A new Special Needs Transport Policy was published in May 2012. The policy takes effect from September 2013.
The current Special Needs Transport Policy applies to transport arrangements up to August 2013.
There are a number of key changes from the current policy, which will impact on all children and students currently eligible to SEN transport that families/carers will need to be aware of. These are as follows:
- Travel assistance for all children with special educational needs under the age of 5 attending maintained nurseries will be subject to an annual parental/carer contribution. There will be an exemption from this charge for families on low income.
- Travel assistance for children/students with special educational needs in post 16 education in either schools or FE colleges will be subject to an annual parent/carer contribution. There will be an exemption from the charge for families on low income.
- Eligibility to travel assistance for all children with special educational needs will not necessarily require a Statement of Special Educational Needs.
- Clarification of entitlement to travel assistance for pupils/students for families where both parent/carers have a disability and families may therefore require travel assistance with their child’s journey to and from school.
- Reviewing how travel assistance is provided for some children/students and introducing alternatives to this where it is considered appropriate to their needs.
- Being clearer about the assessed special educational needs that would necessitate travel assistance being provided by the County Council.
- Travel assistance only being provided where the child/young person is more than 2 miles (for primary age) and 3 miles (for secondary age) from their school or college, unless there is a significant sensory, physical, medical or behavioural difficulty that prevents them from getting to school even when accompanied by a parent or carer.
- Being clearer regarding travel assistance between home and school for pupils/students attending residential schools.
- Being clearer that travel assistance is to and from the main home address only.
Why are the changes happening?
It is 9 years since the County Council’s policy on Special Educational Needs transport was implemented and it was considered that it no longer reflected the current and future needs of pupils/students with SEN in Leicestershire.
We have therefore updated the policy to bring it in line with the mainstream home to school policy for pupils across the county and meet duties placed on the County Council, for example by the Equality Act 2010.
We want to ensure that this policy is fair, cost-effective and targets those children and families who need it most as well as meeting our statutory duties.
How much does SEN transport cost the council?
The average cost for providing transport assistance to pupils with special educational needs is around £3,880 per pupil per year (based on acamedic year 2010/11). Some 1,725 pupils receive this support costing £6.7m annually.
These changes will provide an income of £300,000 which represents a 4.5% saving on this budget. The County Council faces a 30% cut in grant income over the next three years and needs to make approximately £100million savings over the next four years.
These changes will provide an income of £300,000 which represents a 4.5% saving on this budget. The County Council faces a 30% cut in grant income over the next three years and needs to make approximately £100million savings over the next four years.
When will the changes come into effect?
These changes will be introduced in September 2013. Individual parents and carers and their children who currently receive transport assistance were informed in early Autumn 2012 by letter if the change in policy affects their child’s eligibility to transport or travel arrangements.
Who will be affected?
Most SEN children and young people currently receiving travel assistance to and from school will continue to be offered statutory free travel assistance under the new policy; however this depends on each individual's circumstances.
Will children be required to change schools?
Children will not be required to change school as a consequence of any change in eligibility criteria for SEN travel assistance.
What will the charges be and how are they arrived at?
The County Council is looking at having an SEN transport policy that is better aligned with its mainstream transport policy. This includes any charges it makes for transport - so the charge will be the same as for children with discretionary eligibility to mainstream transport assistance.
The charge for teh 2013/2014 academic year for discretionary mainstream transport assistance is £252, so post 16 and under 5s SEN transport charges will mirror that.
The charge for teh 2013/2014 academic year for discretionary mainstream transport assistance is £252, so post 16 and under 5s SEN transport charges will mirror that.
Will any charges be income assessed?
Yes – families on low income will be exempt from the charge. This can be demonstrated in one of 2 ways:
- Children in receipt of free school meals
- Pupils from families that are in receipt of their maximum level of working tax credit
Families will need to provide proof at time of application for transport assistance.
Will there be a discount applied if a family has more than one child requiring travel assistance and having to pay for it?
A discount for travel assistance of this nature is not included in the new policy.
Will the charges be increased?
The Council reviews its budget every year, so, yes charges could be increased in future. However, details of each academic year’s charge are normally agreed in February, so about 7 months’ notice of any change is normally given.
The current £240 charge has remained unchanged since September 2008, but will increase to £252 for the 2013/2014 academic year.
How will I apply for transport if my child is under 5 or over 16?
If you want your child to receive transport assistance there will be an application form system similar to that currently in use for mainstream transport. You will have to apply for each year that you want your child to receive transport. You will be able to apply online or by paper and there will be the option to make payments by instalments.
The easiest way to apply is online and further details and the application form can be accessed here (due to be available from Monday 13th May 2013 and must be completed by 28th June 2013.
We will contact parents directly with details of how to apply during spring 2013 and more details will also be available online.
