £15 [$18.33] each way from their home in east Hull, near Bilton, to Northcott and therefore costs closer to £240 [$293] a month. This means the struggling family would have to fork out an extra £105 [$183] to cover the cost, which they can't.

Originally, the plan was for Felicity to get a bus for children with SEN but she became very anxious and couldn't cope, her dad said. "On Wednesday she had a meltdown on the bus and was trying to attack the other kids," he said.

"We've had to keep her off school because we haven't got the money for a taxi. I walked twice because she wouldn't get on the bus and it's an hour and 40 minute walk."

Walking is also complex because of Felicity's needs. "She has a pram because she has got no sense of danger and she doesn't like wearing coats. When it's raining, she won't have a cover on the pram," Paul said.

Understandably, Paul worries about his daughter getting cold if it rained. At school, staff are sympathetic and Felicity doesn't have a strict uniform. "She is allowed to wear dark shorts and wears a normal top," Paul said. "She likes bears so she wears a bear top."

Paul is worried about Felicity's wellbeing as a result of the uncertainty. "She has been hitting out which is what she does when she is stressed," he said.

"I don't want her out of school too long because it will be a big upset to her routine. In the right environment, she thrives."

Paul said the council are "supposed to meet the individual needs" of children with SEN. But in his daughter's case, he thinks it has fallen very short.

Hull Live approached Hull City Council for comment. It could not explain why the family was only offered £135 in transport costs because "we cannot comment on individual cases" but said the Personal Transport Budget is calculated based on distance from home and school.