Disabled child "ignored and let down" by council over school transport

A Glossop mother says she feels “ignored and let down” by Derbyshire County Council after months of problems arranging transport for her disabled son to attend school.

Sophie Howarth, whose eight-year-old son Sebastian has a rare genetic deletion of his 9th chromosome alongside severe autism, told the Glossop Chronicle she is “exhausted” after repeatedly asking the council for help.  

For five years, Sebastian travelled without issue to Peak School in Chinley with Glossop-based operator Padtax. But in April, Derbyshire County Council cancelled the contract without explanation and replaced it with a company based in Derby.  

Sophie says there was no meet-and-greet, and that drivers struggled to communicate with her son due to language barriers. Then, when Sebastian was due to return to school last week, no transport arrived at all.  

“I called the Derby company directly, and they told me the council had now cancelled the contract - but no one from the council ever told me. Since then, he’s only been able to attend school on the odd day when a friend could help” Sophie explained.  

She says she has emailed the council more than 20 times and even wrote letters, but received no reply. Then, last week, she was informed that a Birmingham-based company, Green Destinations, would now be taking over.  

However, Sophie says this firm refused to meet Sebastian in advance and even claimed to have already met him - something she insists never happened. She described one phone call with a representative as “aggressive,” leaving her unwilling to entrust them with her vulnerable child.  

“My son is still out of school. I’ve had no response from Derbyshire for help. I work full-time as a nurse and now I’m faced with either leaving my job to take him to school myself, or keeping my job and letting him miss school continuously. I’ve worked my whole life despite having a disabled child - I don’t want to live off benefits” she said.  

The situation is affecting her whole family. Sophie has two other children, Violetta, 6, and 5 month old Ottilie: “I can’t get Sebastian to Chinley and my daughter to school in Hadfield at the same time whilst also dealing with a baby. I’m just burnt out and exhausted” she said.  

Finally, last week, after months of silence, Sophie received a reply from Derbyshire County Council - only after she sent a plea in desperation to Council Leader, Reform Councillor Alan Graves.  

His brief response included: “I’m sure if you approach speaking to people the way you approach emails that you will get negative results. I am not the appropriate person to contact, I will pass your email on to the right person.”  

Sophie described this as “the uncaring face of Derbyshire Council,” adding: “I told him as the leader, he needs to sort it out. I’m a burnt-out mother, and after being ignored since April, I get to be feisty.”  

Last week, Sophie received a further update when Green Destinations finally collected the local children for school. But she says they arrived nearly two hours late, meaning the children missed the first hour of lessons.  

“I met with the driver and escort today (Monday 15 September). They themselves seemed lovely, but they confirmed they travel from the Midlands each day and this is why they’ll likely always be late” Sophie said.  

According to her, there are now eight parents in the same situation, all of whom have asked the council for alternative arrangements because they say they cannot trust the current provider.  

The school itself has no control over transport arrangements. Sophie is now appealing to the community for support and says she would even consider paying a local company directly if they could reliably take Sebastian to school.  

“This has left me desperate,” she said. “I just want my son to be able to get to school safely and on time like every other child.”  

Sophie reached out to the Glossop Chronicle, saying she felt she had nowhere else left to turn. We contacted Derbyshire County Council and received the following reply from Cabinet Member for SEND and Education Councillor Jack Bradley: 

“We’re aware of issues with some transport to Peak School and we sincerely apologise for the disruption and upset it’s caused. We’re working with families, the school and the providers to resolve matters urgently, with the clear priority that Sebastian is able to travel safely to school on time.”