How are the 2 and 3 mile distances measured?
Statutory walking distances (2 miles for primary aged children and 3 miles for secondary aged children) will be measured by the shortest available walking route from the middle of the public highway immediately outside the home address to the nearest school or college pedestrian entrance. A route is available if it is a route along which a child, accompanied as necessary by a responsible adult, can walk with reasonable safety to school. Distances are measured in a consistent fashion using computerised measuring systems:
- For in-county measurements and for an address in Leicester City and Rutland, the County Council’s MapInfo software is used.
- For distances that cross the county boundary (except for Leicester City and Rutland), Google Maps is used. This is because the County Council’s MapInfo system only currently covers addresses that fall in Leicestershire, Rutland and Leicester City. Please note that these methods may change as new software becomes available.
- On request, we are able to provide a map of the available route assessed.
Does the measurement of the distances take into account safety issues?
The measurement of the'statutory walking distance' is by the shortest route along which a child, accompanied as necessary, can walk with reasonable safety - this is refered to as ‘the available route’.
The County Council has assessed many of the routes already but will assess new routes as required or re-assess if there have been any changes. If there is no available route, the local authority must provide free or assisted transport no matter what distance you live from the school.
The County Council has assessed many of the routes already but will assess new routes as required or re-assess if there have been any changes. If there is no available route, the local authority must provide free or assisted transport no matter what distance you live from the school.
There is a separate procedure document available on how assessments are completed – see appendix 3 of the mainstream home to school policy.
How will the charges affect me if I am disabled?
There is now a clearer statement about how parent disabilities are considered before decisions about SEN transport are made. We will give careful consideration to the availability of reasonable adjustments, the potential for putting you at substantial disadvantage, or treating you less favourably.
This does not mean that all parents with a disability will get free transport for their children. It does mean that disability will be properly considered before a final decision is made and that there will be a clear appeals process if families disagree.
How will the changes affect my child if they have a disability?
The changes in policy will mean:
- A charge for transport to specialist SEN nurseries. - £252 for 2013/14 academic year.
- A charge for all post-16 transport.- £252 for 2013/14 academic year.
- Loss of automatic free transport to special schools if you live closer than 2 miles (primary age) or 3 miles (secondary age), but assisted transport will continue for those living close to special schools who have special needs that prevent them getting to school with appropriate adult support.
Where a special school makes provision for children on several sites, how will decisions be made about transport eligibility?
Transport eligibility will be assessed to the site at which the child will attend their normal day’s education. This can mean, for example, to a ‘satellite’ campus of the main school.
Who makes the assessment?
The Sustainable Travel Group (STG) working closely with the Special Educational Needs Assessment (SENA) Service will make the assessment of who will be eligible for SEN transport. This will usually be done at around the same time as your child's statement is being considered at a Statement Panel.
The STG will use the information already available as part of the initial assessment of your child's special educational needs or the most up to date annual review papers. If this information is not clear, then further enquiries will be made from other professionals, such as health and/or yourselves as parents/carers.
Parents will also be asked to complete a Transport Eligibility Assessment (TEAF) - this will allow parents to give more detail about their child's individual circumstances. In turn, this will help the Council to decide on eligibility and also help us to provide the most suitable type of transport. Please note that the Council can not provide transport until the TEAF has been fully completed and sent back to us.
Will my child have a change of transport provision?
The new policy means that we will now review annually how SEN children travel to school. This could mean a change to your child’s transport arrangements, but this will only happen after a full review of their individual needs. There is a range of possible changes that could happen and some examples are below:
- A move from a taxi service to a Council fleet minibus, or vice versa
- A change from one minibus or taxi route to another
- A removal of ‘traditional’ transport to other means of assistance such as a public bus service bus pass supported by independent travel training
The Council must make the most efficient use of the resources it has available to it so it can never guarantee that any transport that a child starts out with will continue for his or her time at any particular school. Notwithstanding that, the Council will give proper notice to parents of any changes and will support the transition to try to minimise any disruption.
Can I still have journeys to addresses other than home?
The new policy provides for home to school transport only where the home is the place where a child is habitually and normally resident. Therefore, we will generally not provide transport to alternative addresses e.g. childminders, grandparents, friends etc. The Council us currently looking at some flexibility that parenst could be allowed and will contact families directly and via this website (May 2013) with more details.following are met:
Can I appeal against any changes to my child’s transport arrangements?
If a child currently receives free travel assistance and we advise you that he/she is likely to be affected by the introduction of the proposed arrangements, parents/carers will still have the right to request a review of their child’s SEN home to school transport eligibility. The process is shown in the new policy.and an appeal form is available by clicking here.
New Special Needs Transport Policy (PDF, 92kb)
Current Special Needs Transport Policy (PDF, 29kb)
Help with file formats used on this websitePage Last Updated: 1 May 2013
