Transport for SEND children in primary and secondary school

• Children and young people with special educational needs may get help with transport to school or college. A door-to-door service is provided only in specific circumstances. Children may have to travel to their nearest pick-up point.
• In general terms, if your child is of statutory school age and is attending his or her qualifying school. You may be able to receive help with travel if you meet the home to school transport policy criteria.
• The criteria takes into account, the distance you child will need to travel, if the route is classified as unsafe, if you are classified as low income, or if the nature of your child's special educational needs would make it unsafe or inaccessible even if accompanied by an adult
• In the case of pupils with an education health and care plan (EHCP), the qualifying school will be the nearest school to the child’s main home address, which can meet your child’s needs and offer them a place.  This school will be named in section 1 of the education health and care plan (EHCP). If you prefer your child to go to a different school, that school may also be named in section 1 but you will be responsible for transport arrangements and costs.
• The arrangements will range from bus passes, parental transport allowances, school buses, and if all other option have been explored, we may commission a private hire vehicle.
• We will review our offer usually every two years, or if your home or school address changes, Sometimes, contracts change more regularly or at very short notice for reasons beyond our control and this may mean a change of operator. We will notify you of these changes, giving as much notice as possible.

Travel arrangements

Students will receive travel assistance which will meets their needs, as identified by the local authority, in line with the Education Act and statutory guidance.

Travel arrangements should be environmental, encourage well-being, and be the most economical for the local authority.

Travel arrangements will be the identified as the first appropriate provision able to meet the child's need, starting with the most environmentally friendly, such as walking or cycling, followed by using public transport, school or existing services (school buses, or shared taxis). If no shared provision is available, then financial assistance will be granted in the form of a parental transport allowance. Individual commissioned transport will only be provided in exceptional circumstances.

Students will be expected to make their own way to the nearest transport pick-up point, accompanied as necessary. This can be up to 1 mile from the home address.

The caseworker or parent can contact the SEND Transport Team to request an individual assessment. 

The SEND Transport team also send the applications automatically for reception year and year 7 transfers in line with national offer days.

For mainstream this is an automated process based on age, nearest school, distance, extended rights and unsafe routes.