Essex SEND children suffering from school taxi transport

The concerns follow Essex County Council’s decision to award a new transport contract to 24x7 Ltd for Lexden Springs Residential Special School in Colchester, without consulting the school or parents.  

While some families have reported positive experiences, a number of parents say the change has been difficult for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), many of whom rely heavily on routine and familiar support staff.

Among those affected is Emma Lubonski, whose seven-year-old daughter Rihanna has complex needs and is non-verbal.

Mrs Lubonski said she became concerned after Rihanna escaped from her harness on three separate journeys to school, leaving her without restraints.

She said safety was especially important for SEND children, many of whom have little awareness of danger, and that she had felt compelled to provide her own harness because she believed the one supplied was inadequate.

Child - Mrs Lubonski now drives her daughter Rihanna, who is non-verbal and has complex needs, to school herself (Image: Emma Lubonski)

"We live this day in day out with them, and we know what they need," she said.

“Having a routine for them is really, really important – if you don’t follow that routine, you’re going to get dysregulation. We’re talking about the mental wellbeing of the children.”

Mrs Lubonski also questioned the level of training provided to passenger assistants, after one PA was unable to fit her daughter's harness and she had to demonstrate how it should be used.

Her concerns escalated when, on one occasion, a taxi refused to take Rihanna home from school because she would not sit in her harness. Mrs Lubonski said she had to make emergency arrangements to collect her daughter herself.

She praised the driver's efforts to support Rihanna but said she now drives her daughter to school because she no longer feels confident about her safety during the journey.

"I can't have the anxiety every day when she's going out," Mrs Lubonski said.

"I just feel let down. They're not treating the children with the dignity they deserve.

“I want to spread awareness and I want it to be changed for the other SEND children.”

Needs - Rihanna was able to escape her harness during the journey to school on three occasions, leaving her without any restraints in the vehicle (Image: Emma Lubonski)

One parent, who asked not to be named, described a situation where a taxi arrived 20 minutes late which impacted her other children getting to school.

After confusion around the driver’s routes, she was left concerned when the driver admitted he was nervous about transporting children with complex needs.

"If he is not confident, how is he supposed to keep my child safe?" she asked.

Another parent said repeated transport problems had forced her to take her son to school herself, causing her to be late for work.

She added a different assistant had accompanied her son nearly every day since term stated and that the constant changes have increased her son’s anxiety during what is already a challenging return to school period.

While she said the driver had communicated well, she criticised the company for poor communication and a lack of consistency.

Essex County Council (Image: Newsquest)

In response, 24x7 said it had worked tirelessly with the school and Essex County Council after successfully bidding for the contract.

“Whilst we appreciate there may be some changes from previous years routing, our planning is done in line with ECC terms and conditions, along with agreement from the school,” a spokesperson said.

“Unfortunately, over time there will always be changes made where transport is provided on a shared basis due to the addition and removal of passengers.”

A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “We procure transport services from a range of providers across Essex to meet our statutory duty of Home to School Transport (H2ST) for eligible children.

“As part of this we must always ensure quality services and value for taxpayers. Once a provider’s contract term is up, we are legally required to invite companies to bid for the contract and show they can meet the criteria.

“We are committed to working with the new provider to ensure children, parents and the school continue to receive H2ST which meets our high standards.”