Will you qualify?
Special Educational Needs (SEN)/ Disability
Travel assistance will only be provided to the nearest suitable school from the main home address. The needs of your child will be taken into consideration when assessing whether your child is capable of walking to school, accompanied as necessary. For children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Team will assess the possibility of your child gaining a place at a school that is closer to your home, even if you didn't state a preference for that school.
For children with a disability but no EHCP, the admissions team will check if there is a school closer to your home where your child could attend, even if you didn't apply for it.
Children without an EHCP but who have a disability that would prevent them from walking to the nearest suitable school from the home address will be assessed on the application form and any additional evidence attached to the form. We consider travel assistance on a case-by-case basis in line with our home to school travel assistance (PDF, 360KB) and the Equality Act 2010. Further information can be found on the Gov.UK website.
In cases where the child does not have a physical difficulty that would prevent them from walking the statutory walking distances to the nearest school, the impact of any other disabilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Parents are expected to accompany their children on the walking route to school if necessary, or make arrangements for a suitable person to accompany their child if other commitments prevent them from accompanying their child themselves.
Please note: parents will need to submit evidence of their disability with their application.
When a new EHCP has been agreed or there has been a request for a change in placement or the child is moving from one phase of education to another (primary to secondary), the SEN Team will assess a child’s eligibility for travel assistance when naming a school in Section I of the EHCP. They will assess whether the child is attending their nearest school and whether their needs prevent them from walking the statutory walking distances to school:
- two miles from home for children aged under eight
- three miles from home for children aged over eight
If the child does not meet any of these criteria, they will look for whether the walking route is hazardous or see if the child receives Free School Meals and meets the low income criteria. The outcome of the assessment will be explained in a letter or email from the SEN team when the EHCP is finalised.
If your child is not moving schools, you will need to complete an application form. The SEN Team will complete an eligibility assessment based on the criteria mentioned above.
Parents are expected to accompany their children on the walking route to school if necessary, or make arrangements for a suitable person to accompany their child. This means that parents should ensure their children have someone responsible with them when walking to school if they are unable to do it themselves.
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.
Preference for your child to attend a faith school is not considered unless the family are on low income and meet the criteria. More information can be found on our mainstream page.
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.
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 and meet the rest of the criteria mentioned above. This may continue until the EHCP ceases, which could be up to the age of 25.
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.
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 family can demonstrate they receive maximum Universal Credit. 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.
It remains the responsibility of the parent/carer to accompany their child on the journey to and from school.
Please read our privacy notice before applying for travel assistance.
Please note: a lack of evidence may result in your application being rejected.
