Labour councillor Barry Rawlings claims new transport provision for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is restrictive and denies parental choice.
Confronting Councillor Lynne Hillan, cabinet member for children and community development, at a cabinet overview and scrutiny committee Meeting on Tuesday (May 27), Mr Rawlings said the policy did not cover transport provision for SEN pupils who chose to attend anything but the mainstream school nearest to where they live.
"Your manifesto pledge said children are entitled to go to the best possible school. How does that square with a commitment to give them the best, not the nearest?" said Mr Rawlings.
Ms Hillan said that, under the policy, parents could still choose where to send their children. But she added: "If they should choose to transport them to another school, in another borough for example, they should look at bearing that cost themselves."
May 29, 2003 11:00
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