Parents battle to stop vital travel cuts for SEND children in Havering.

Havering parents have been battling since before Christmas to stop any impending cuts to the travel system in the borough for their SEND children. Today, disability rights campaigners, Linsey Worgan and Ruth Kettle-Frisby share with the Havering Daily their battle since the imposed cuts were first outlined.

The start:

A face-to-face meeting with Keith Prince (Leader of Havering Conservatives) was arranged just before Christmas to highlight the cause and explain the impact of the potential cuts on SEN children. Following that meeting Havering’s Conservative Councillors put forward a motion to stop proposed SEN cuts at the Council meeting on 17th September. A second meeting with Conservative Councillors was held to discuss the strategy behind the motion and wider cause.

During the lead up to the Council meeting on 17th September, each Councillor was individually lobbied to seek their support to put a stop to the SEN cuts. An ongoing dialogue was established that sought to cut across party lines and unify behind the cause.

Content development:

An open letter to Havering council was penned to implore decision makers to reconsider the council’s position on the cuts and to uphold the law as it relates to all aspects of SEN education.

Second rally:

A second rally held outside the town hall was organised to protest the proposed cuts.

Parents sent a detailed complaint template to question the legal integrity and validity of the original HRA motion; it appeared premeditated to push through with a proposal based on a consultation report that – according to the Cabinet’s own admission – had not yet been read.

At Full Council, David Taylor spoke movingly on behalf of disabled children and their parents. He believes, as we do, in putting the convictions of parents before free parking to convenience people in Hornchurch and Upminster: that it’s not right to put “parking over parents”. 

Councillor Darren Wise demonstrated humanity, understanding and lived experience. He supported disabled children and their parents in transparently voting to scrap the proposed changes to school transport provision in the borough. 

The revised cabinet amendment was carried with 29 for, 19 against, and 1 abstention.

Disability rights campaigners, Linsey Worgan and Ruth Kettle-Frisby

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