'Hurt' at lack of clarity over SEN taxi - 24 hours before girl, 7, returns to school

A man whose daughter has special educational needs has said it is "hurtful and deeply frustrating" that the Education Authority (EA) still has not clarified what taxi firm will take her to and from school.

Seven-year-old Maisie was using a taxi company provided by the EA but the contract has now gone out to tender.

Her father Columba Mailey said "familiarity with the driver is crucial for Maisie" adding that "24 hours before Maisie starts the new term we have no clarity".

The EA said it understood that changes to transport arrangements can be unsettling and added that it sometimes needs to refresh contracts to ensure value for money.

In February, an agreement for more than £900,000 in savings was reached between the EA and taxi operators.

That came after the EA wrote to taxi drivers asking them to reduce their rates by 10%, or their contract for the work could be terminated.

Mailey, from Greysteel in County Londonderry, said: "Maisie is autistic and non-verbal and needs one-to-one supervision at home and at school. That also means in the taxi.

"We were initially told there was no room on a bus for Maisie which led us to the taxi situation in the first place. We were in a good place and she got to know the driver through time and patience."

He told North West Today that Maisie's behavioural needs means she can try to get out of her seat and she is unable to use her voice.

"She needs to build a relationship with any new driver," Mailey added.

"We are now being told a new operator is not appointed yet. We are even being asked by EA Transport if we can get her to school ourselves and they could reimburse us. We are unable to do that due to work commitments. It should not be put back on us."

He added that other parents have come forward to him who find themselves in a similar situation.

"If I didn't make the calls to the EA, I would have heard absolutely nothing. Communication has been shocking and it's hurtful as a father and deeply frustrating," he said.

"It's a disgrace and we find as parents we are constantly facing brick walls when it comes to issues around special educational needs."

A spokesperson for the EA said: "We understand that changes to transport arrangements can be unsettling for children with special educational needs, particularly where they rely on routine and familiarity.

"However, the Education Authority has a responsibility to ensure value for money across all services, including home-to-school transport, which means we must periodically refresh contracts."

They added that transport arrangements are based on each child's assessed needs, including any requirement for additional support during the journey.

"Where an adult escort is needed, this is provided to help ensure the child can travel safely and appropriately."

BBC News NI also asked the EA if they could provide details on how many taxi contracts are currently out to tender and how many pupils are in a similar situation in Northern Ireland.

They did not respond to those questions.

Treasa O'Neill, from the SEN parents' support group Always Ask the Turtle, said continuity with a familiar driver was vital for children such as Maisie.

"It is absolutely crucial because, as parents of neurodiverse children, we know that going new to a new place doesn't begin the moment you walk through the door," she told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.

"It sometimes begins weeks in advance, preparing them as to who the adult is, what the car will look like, what the situation will feel like and even sometimes requires a practice run."

O'Neill said the Education Authority's "prioritisation of budget" was compromising both children's safety and families' confidence in the organisation.

East Londonderry SDLP MLA Cara Hunter said it was "absolutely disgraceful" that Maisie is due to start Primary 4 without transport in place.

"The EA has an obligation to ensure children can access education," Hunter said.

"It is not listening to parents, it is not listening to children and it is not being child-centred. At this moment in time, it is not fit for purpose."

Hunter said the EA had responsibilities in managing its budget, but said that should not come at the expense of children's access to education.

She added: "Ultimately this is about a child's routine, a child's familiarity with who they've been in a taxi with throughout the year."