Transport assistance

This page explains who is eligible to be considered for travel support, what this looks like and how to apply.

Transport law and guidance

Local authorities/councils (LAs) are required to arrange free, suitable, home to school transport for children of compulsory school age, who are ‘eligible’, to their nearest *suitable qualifying school (section 508B of the Education Act (EA)1996).

*A suitable school for school travel purposes is a qualifying* school that is suitable for your child’s age, ability, aptitude, and any special educational needs they may have. It should also be suitable for your child’s sex, for example a girls’ school could not be considered the nearest suitable school for a boy.

Any nearer schools which are unable to meet your child’s needs, or do not have a place available for your child, are not considered to be a nearer suitable school.

*Qualifying schools

Qualifying schools are:

  • Maintained schools-mainstream or special schools (funded by the council)
  • Academies (including those which are free schools, studio schools and special schools)
  • Alternative provision academies
  • Non-maintained special schools
  • Pupil referral units
  • Maintained nursery schools (where attended by a child of compulsory school age)

The information on this sheet has been taken from the Department of Education guidance on Travel to school for children of compulsory school age.

What are the criteria for providing transport assistance to children who are of compulsory school age (5-16 years old)?

If your child is of compulsory school age, and they go to their nearest suitable school, they may get free school transport assistance, if any of the following apply to them:

  • Their school is more than two miles away if your child is under 8
  • Their school is more than three miles away if your child is 8 or over
  • There is no safe walking route between home and their school
  • Your child cannot be reasonability expected to walk to their school and back, because of their special educational needs (SEND), disability or mobility need

If your child does not meet one of the reasons above, they still may get free school transport assistance, if either:

  • They are eligible for free school meals, or
  • They live with a parent who receives maximum Working Tax Credit and they are:
    • Aged between 8 and 11, attend their nearest suitable school and it is more than two miles from their home; or
    • Aged 11 to 16 years, and attend one of their three nearest suitable schools provided it is between two to six miles from their home; or
    • Aged 11 to 16 years, attend a school that is between two and 15 miles from their home that you(parent/s) have chosen on the grounds of their religion or belief if, having regard to that religion or belief, there is no suitable school nearer to their home.

Pages 11-21 of the Travel to school for children of compulsory school age provide examples of each of the above reasons.

See further information about eligibility (IPSEA).

My child does not have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan but does have SEND and we live less than 2 miles walking distance from school. Does that mean my child not get free transport assistance?

No. Your child does not need an EHC plan to apply for free school transport assistance. If distance is not a reason, then they may be able to get free school transport assistance if:

  • There’s no safe walking route between home and school, or
  • Your child cannot be reasonably expected to walk to their school and back, even when accompanied, because of their special educational needs or disabilities or a mobility need

My child has an EHC Plan. Does this mean they are automatically entitled to free school transport assistance?

No. Your child will need to fall into one of the reasons explained earlier on this sheet. (see What are the criteria for providing school transport assistance to children who are of compulsory school age (5-16 years old))?

Please note: If your child’s SEND does not impact their ability to walk to school and back then you will have to see if one of the other reasons for free school transport assistance applies.

Local Authorities (LAs) Discretionary Power

LAs (councils) have a discretionary power to provide travel to school for children resident in their area who do not meet the eligibility criteria. This is referred to as ‘discretionary travel’.

Discretionary travel may be provided in either direction between the child’s home and their school, or both. It may be provided free, or a charge may be made. Any charges should be reasonable.

With your consent, the LA may pay all or part of your child’s reasonable travel expenses, provide you with a travel allowance, or arrange for them to be accompanied by a passenger assistant.

Discretionary travel does not need to be limited to children of compulsory school age.

It is for each LA to decide whether and how to use their discretionary power.

Please note: There is an expectation by the government that all LAs will act reasonably in delivering their functions. For example, the LA should not have a blanket policy of never providing discretionary travel, and should be prepared to consider cases where a parent says there are reasons why their child needs free travel to school. The LA should make decisions case by case.

I think my child should get free school transport assistance. How do I apply for it?

You will need to complete Wandsworth Council’s SEND Travel Assistance team’s online application form.

Please click on this link for the online application form Wandsworth School Travel Assistance for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)

The form is time limited. We advise that you type up your answers first on a word document and then cut and paste your responses on to the online form.

You should also have any documents ready to upload on to the online form, for example, school/professional reports/doctors letters/EHC plan).

Please refer to WIASS Transport Assistance template forms, which have prompts to support you to complete your application form.

These can be found following the links below:

If you cannot complete the form online, please contact the SEND Travel Assistance team using this email address: SENtravelassistance@wandsworth.gov.uk.

What are the possible ways that the LA (council) may provide free school transport assistance to my child?

