A SINGLE mother claims Lancashire County Council education chiefs are putting money before her children's education.

Lisa Simpson is using food and clothing money to pay the £25 weekly taxi fares to and from St Luke and St Philip's School in Blackburn for her two sons Andrew, seven, and Scott, six, since she was forced to move home for domestic reasons.

Education chiefs have refused her request for assistance with transport costs.

Lisa claims they told her to move the children to a new school nearer to their new home in Gloucester Road in Blackburn. An appeal against the decision failed.

Lisa, 25, is frightened that moving her son Scott to a new school will disrupt his education as he is a special needs pupil and it took two years before he settled at his present school.

Lisa said: "Scott has had really bad behavioural problems at school. He had a block in his education abilities. "After two years he has finally settled down and trusts the people. Andrew is a calming influence on him . It would upset Scott too much to move.

"I am taking money out of food and clothing kitties just to pay for the taxis. I just don't know where to turn.

"I feel let down by the council who are refusing to help me. This is a case of a Government department saving money at the expense of a child's education. It is wrong and I feel really angry about it.

"I am going to see this thing through."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Mrs Simpson's position has been carefully considered by the appeal committee but unfortunately bus passes could not be agreed.

"We will gladly speak to Mrs Simpson about what options there might be for places at other schools, if that would assist her."

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