Home to school transport
Who is this section for?
This section is for parents/ carers of compulsory school aged children and young people who may be eligible for home to school travel support.
This section sets out the criteria for eligibility to travel assistance and describes how the Council fulfils its duties and exercises its discretionary powers.
Your child may be able to get free transport to school depending on how far the walk is, any special needs they have and whether the walk is safe.
All children between 5 and 16 qualify for free school transport if they go to their nearest suitable school and live a minimum of:
- 2 miles from the school if they’re under 8
- 3 miles from the school if they’re 8 or older
Nearest suitable school
A suitable school for school travel purposes is a qualifying school that is suitable for the child’s age, ability, aptitude, and any special educational needs they may have.
It should also be suitable for the child’s sex, for example a girls’ school could not be considered the nearest suitable school for a boy.
‘Suitable school’ does not mean the most suitable school for a child. Schools are able to meet a wide range of needs.
Section 509AD of the Education Act 1996 requires local authorities to have regard to any wish of a parent to have their child educated at a school based on their religion or belief when exercising their school travel duties. This does not mean local authorities must arrange travel to a school with a designated religious character for a child whose parents have chosen it on the grounds of their religion or belief.
Where a child’s nearest school is oversubscribed and unable to offer them a place, the nearest school with places available is their nearest suitable school for school travel purposes.
A child attending a school outside the statutory walking distance will not be eligible for assistance if the Local Authority can demonstrate that there is a nearer suitable school with places available unless eligible under extended right for free travel in relation to low-income families.
Where a child has an Education and Health Care plan (EHCP), the school named in the plan will normally be considered to be their nearest suitable school.
Families on low incomes
If you get the maximum Working Tax Credit or your children are entitled to free school meals, they’ll get free school transport if they’re:
- aged 8 to 11 and the school’s at least 2 miles away
- aged 11 to 16 and the school’s 2 to 6 miles away - as long as there are not 3 or more suitable schools nearer to home
- aged 11 to 16 and the school’s 2 to 15 miles away - if it’s their nearest school preferred on the grounds of religion or belief
Please note that proof of working tax credit or free school meal entitlement is required to support your application.
Route safety
When assessing route safety, the Council will consider a range of risks such as canals, rivers, ditches, speed of traffic and fields of vision for the pedestrian and motorist.
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Your child or young person is entitled to free transport if they cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school due to their SEND or mobility problem. The distance from your child’s school is not the only determining factor when assessing eligibility and is only a consideration when assessing any child’s eligibility.
We have outlined the guidance below as to what is deemed a reasonable distance to walk for your guidance. If your family home is within these walking distances, further information/evidence will be required to support your application.
- 2 miles from the school if they have SEN (Special Educational Needs) or a mobility problem and are of a primary school age
- 3 miles from the school if they have SEN or mobility problem and are of secondary school age
In line with the relevant guidance, an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) alone does not automatically qualify your child for transport assistance nor does not having one exclude them from travel support.
The following evidence can be provided to support a SEND home-to-school travel application;
- Evidence of SEND (Medical note/records, Dr’s letter, EHCP or other professional opinion that the child or young person has SEND). Dated within the last 12 months.
- Evidence that the child or young person cannot physically walk to school because of their SEND or mobility problem (Dr’s letter, statement from school, or other relevant professional). Dated within the last 12 months.
- In the event the child or young person can physically walk to school then evidence needs to be provided that they are unable to do so independently (Dr’s letter, statement from school, or other relevant professional). Dated within the last 12 months.
If the child or young person is able to physically walk, but is unable to do so independently, then evidence needs to be provided that there is no suitable adult to escort their child to their place of learning. The general expectation is that the parent will accompany their child or make other suitable arrangements for their journey to and from school. A child will not be eligible because their parent’s work commitments or caring responsibilities mean they are unable to accompany their child themselves.
Where evidence is not provided, the Council will seek to obtain evidence in line with that mentioned within the application. This may cause delays when making transport eligibility assessments and transport will not be provided until evidence has been obtained. As such the LA will not be liable for any transport during the assessment of eligibility.
