The parents of a four-year-old autistic boy have been left spending £60 a day on taxis to get him to his special school after their request for specialized school transport was denied. Ellie and Matthew’s son, Frank, was accepted into a school that best fits his needs, but they’re now struggling to afford the cost of getting him there. Without access to the transport support they expected, the family is facing financial strain, and they’re worried about the impact this will have on Frank’s education.
The Family’s Struggles: Frank’s Special School Journey
Frank, Ellie, and Matthew’s young son, was recently placed in Merstone School in Solihull. This school is about six miles from their home in Acock’s Green, and it’s the only place that can meet the needs listed in Frank’s Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP). But despite finally finding a school where Frank could thrive, the family soon discovered they would not receive the transport support they’d hoped for.
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Under Birmingham City Council’s rules, children under five do not qualify for specialist transport, even if they have special educational needs. This means Frank, at just four years old, is not eligible for the transport service until he turns five—long after the family’s budget has been stretched to breaking point.
Matthew shared their frustration, saying, “We feel like we’ve finally got him into the right school for him to really prosper, and just like that it’s been ripped away from him.”
Financial Strain and Mental Exhaustion
The lack of transport options has left the family with no choice but to pay for taxis. With four trips to and from school each day, the cost comes to £60 per day or £300 per week. This adds up to nearly £1,000 a month—a burden that Ellie and Matthew are struggling to bear. They don’t drive, so taxis are the only viable option, and the personal transport budget offered by Birmingham City Council, a mere £340 per year, doesn’t come close to covering their costs.
Matthew and Ellie’s stress has reached an all-time high. Matthew described their sleepless nights, saying, “We’re getting no sleep whatsoever. We can’t sustain £1,000 a month.”
While many of Frank’s classmates get to school on a minibus provided by Solihull Council, which supports all children in reception classes regardless of age, Frank is left without transport because his school falls under Birmingham’s policies. This has made Matthew feel like his son is being treated unfairly. “It’s disgusting that the council is punishing the most vulnerable children because of their mismanagement,” he said.
The Differences Between Council Policies
One of the main points of frustration for Frank’s parents is the difference between Solihull Council’s and Birmingham City Council’s transport policies. In Solihull, four-year-olds starting reception are eligible for transport, but Birmingham does not offer the same support. In Birmingham, four-year-olds are considered pre-schoolers, even if they are in a reception class, and are not eligible for transport until the term after their fifth birthday.
A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council explained: “Pre-school transport is something that local authorities have no compulsory duty to provide and is typically a reduced offer when compared to 5-15 compulsory school-aged transport.” The council added that individual councils have the discretion to decide what kind of transport support is available for younger children, and they usually opt for personal transport budgets like the one offered to Frank’s family. However, for Ellie and Matthew, this budget is simply not enough.
Parents Across Birmingham Facing the Same Problem
Frank’s family is not alone in facing this issue. Several other parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have also been denied transport for their four-year-olds. Many have shared their stories, voicing the difficulties they face trying to get their children to school without proper transport support.
One parent, Laura Crick, explained how she has been struggling to balance getting both of her children to school. Her son, who has special needs, has been denied transport to his special school because he is only four. At the same time, her daughter, who attends a mainstream school, has start and finish times that overlap with her son’s, leaving her with no way to get both children to school. “I have no way of getting them both to school and working,” Laura said.
These stories highlight a growing problem within Birmingham’s school transport system, especially for families who are already under pressure due to their children’s additional needs.
What’s Next for Frank and His Family?
As things stand, Ellie and Matthew are unsure how much longer they can keep up with the current situation. If their appeal for transport is not successful, they are considering pulling Frank out of school until next September, when he will finally qualify for the transport service. This is not a decision they want to make, as they believe that Frank’s education and development would suffer as a result.
Matthew explained how unfair the situation feels: “If Frank was a neurotypical child, his school would be a 15-minute walk away, if that. We don’t get that option.”
The family is urging Birmingham City Council to reconsider their policy on transport for children with special needs, as they feel it unfairly impacts the most vulnerable families. Until then, they are left trying to balance the emotional and financial toll of getting Frank to the school he so desperately needs.
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Conclusion
The parents of an autistic boy have been forced to spend £60 a day on taxis after their request for specialized transport was rejected. Ellie and Matthew are facing financial pressure while trying to provide their son Frank with the best possible education at Merstone School. With Birmingham City Council’s transport policy excluding four-year-olds from support, the family is left with no choice but to spend nearly £1,000 a month on taxis or pull Frank out of school. Their struggle mirrors that of many other parents in Birmingham, who feel let down by a system that should be helping their children. For now, the family continues to fight for Frank’s right to accessible education.