It is for the LA (council) to decide how they will arrange free school transport assistance for children who meet the criteria,

For example:

  • A bus pass to travel on a public bus
  • A dedicated school bus provided by the LA
  • A taxi

The LA can also provide free school transport assistance in other ways, however with your consent (agreement).

For example:

Travel Assistance Budge (TAB): Provide you with a set amount of money to help pay for your car mileage or for you to book taxi’s for your child.

Travel Escort (buddy) – who escorts your child to school

Independent travel training - someone who will provide training to your child to travel to school and back home on their own.

Please note: If your child is eligible for free school transport assistance arrangements, these must not result in additional costs for you.

More information about free travel to school assistance for eligible children

LAs must make arrangements to enable a child to transport to school for the beginning of the school day, and to return home at the end of the school day. They are not required to make arrangements:

  • For children to travel between institutions during the school day;
  • To enable children to attend extra-curricular activities (for example, after school clubs) and other commitments outside school hours; or
  • To enable children to get to and from, before and after school childcare, whether formal (for example, a childminder) or informal (for example, a grandparent)

How does the LA make sure that my child travels to school and back home safely and comfortably?

The Travel to school for children of compulsory school age 2024 Guidance (paragraphs 81 - 85) defines suitable travel arrangements. It highlights that LAs must make sure that the travel arrangements they make take account of the needs of the child concerned.

For example, it would not be appropriate to provide a bus pass for free travel on a public bus to your child if their SEND or mobility needs, mean they would be unable to travel on a service bus.

The transport assistance should allow your child to travel in reasonable safety and comfort, and without undue stress, strain or difficulty, so that wherever possible they arrive at school ready to learn.

As a general guide, the maximum journey time for your child if of primary school age should be 45 minutes each way,

and 75 minutes each way for your child if secondary school age, including any time taken to walk to a pick-up point.

However, there will be situations in which this is not possible, for example if your child needs to travel a long way to the school named in their EHC plan, or when journey times are extended by traffic delays. Wherever possible, your child should not be expected to make several changes on public transport.

Once free school transport assistance has been approved, the LA should consider the following:

  • Ensure drivers and escorts are known to you
  • Operators contact numbers are provided to you
  • Ensure stability of staffing arrangements for children who dislike change
  • Encourage schools and transport services to use a home-school liaison diary
  • Ensure that journey times are reasonable to avoid undue stress.
  • Enhanced DBS checks for all drivers and escorts
  • Minimum standards of training for drivers and escorts, including training in conflict resolution, safe handling and working with children with medical conditions and/or disabilities, where appropriate
  • Risk Assessments
  • Specific measures for children with *medical needs
  • Specific training for staff and vehicle adaptations for children with mobility needs

*Children with medical needs

If the LA has agreed to free school transport for your child because of their medical needs, they should consider whether and how those needs might affect your child during their journey to and from school. Also where necessary, put in place proportionate arrangements to manage those needs.

These arrangements should be done on a case-by-case basis. The matters that should be considered are likely to include:

  • The medical condition, its triggers and symptoms;

  • The likelihood and consequences of the condition affecting your child (if this applies to them) on the journey to and from school; and

  • The action that may need to be taken to manage the condition.

Local education, health and social care services should work together to ensure children get the right support.

For more information on travel assistance for children with medical needs, please read paragraphs 90-96, pages 3-31 of the Travel to school for children of compulsory school age (GOV.UK).

When can I apply for transport assistance?

You can apply for travel assistance any time. However if your child has an EHC plan and is going through reception, secondary or Post 16 transfer or a change of placement, you can apply once you have received the final amended copy of the EHC plan naming their new school, in Section I of the EHC plan.

How do I appeal a transport assistance decision I do not agree with?

All LA’s have a procedure for handling complaints about the services they provide.

You should be able to complain about the service you have received in relation to travel to school.

You should also be able to appeal a decision taken by the LA (council) about your child’s travel to school.

It is up to LAs to decide which matters should be handled as complaints and which should be handled as appeals. Typically, matters such as whether your child is eligible for free school transport assistance, or whether the travel the LA has arranged is suitable for your child’s needs will be handled as appeals. Matters such as the punctuality of a school bus, or a delay in replying to correspondence from you will be handled as a complaint.

Please follow the link below if you want to appeal the transport decision you have received, then click on Stage 1 Appeal or Stage 2 Appeal.

The Appeals Process (Family Information Service)

For prompts on what to include in a Stage 1 or 2 Appeal, please follow the links below:

Can my child who is aged over 16 get transport assistance?

In some circumstances the LA can provide travel support to sixth form or college, please see Post-16 transport and travel support to education and training for further information.

For further information, please see the links below and/or contact us: