Charity to meet disabled girl’s school bus cost

A county charity says it will pay for the school bus costs of a disabled girl from Ross-on-Wye.

Leia Daunter, who suffers from cerebral palsy, microcephaly, epilepsy and spastic diplegia, ‘absolutely loves’ school but she looked set to be barred from going because she lost out on transport funding now she is 16.

She is due to transfer from Hereford’s Barrs Court School to their sixth form college at the Hub in September but her guardian said earlier this month that she would be unable to go due to the costs.

But now the Lydia Cole Foundation has stepped in and says it will foot the £870 yearly bus cost.

Simeon Cole set up the charity to help children following the death of his daughter Lydia in 2017.

He said: “It seemed a real shame that a little girl like Leia was going to lose out going to school.

“I know money is tight for everyone but she needs to be helped.”

He said his daughter liked helping people and the charity was set up to help under 18 year olds like Leia.

“Lydia would be pleased,” he added.

Guardian Paulette Evans-Baldwin said she was chuffed to bits that Mr Cole had come forward with the offer.

“I’m so pleased that someone has listened and Leia can now go to school.”

She said Leia had to go to Hereford as there is no specialist school in Ross.

Herefordshire Council introduced a parental contribution system in 2014 for all children with special educational needs aged 16 and over who wish to use the publicly funded school transport services.

A spokesperson for Herefordshire Council said the council decided to introduce the charge for special needs transport transport five years ago.

“In 2014 the council approved a motion to introduce a parental contribution for all children aged 16 and over with special educational needs wishing to use the council’s school transport services,” she said.

“However, Barrs Court School does administer a scheme that offers families and carers of a SEN child financial assistance with school transport fees if they meet their funding criteria.”