(UK) Stoke-on-Trent: 12 y.o. with autism denied transport; council cuts $700K from SPED

Oct 2, 2023, Mirror: Boy, 12, still hasn't been to school after transport crisis leaves him stranded https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/boy-12-still-hasnt-been-31082562.amp

Central England

A 12-year-old autistic boy has missed the first month of school due to a council transport crisis that has left him stranded.

Despite having a place at Bluebell School, in Stoke-on-Trent, Alfie Stevens requires council-provided transportation for his commute. But the minibus service has failed to arrive this term, leaving his aunt Christie Stevens, who suffers from fibromyalgia and is unable to transport him herself, very distressed.

Christie said the situation is infuriating and she has called the council nearly every day to find no one answering. She explained: "You're just asked to leave a voicemail but then no one gets back to you anyway. It's ridiculous, it's so difficult for anyone to get through to the council and I'm not the only person having problems with this, I've heard lots of complaints."

This issue is not isolated, as six-year-old Carter Birks from Longton has also missed the start of the 2023/24 academic year at Merryfields School in Newcastle-under-Lyme due to a similar problem. The situation is being partly attributed to the council's decision to cut £570,000 [$689,000] from its special needs school transport provision earlier this year.

Christie said: "Last year Alfie had a minibus taxi along with two other children who went to his school. This term it has never turned up. We didn't receive any letters or phone calls, nothing. … …I eventually got to speak to the right department and I was told that Alfie is on a waiting list for school transport which could take up to three months."…