Many thanks
for your Freedom of Information enquiry received by Essex County Council on 10th
November 2009. In the request you asked for details of Essex
1. The Policy(ies), & / or Rules, re the above: (Please see attached)
2. The Application forms, (Please see attached)
3. and a
copy of any Guidelines or Rules used to INTERPRET / APPLY these policies or
rules, both formal and informal? (Please see attached)
4. Does the ability to apply
discretion to cases exist? Yes
– all applicants have the right to appeal against a refusal to provide
transport. These appeals are considered on an individual basis –
parents are responsible for providing the information required to consider the
case.
Number three is especially
important.
5. Who draws up the policy, and who
drew up the guidelines for interpretation of the policy? Who is ultimately responsible
in Essex CC for the policy and it's interpretation and
application? The DCSF issue guidelines to the Local Authority on the
provision of transport for all 16 – 19 year olds. The DCSF does not place a
duty on the provision of home to school/college transport for this age
group.
6. What knowledge / information /
expertise about autism and the impact of autism (including Asperger
Syndrome and HF autism on a child informs the policy and guidelines for
interpretation / application of policy? Please refer to my statement above.
7. In the light of new understanding
and legislation re autism (including Asperger
Syndrome and HF autism) is the policy to change? Please
refer my answer above, as
In addition; Please:
8. How many applications for school
transport (including all school types) were made over the last ten years re
those with autism (including Aspergers Syndrome and
High Functioning Autism.) How many were turned
down? Please include a breakdown of exact condition / disability type on autism
spectrum and reasons for being turned down. Please refer to my statement above. If you would like
information on the total number of requests made for school transport in
general we look into providing this for you. If this is acceptable please let
me know and I will coordinate your request accordingly.
9. How many applications were made
to Essex County Council Post-16 Transport to college department for students
with autism (including Asperger Syndrome and High
Functioning Autism) and how many were turned down? Please include a breakdown
re exact condition / disability type. Please refer to my statement above. If you would like
information on the total number of requests made for school transport in
general we can look into providing this for you. If this is acceptable please
let me know and I will coordinate your request accordingly.
10. As diagnosis is seemingly still
so difficult to obtain in Essex, and this allows further students to slip
through the net re educational and associated provision, what steps are Essex
CC (in conjunction with NHS and Social Services, as necessary) taking to make diagnosis
of Asperger Syndrome / High Functioning autism more
readily available? Diagnosis of
Autistic Spectrum Disorder is a medical diagnosis and is therefore, appropriately , outside of local authority influence.
However I would stress that the local authority is committed to working closely
with health and social services in order to
develop support and provision for pupils with Autism and Aspergers.
11. Are there any comments as to why
is it impossible to get help with transport for such
children / students? Please
refer to my statement above. Unfortunately we do not have any comments at this
time.
12. How can parents appeal? How many
parents have appealed in the last 10 years, and how many were unsuccessful? Based on the theme of your previous questions we are
unable to provide information on appeals based around Aspergers
etc. However, if you would like information on the total number of appeals made
against decisions on school transport in general we can look into providing
this for you. If this is acceptable please let me know and I will coordinate
your request accordingly.
13. What input / experience /
expertise have parents had on the above-mentioned policy, and on the guidelines
(formal or informal, official or unofficial) as to the application of the
policy? Based on the theme of
your previous questions we are unable to provide information on parental
involvement on an disability specific policy. However,
if you would like information on the parental involvement in our current
transport policy we can look into providing this for you. If this is acceptable
please let me know and I will coordinate your request accordingly.
You may
reuse all or part of this information free of charge in any format or medium.
You must reuse it accurately and not in a misleading context. The material must
be acknowledged as Essex County Council copyright and you must give the title
of the source document/publication. Please contact me if you would like further
advice or assistance about your request or rights to access information held by
Essex County Council.
If you are
not satisfied with my response to your request, please let me know. If I am
unable to resolve the issue immediately, I will explain our complaints procedure.
If, after following our complaints procedure, you are still not satisfied, you
are entitled to ask the Information Commissioner to review our decision. You
can contact him at Wycliffe House,
Many thanks,
Scott Sammons
Your Right To Know
Information Services and Programmes
Essex County Council | County Hall
(C210) | Phone: 0845 7430 430 | Email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx.xx
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