A Huntingdonshire girl was forced to miss more than two weeks of education after inappropriate school transport was organised by Cambridgeshire County Council, The Hunts Post can reveal. 

Darcey Mavin lives with severe cerebral palsy and attends Spring Common Academy in Huntingdon, a school for children with special educational needs in Cambridgeshire. 

Due to her condition, the eight-year-old requires around-the-clock supervision and has travelled each day from her home in a taxi with a personal assistant since 2018. 

However, since September 5, Darcey has been forced to remain off school after the taxi that was sent to collect her "put her at risk" by failing to accommodate her specialised wheelchair.  

Her parents Charlotte and Stephen Mavin said the problem arose when the county council changed taxi companies during the summer holidays. 

Stephen said: "The county council has always been aware of Darcey's specific medical needs and the specifications of her wheelchair, which is why we were shocked when the wrong taxi arrived on her first day back at school. 

"The vehicle couldn't properly accommodate her equipment, the door couldn't shut properly, and she would have ended up having to sit away from personal assistant in the boot, putting her at risk during a medical incident. 

"Darcey has seizures and can have choking episodes, which is why it is so important that someone is able to access her at all times. Even if she had been able to fit inside, if something happened the taxi would first have had to pull over before she could receive support." 

Following The Hunts Post's intervention, the Mavin family has been contacted by an alternative transport provider in St Ives who will take Darcey to school from Thursday, September 26. 

However, Charlotte claims no action would have been taken had this newspaper not become involved, and described the county council's "lack of contact" as "distressing". 

She said: "I can't fault the taxi company assigned to Darcey. Even though they later confirmed they didn't have a vehicle that could accommodate her needs, they contacted the transport team straight away and advised that a new company needed to be found. 

"Yet, despite multiple calls, voicemails and emails, and representations from our social worker and the school, we heard absolutely nothing from the council. All the while Darcey was forced to stay at home as we physically can't take her in without compromising her safety. It feels as though, until now, we'd been ignored because we had no way of escalating the issue.

"Luckily, Darcey will now be able to go back to school, but these last two weeks have impacted us all. Darcey has missed out on social interaction and the special needs provision at Spring Common. I'm her full-time carer, and because she requires constant supervision, I haven't been able to utilise the respite that her education offers."

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire County Council said: "Providing home to school transport for eligible students is one of our statutory duties. As part of delivering this service, we are legally required to carry out a regular re-tendering programme to adhere to laws and legislation. This sometimes means that travel arrangements may have to change.

“We recognise that change can be challenging for children with special educational needs. When planning transport provision, we work with schools and families to ensure that all possible measures are in place to meet students’ needs. We made detailed information available in advance to all families whose transport would be re-tendered for September 2024.

“Darcey Mavin’s transport was retendered this autumn. Initially a six-seater vehicle used on many of our wheelchair transport routes was supplied. When this was found to be unsuitable we had to retender the provision a second time. We have advised the family that their new transport provider will be in place from Thursday, 26 September. We are sorry for the delay in Darcey’s return to school.”