Parent's fury as SEND transport changes leave school children with increased journey times above recommended guidelines
Parents have expressed their concerns over new SEND travel arrangements that have seen journey times increase beyond recommended guidelines.
A review is scheduled to take place into Kent County Council's (KCC) handling of transport contracts after hundreds of children didn't make it into school.
KMTV talks to parents about their concerns over new school travel arrangements
It comes after a "shake-up" of travel for more than 5,000 youngsters with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which came into effect last week.
The changes to services were only announced on the eve of half term – leaving many parents in limbo.
It was later reported how "close to 300" were without still without transport last Monday.
As of Tuesday it was revealed up to 30 families were still waiting to hear if their child will be eligible for home to school transport.
But some parents who now have been informed of their child's new arrangements say they have not been given assurances with regards to safeguarding and some journeys fall foul of guidelines on maximum journey times.
Disruption to routines can be largely distressing to children with autism and can cause added hardship for their families.
Mum-of-three Lisa Macnally, from Meopham, has two SEND children who attend different schools.
Her youngest son Finley, eight, is on the autism spectrum and has speech and language delays.
His journey between his home and Dartford Primary Academy used to take 15 minutes each way but under the new arrangements will now take 90 minutes each way.
The Department for Education (DfE) provides councils with guidelines about journey times for both primary and secondary school pupils.
For primary school children, journeys should be no longer than 45 minutes and for secondary school pupils a maximum of one hour and 15 minutes is recommended.
Lisa, 42, says the guidelines are not being met and believes her son will struggle as a result of the increased journey times.
She said: "I try to explain it to him. Obviously he's got a limited amount of understanding.
"He doesn't understand why this is happening. We've had a lot of tears, we've had a lot of repetitive questions."
KCC said they were "deeply sorry" for the anxiety and worry caused by the delay in notifying parents of the new travel arrangements.
They say they will address any concerns about new providers once the provision is fully allocated.
A spokesman said: “We are committed to providing safe journeys for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities who are eligible for home-to-school transport.
“It has been necessary to retender our contracts for this service to address a number of pressures, including a 20% increase on previous years in people who are eligible for this transport and a shortage of drivers in some parts of the county."
It comes ahead head of a review into the matter by KCC's cabinet today before it is brought before scrutiny committee next week.
The authority admitted it had "underestimated" the time needed to undertake an "exercise of its scale" and would look to learn from the affair.
“While most children will now be travelling with their new transport operator, we are still waiting for a small number of operators to confirm they can provide journeys," it explained.
"We are in close contact with these firms to get those arrangements in place as soon as possible.
“Families who have had to seek their own transport because of this delay will be reimbursed for the cost of getting their child to and from school.
“KCC is committed to conducting a thorough review of what has led to this situation, and lessons will be learned so we can improve the experience of families in the future.”