School Changes Travel Arrangements To Include Wheelchair User Student
A fantastic example of a teacher and student refusing to be beaten took place when Thetford Academy’s journey to Ypres and the Somme had to be re-routed at the last minute.
The group, scheduled to visit Battlefields and monuments to the fallen as part of an appreciation of the centenary of the First World War, was scheduled to travel on Eurostar.
But due to its safety restrictions Eurostar would not allow Jaynie Heyward-Lee, 13, to take her wheelchair, which she requires at times due to a heart condition. Her sister Remmie, 16, was travelling with her as a carer.
Teacher Stephen Lord refused to go without the teenager and the students took the ferry to France instead.
Mr Lord said: “We had planned to go on Eurostar for a couple of months, and then we were informed just 24 hours before travelling that we could not take the wheelchair. I said we would have to change our travel arrangements because there was no way we were going without Jaynie, so we went on the ferry instead.”
The teenager needs her wheelchair because she has heart disease and has had three major heart bypass operations.
Legislation and Department for Education guidance also states that schools must make any reasonable adjustments at all times to ensure the inclusion in such activities as school trips for all students with any kind of disability or health-care issue wherever practicably possible.
Jaynie's mother, Theresa Lee, 43, from Thetford, said: “It was such a good thing the teacher did. Thetford Academy gets slated for so many things, but this really touched my heart. Jaynie does not need a wheelchair at school, but because of her heart disease, she gets extremely tired being on her feet all day.
“The teacher could have turned around to Jaynie and said she could not go. He refused to do that and said ‘I’m not having that’. I think it was amazing. Jaynie loved the trip.”
A Eurostar spokesman said: “We have two wheelchair spaces per train, which is in line with Eurotunnel safety policies and ensures enough space for users to be comfortable. These seats are fixed at the lowest priced Standard class fare, and we offer companions at the same reduced fare. Both are sat together and served a meal at their seat.”
It is not known therefore on what grounds Eurostar refused access to the space for Jaynie.
