Sept 6, 2022, Belfast Live: Co Down mum 'frustrated' as transport issues force her son to miss four days of school https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/co-down-mum-frustrated-transport-24940655
A Co Down mum says her young son has missed the first days of the new school term due to a lack of transport.
Five-year-old Jack Spiers from Killough, who has Special Educational Needs, was due to start P2 at Harberton Special School in south Belfast last Thursday. But with no transport secured, which is organised through the Education Authority (EA), it means Jack is yet to return to the school.
For the past two years, a private taxi firm contracted through the EA has been responsible for transporting Jack to and from nursery and later primary school, which is 29 miles away from the family home.
But his mum Ciara Spiers, 37, says that no taxi came for Jack to take him to school for his first day back last week and four days on, he is still stuck at home….
"This is his third year at the school and with the same taxi company so I didn't think there would be any issue this time but nobody came for Jack last Thursday.
"I contacted the EA who directed me to the taxi firm, which said they weren't taking Jack anymore. On Thursday night, I was told that the taxi issue would definitely be sorted in time for Monday or Tuesday, at the latest.
"On Monday night, I got everything set out for Jack to go back to school the next morning. Then I got a call from the taxi company to say they had a driver but no escort for the time being until background checks are done."
Jack Spiers from Killough was due to start P2 last Thursday