Will you qualify?

We are required to consider supporting children to attend their nearest suitable school to the home address where their disability or mobility difficulties would prevent them from walking, even when accompanied by a responsible adult.

We consider travel assistance on a case-by-case basis, in line with our policy and the Equality Act 2010.

Additional evidence will need to be submitted with the application form as the Council will not hold this information. See the policy and SEND guidance notes for further information on what to submit.

Parents/carers are expected to accompany their children on the walking route to school or make suitable arrangements.

Before a school is named in the EHCP, (new plan or change is school), the SEN Team will assess a child’s eligibility for travel assistance. They will assess whether a child is attending the nearest school and:

• the child has any physical difficulties that would prevent them from walking the route to school OR
• any health and safety concerns related to the child’s SEND on the route to school, even when they are accompanied by a responsible adult

The Caseworker should discuss travel assistance with you and inform you of the outcome of the assessment.

Where a school is named that is not the nearest suitable school, the SEN Team can specify that this is named in line with parental preference and on the understanding that parents are responsible for all travel arrangements and costs. This is the only time that transport will be recorded in the child’s EHCP.

Please note: a child having an EHCP does not mean that they will have travel assistance. The child will need to meet the eligibility criteria mentioned above. Only around 35% of our group of children with an EHCP have free travel assistance.

And where a child is eligible, travel assistance is only offered to the named setting in the EHCP. Where a school makes arrangements for the child to be educated off-site, the school needs to ensure the child is able to attend that setting.

For young people aged 16-18 who have either an EHCP or a disability, are attending the nearest provider offering the course at an appropriate level which is more than three miles from the main home address and who would not be able to access the college bus or public transport, we have chosen to provide free travel assistance. Travel applications will need to be submitted.

Applications needs to be received before the 30 June.

Any applications received after this date will be assessed in date order. Where applications are received after 30 June, travel assistance will not be guaranteed for September. Parents/carers should be prepared to make their own arrangements until a suitable contract can be identified.

Applications will assess the overall qualification gained at the end of the year rather than individual modules studied.

Where a child is eligible, travel assistance is only offered to the named setting in the EHCP. Where a school makes arrangements for the child to be educated off-site, the school needs to ensure the child is able to attend that setting.

For young people over the age of 19 where an EHCP is maintained, we may continue to provide travel assistance where the young person is attending the nearest suitable setting named in the EHCP and meets one of criteria mentioned above. This may continue until the EHCP ceases, which could be up to the age of 25.

Applications need to be received before the 30 June.

Any applications received after this date will be assessed in date order. Where applications are received after 30 June, travel assistance will not be guaranteed for September. Parents/carers should be prepared to make their own arrangements until a suitable contract can be identified.

Applications will assess the overall qualification gained at the end of the year rather than individual modules studied.

If you're a parent or carer with a disability which prevents you taking your child to school, we may provide travel assistance in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, information can be found on the Gov.UK website. Where eligible, we'll support the child to attend the nearest school to your home address within:

• two miles from home for children aged under eight
• three miles from home for children aged over eight

An application form will need to be completed and medical evidence will need to be uploaded to the form. Please use the Apply for travel assistance (No EHCP). Each case will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

If your child has a temporary medical condition that prevents them from walking the statutory distance to school, parents/carers can apply for short-term travel assistance.

Eligibility will be assessed by our medical needs team and will be based on the following criteria:

• the child/young person is attending their nearest suitable school; and
• a report is provided by a medical professional with details of the child/young person’s medical condition and how it impacts on their ability to walk the statutory distance between home and school when accompanied by an adult.

Please note: medical professionals may charge you to complete any forms necessary for this assessment. These charges will not be reimbursed by us.

If your child is not attending their nearest school, travel assistance may still be provided, but there will be a charge applied: £880 per year or £440 if the child receives Free School Meals . Despite any charges applied, we have the responsibility to provide travel assistance in the most economical way and will often mean that children will be sharing a vehicle with others.

Please note: travel assistance on medical grounds is only offered to children of statutory school age: 5-16 years of age.

Please read our privacy notice before applying for travel assistance.