Children with Special Educational Needs in Hartlepool are being refused essential transport when moving into Post-16 provision. 

The removal of SEND Post-16 transport was included in the savings proposals for the financial year 2021/22 and the decision was taken by Neighbourhood Services Committee to completely remove this offer to young people without consultation. 

Children with SEND can have multiple issues that prevents them from going to school any other way than in a form of person centred transport. 

It is not always possible for children with complex needs to travel on public transport, some issues include

• Needing to carry numerous pieces of equipment to get by throughout the day
• Need wheelchair accessible transport (which there is a severe lack of in Hartlepool)
• Unstable/Life Threatening issues that require quick intervention
• Behaviours that may cause risk to individuals and others
• Young people require high levels of support to travel.

This is having a significant impact on vulnerable children and their families, including

• Risk of isolation
• Increasing levels of Health Inequalities
• Poverty
• Reduced social and educational opportunities
• Increase in unemployment due to families leaving work

….the list goes on!

We want Hartlepool Borough Council to review its policy and provide clarity to what ‘exceptional circumstances’ are. This will ensure our most vulnerable young people can live healthy fulfilling inclusive lives in Hartlepool.