THE campaign to reinstate axed school transport for disabled children at a Timperley school has had a ‘major victory’.

Claudette Nelson, the mother of Taiyo Nelson, a special needs pupil at Brentwood School who had transport to the school withdrawn in September 2015, has revealed that the Local Government Ombudsman - a watchdog for councils - has ruled in her favour following a complaint about Trafford Council’s actions.

Taiyo Nelson, from Stretford, is one of 16 special needs teenagers to have had the bus service withdrawn by the council last year in a cost-cutting operation.

The service was re-instated for some pupils on appeal but 12 post-16 students, including 18-year-old Taiyo, still have no transport.

On the Facebook page of the SOS Trafford group, which is made up of Brentwood parents and their supporters, Claudette posted that she had received an email from the Ombudsman which stated that Taiyo and his family had been treated unfairly by the council.

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Claudette also said that the Ombudsman found ‘failures and faults’ with the post 16 Home to School Transport Policy, as ‘at the moment the exceptional circumstance only applies to children that have a physical disability’.

In the post, Claudette added: “The evidence suggests that when making the decision that the council failed to consider the view that Taiyo was unable to travel independently because of his social, communication & cognition deficits. In the Ombudsman’s view the policy excluded from consideration young people whose physical mobility is unimpaired, but who have social, communication, behavioural or cognition deficits.

“The council has been told that they need to apologise in writing to us, rearrange a fresh appeal and most importantly, within three months of the decision, review the content and the wording section 1.2 of HST Annex A to ensure that the criterion for assisted transport referred is clear.

“I am so pleased with this outcome. Let's continue the fight. Never give up.”

Sally Wheatman, who spearheaded the SOS Trafford campaign, said the ruling is a ‘major victory’.

“I'm so thrilled, I just hope they act quickly and get the students back on the bus,” she said.

In its final budget proposal and following public and political pressure, Trafford Council decided to reinstate £70,000 back into the Home to School transport budget.

This was to allow the executive to consider its response to the consultation on the All Age Integrated Transport policy. The final decision on the All Age Transport policy, which forms part of the 2016/17 budget, was due in March but was deferred at the last minute because of a legal challenge.

Trafford Council confirmed it has received the Ombudsman's decision in relation to a complaint about its current Home to School Transport policy.

The council said it does not comment on individual cases but confirmed that in November 2015 it published its proposals for a new All Age Travel policy.

A spokesperson said: “This is currently in the final stages of public consultation and the outcome of that engagement with the public will be considered shortly, before a decision is taken with regard to the proposals.”