Families in Sandwell are at breaking point as the borough's special educational needs transport system faces mounting criticism for leaving vulnerable children stranded and missing crucial education.
A System in Crisis
Multiple parents have come forward with harrowing accounts of their children with special needs being left waiting for hours for school transport or missing entire days of education due to persistent failures in the service.
One mother described the heartbreak of watching her autistic son become increasingly distressed as his transport failed to arrive, while another revealed her child had missed over 30 school sessions this academic year alone due to transport issues.
The Human Cost
Sarah Jenkins, whose son has complex needs, told how the unreliable service has devastated her family: "It's not just about missed education - it's the regression in his development, the anxiety it causes, and the impact on our entire family's wellbeing."
Another parent, David Thompson, explained: "My daughter relies on this transport to access her specialist education. When it doesn't arrive, she loses not just academic learning but crucial therapeutic support too."
Council Response Under Scrutiny
Sandwell Council has acknowledged the problems, citing nationwide driver shortages and increased demand, but parents argue this doesn't excuse the frequency and severity of the failures.
A council spokesperson stated: "We understand parents' frustrations and are working urgently to resolve these issues. We're recruiting more drivers and reviewing our entire transport operation."
Campaign for Change
Parents are now organising to demand:
- Immediate improvements to reliability
- Better communication about delays and cancellations
- Proper contingency plans for when transport fails
- Long-term strategic investment in SEND transport
As one parent summarised: "Our children deserve better than this. They have a right to education and we won't stop fighting until that right is properly protected."
