Eligibility appeals procedure
This appeal route is for when a child has been declined travel assistance. You can appeal against the following:
- that the policy has not been properly applied
- that the policy has been properly applied, but there are exceptional circumstances (being unable to take your child to school due to work commitments is not an exceptional circumstance)
- financial hardship if you do not believe your financial circumstances have been considered. However, this can only be considered along with one of the bullet points mentioned above
More information can be found on our eligibility appeals guidance document (PDF, 140KB).
Grounds for appeal
If the policy has not been correctly applied, you will need to explain why and you may wish to submit evidence to further demonstrate this. This may be the distance measurement or the safety of the walking route. More information can be found on our home to school travel assistance policy (PDF, 200KB)
Walking routes will not be reassessed unless there has been a significant change. Our list of hazardous routes (PDF, 101KB) will be useful for you to read through this before you submit the appeal. It also states that an adult is expected to accompany a child on the route to and from school, as necessary.
Preference for a faith school will only be considered for families on low income. More information can be found on our will you qualify page.
In cases where you feel there are exceptional circumstances, these will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Exceptional circumstances means that your circumstances are individual to your family and would not be experienced by other families. You will need to submit further information to evidence the exceptional circumstances.
How to appeal
You have 20 working days from the date of the initial assessment letter to ask for a review. Doing this will trigger a stage one appeal, which will be reviewed by a senior officer. We aim to respond with the 20 working days timeframe but during peak workloads, June to September, there may be a delay.
Appeals will be considered in date order received. If your appeal is for the following academic year, this will not be considered until 1 August.
Whilst we review your appeal you must make sure your child attends school and make any necessary travel arrangements to facilitate this. You should not expect a positive outcome.
If you have received a stage one response that you believe has not fully considered the circumstances, you can ask for this to be reviewed at stage two. You have 20 working days in which to let the reviewing officer know you wish you appeal the decision.
This will be heard by an Independent Committee Panel. You will be invited to present your case as will the senior officer. The committee members will then make a decision based on the information presented to them.
You will need to provide further information and supporting evidence about why you are not happy with the stage one response. You may wish to consider the following:
- completing a Discretionary Hardship application form to evidence financial hardship
- medical information from your GP or hospital
- information regarding the safety of the route. Further information can be found on our guidance on walking to school (PDF, 178KB) . Anyone making an appeal about the walking route being unsafe should be aware that they will need to submit evidence equal to our qualified Road Safety Officer. If a parent/carer does not provide this, the appeal panel will be unable to make a decision that challenges the Road Safety Officers recommendations.
It is your responsibility to make sure all evidence is made available to support your case. This allows the appeals committee to make an informed decision. Failure to provide evidence may mean a deferral to your appeal hearing until it is supplied.
Process
We will send you an acknowledgement letter and provide your Local Councillor's contact details. You may wish to contact them for help and advice throughout the process.
You will receive a letter with a date and time for your appeal hearing, inviting you to attend the committee to present your case. This will be within 40 working days of receipt of your request and supporting information.
The Appeals Committee meet approximately once a month, depending on demand. They will consider each case on its individual merits and will decide if travel assistance should be approved or declined. Following the hearing, the Legal Clerk for the panel will send you an outcome letter within five working days detailing the decision.
Please note: whilst we review your appeal you must make sure your child attends school.