No.1: A Guide to Entitlement
Issue Date: Autumn 2005
What is this leaflet for?
This leaflet gives general information about how transport for pupils with statements of special educational needs (SEN) works in Leicestershire.
Who is eligible for free special educational needs transport to school?
The rules are different depending on the age of your child and which school they can go to. As a general guide, SEN school transport must be included in Part 6 of your child’s Statement of Special of Educational Needs. Although in some cases transport may be provided without a Statement to some specialised settings. SEN transport will normally only be provided to the nearest appropriate mainstream school, special unit or special school. SEN Transport to mainstream school will only be provided where there in no reasonable adjustment possible to standard school transport. Transport will only be provided for the child’s needs, not because of parents/carers social, work or domestic commitments.
Transport to Schools
It will be provided if:
- Your child is attending a special school for pupils with severe learning difficulties or an area special school, which is the nearest one to your home recommended by the local authority. In some circumstances the local authority may support transport to a school further away but only if this makes efficient use of the LEA’s resources.
- Your child is of primary age attending a Special Unit in a mainstream school which is the nearest one to your home but more than 2 miles away by a safe walking route*.
- Your child is in a secondary school unit or special school for children with moderate learning difficulties, which is the nearest one to your home but more than 3 miles away by a safe walking route*.
- Your child has a severe visual or hearing impairment (even with aids) and because of this walking to school is not practical.
- Your child has physical difficulties, cannot walk independently or can walk only short distances.
- Your child has special educational needs considered by the local authority and its advisers to be exceptional.
- The Local Authority has identified a school other than your nearest/catchment school due to accessibility factors:
- Your child is 16+yrs of age he/she must be attending school for 16 hours or more a week to be eligible for transport using the above criteria.
*The rules require that the distance is an available walking distance for the child accompanied (as necessary) by a parent or carer. This will be determined by the local authority.
Transport to Further Education (Including specialist Colleges paid for by the Learning and Skills Council)
Students in further Education do not have Statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN).
They can receive free transport if:
- They had a Statement of SEN stating home to school transport when they left school and live more than three miles from the nearest college offering their course and attend college on a full time basis ie 16 hours or more a week.
- They had a Statement of SEN when they left school, all the professionals involved with the Statement agreed that home to college transport is essential and attend college on a full time basis ie 16 hours or more a week.
- In these cases transport is provided up to the end of the college year in which the student reaches the age of 22 if the college course attended is continuous to this date.
Transport will be provided at the start and end of the day.
Special Nurseries
The following children in Special Nurseries will have transport offered:
- Children placed by the Local Authority in specialist nurseries or admitted to other Local Authority specialist nurseries because there is no closer suitable provision to their home.
- Pre-school children whose special educational needs are considered by the local authority to be exceptional.
Will my child have an escort?
Some children who are considered particularly vulnerable or have exceptional needs will have an escort as well as a driver. These are:
- Children attending schools for children with severe learning difficulties or area special school.
- Children with severe sensory (hearing and sight) difficulties.
- Children with severe emotional and behavioural difficulties if the SEN Officer and Senior Transport Officer agree.
- Primary age children being transported to special schools, units and assessment centres.
- Children with exceptional needs and circumstances where all the advisers and the local authority agree an escort is essential.
What if a carer or I drive my child to school?
If your child qualifies for SEN transport you can apply to drive your child to school or arrange for a carer to do this and claim some money towards the cost. The mileage rate (both ways) is decided by the Senior Transport Officer.
What if I think the decision made about my child’s transport is wrong?
You cannot appeal to the SEN and Disability Tribunal about transport. You can ask for the first decision to be reviewed by the Assistant Head of Pupil Support (Targeted Services). This would only be possible if you provide further evidence which was not previously available. You can do this by writing to the SEN Assessment Service at:
SEN Assessment Service
Children and Young People’s Service
County Hall
Glenfield
Leicestershire
LE3 8RF
Or telephoning: 0116 305 6600
Children and Young People’s Service
County Hall
Glenfield
Leicestershire
LE3 8RF
Or telephoning: 0116 305 6600
What if I still disagree with the decision?
You can ask the Director of Children and Young People’s Service to review the Assistant Head’s decision by writing to:
Director of Children and Young People’s Service
County Hall
Glenfield
Leicestershire
LE3 8RF
County Hall
Glenfield
Leicestershire
LE3 8RF
Large Print
A large print version of this information is available from the SEN Assessment Service: Tel: 0116 305 6600
or write to:
SEN Assessment Service
Children and Young People’s Service
County Hall
Glenfield
Leicestershire
LE3 8RF
Children and Young People’s Service
County Hall
Glenfield
Leicestershire
LE3 8RF
Information
Please note that the information contained in this leaflet is relevant to residents of Leicestershire only. People living in the City of Leicester or Rutland or other Local Authority areas should contact their own Council for relevant information.
For more information contact:
The Special Educational Needs Assessment Service
E-Mail: SenaService@leics.gov.uk
Page Last Updated: 8 September 2009
