Lambeth council withdraws help with travel to school for disabled children (in order to 'promote independence' )

The letter below is being sent out by Michael Donkor, Head of Special Educational Needs, Children and Young People's Service, at Lambeth Council.

It follows the decision by Lambeth's Cabinet earlier this year, to change its policy towards the provision of transport to school for disabled children.

The policy comes into force at half-term in October.

The letter states that any child who is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, will no longer be offered travel assistance. The justification for the new policy is to promote "independent travel" for children with Special Educational Needs. The real agenda is clearly further cuts, with the disabled again seen as an easy target.

Lambeth has already been ranked second bottom in England with regard to cuts to disability services.

The idea that the receipt of DLA is in some way enough to cover the extra help that disabled children need getting too and from school, let alone all the other additional associated travel costs when children aren't at school, is simply not based in reality. I would not be surprised if there is a legal challenge against Lambeth over this, from parents of disabled children in the borough.