SPECIAL needs children may have to change who takes them to school, as the county council reviews its service.

For seven years Damon Amsdon has been taken to Lakeside School in WGC by the same taxi driver and carer.

But Hertfordshire County Council, which provides the free service, is currently reviewing the taxi contracts.

Although for most children this would not create a huge problem, for 14-year-old Damon, who has Down's Syndrome, the change would be devastating.

Mum Kerry, of Blythway, WGC, said: "He gets very set in his ways and isn't able to cope very well with change.

"It will have a knock-on effect on his behaviour, he hasn't got the understanding."

Fellow pupil Owen Taylor, who shares a taxi with Damon will also be affected by the change.

The 12-year-old's mum Kath said: "Getting the taxi is part of their schoolday.

"This is all down to saving money.

"What happened to Every Child Matters?"

A council spokesman said: "We take just under 3,000 children with special educational needs to school each year, employing around 260 small taxi companies at a cost of £13m.

"We regularly review our contracts with these companies and assess the routes they use to make sure that they remain sensible and efficient.

"This helps to ensure that children travel by the most direct route possible, with others from their local area, minimising their journey times.

"The review currently underway is not about individuals' entitlement to transport.

"It may be that a different taxi company wins the contract to take Damon and Owen to school in September and there is a possibility that their driver or escort might change, but at this stage it is too early to say.

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