I won’t put my children in danger to walk to school, vows angry mum

Emma Hunt moved with five-year-old Mason and Theo, three, to Mill End in Bradwell-on-Sea in November.

She has now been told Mason is not eligible for free transport to St Nicholas School in Tillingham, because itis only 1.6 miles away.

Ms Hunt, 24, cannot drive and has refused to send her eldest son to school.

She does not believe she should have to pay for his transport.

She said: “There are no paths to the school, but transport said it is less than two miles to the school and it’s not a dangerous route, so he could walk it.

“I would have to walk in the middle of the road, holding one with each hand.

“They aren’t old enough to know much about road safety. It’s not ideal even for me.

“You can’t see what’s speeding along the road. “I’m not putting my children in danger.”

Emma, who suffers from Generalised Anxiety Disorder, said the school stress has caused her to fail two driving theory tests.

She said: “I haven’t done anything wrong.

“They said I should be eligible because of the dangerous route, but now they have told me I have to apply for another school.”

With Mason at home, Emma cannot look for work.

She said: “I would only be able to do six hours while Theo was in nursery, but it would be better than nothing.

“The whole idea was to put them down for St Nicholas, because the nursery had space.

“Mason loves being at school, making friends.

“He asks if he is going to school tomorrow. I have to try and let him down gently.”

Ray Gooding, councillor responsible for education, said free transport was provided to children attending their nearest primary school, if that school was two miles or further from their homes.

He said: “There are also extended rights for low income families, as determined by law. Admissions information on our website makes the policy position clear and advises parents to carefully consider transport policy before making their school applications.”