Mum says autistic daughter's school transport cancelled due to 'split' household

A Midlothian Mum says her autistic daughter’s transport to school has been withdrawn because her parents don’t live together.

Cheryl Robertson’s seven-year-old daughter Jess is non-verbal and until now has had a funded taxi, accompanied by a support worker, taking her to school in Dalkeith.

However, Cheryl says that it has been cancelled, and Midlothian Council say a new application is being considered.

She says she was told that because Jess lives between her house and her father’s in Edinburgh, she doesn’t meet the criteria.

A number of parents have also reported issues with changes to the school bus service.

Midlothian Council says the application was received from her father’s address, meaning it wasn’t eligible.

Cheryl told STV News: “Jess was going to school. She loved school. She’s got a beautiful relationship with the assistant who was in a taxi with her.

“Now, after two years, they cancelled the contract because Jess comes from a split household.”

She added: “She doesn’t expect me to take her to school so that her whole day will be messed up [without the transport]. Her nervous system will be affected, and she won’t be balanced.

“She’s very sensory seeking, so she really needs that sensory input from school, and change is massive. If everything is changed, then it really affects her personality and everything she does.”

It comes after a number of parents at Dalkeith High School said they received letters saying their children were no longer entitled to a free bus to school.

Midlothian MP Kirsty McNeill called on the local authority to pause changes to the school transport services after receiving complaints from local families.

However, the council says it recognises the concern, but that its transport policy has not changed.

It said it will continue to offer free transport to eligible pupils who live more than two miles away.

A spokesperson said following concerns: “To support a more consistent and transparent assessment process, Midlothian Council has introduced an application-based system and specialist mapping software which measures eligibility from individual property locations.

“This calculates the distance between a pupil’s home and school using recognised walking routes. Previously, transport eligibility was often determined using broader geographic areas or communities rather than individual homes.

“It is now a requirement to apply for school transport each year as circumstances can change over time and the annual application process helps ensure that transport is allocated fairly and based on current information.

“There have been no changes to ASN transport entitlement. Applications are assessed individually to ensure transport support is provided where it is needed.”