If appropriate evidence cannot be obtained within 20 business days then transport will not be provided and a refusal notification will be issued. During the above stated process Parents, carers and young people are expected to make transport arrangements until the Council has notified applicants of a decision.
If there is no safe walking route
Children aged 5 to 16 must be given free transport if they go to their nearest suitable school and there is no safe walking route, however far away they live.
Parents and carers are responsible for ensuring children and young people get safely to school on time. As a general rule Knowsley Council expects parents/carers of children and young people with SEND to make arrangements for their child to attend school in the same way as for parents without SEND as this is an important factor in developing the child or young person’s independence, social and life skills. The Council has a duty to make the most efficient and effective use of the resources it has available to it, whilst ensuring any transport provided is suitable for an eligible child.
What support is available?
- Bus pass, shared transport within a taxi or minibus, or individual taxi.
- Prior to transport being arranged parents/guardians/carers will need to complete an application form detailing the special travel requirements of their child.
- An appropriate type of transport will then be determined.
You will need to reapply for travel support if you change education provider. Eligibility for transport should be reviewed annually or sooner if individual circumstances warrant this.
Independent Travel Training for Secondary School age pupils
During the service users’ education, Knowsley Council may request an assessment for suitability for Independent Travel Training at any point or during the applications process. Independent Travel Training is open to secondary aged children and adults whom are eligible for travel support. Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities will be supported through Independent Travel Training where appropriate and encouraged to develop their independence by using public transport.
Assessment will take place with parents, schools and other professionals regarding a child’s/adult’s ability to travel independently. The outcome of this assessment will be communicated to parents/guardians before any training commences. If parents/guardians refuse the opportunity for the child/adult to participate in independent travel training Knowsley Council’s offer of support will be to guide the parent/carer to commence their own travel training with assistance from the Council.
If a pupil is deemed suitable to undertake Independent Travel Training, the cost of bus travel will be provided during the training programme for pupils not eligible for a Merseytravel Disabled Person’s Travel Pass. If the pupil has transport support this will continue on a temporary basis on the days not undertaking scheduled training, pending the outcome of the Travel Trainer report on completion of the programme.
For secondary school age pupils who are able to access public transport, following participation in the Independent Travel Training programme, a travel pass will be provided for the rest of the academic year in which training was undertaken to those pupils not eligible for a Merseytravel Disabled Person’s Travel Pass. Eligibility for a travel pass will be reviewed on an annual basis and a new application will be required.
If parents/guardian feel the assessment is incorrect they have the right to appeal following the formal appeal process (Appendix F). If the individual is unsuccessful at independent travel after a travel training program, other travel support options will be explored such as shared transport within a taxi or minibus, or individual taxi. or other provision deemed reasonable to meet individual need.
Accompaniment
In determining whether a child cannot reasonably be expected to walk for the purposes of ‘special educational needs, a disability or mobility problems eligibility’ the local authority will need to consider whether the child could reasonably be expected to walk if accompanied and, if so, whether the child’s parent or legal carer can reasonably be expected to accompany the child.
When considering whether a child’s parent or legal carer can reasonably be expected to accompany the child on the journey to school a range of factors may need to be taken into account, such as the age of the child and their needs. Whilst one would not ordinarily expect a child of secondary school age to be accompanied, we would ordinarily expect a child/young adult to be accompanied if they needed support or assistance in managing their needs.
The general expectation is that a child will be accompanied by a parent or legal carer where necessary, unless there is a good reason why it is not reasonable to expect this.
Alternative Addresses
Council Commissioned Transport will only be provided to the pupil’s home address for journeys at the agreed school start and finish times to approved address’s that are part of a child routine. Additional or irregular journeys must be funded either by school or parents. For example, additional school activities or appointments.
Parental childcare is the responsibility of the parent and not that of the local authority, parents/guardians are expected to make the necessary arrangements to be at their home address or for a responsible adult to be at their address at the estimated pick up and drop off times to transport providers. In some circumstances the Council may be able to accommodate set childcare arrangements but this is approved on a case-by-case basis.
Is there a charge?
No, there is no charge for home to school transport where the above criteria and eligibility have been met.
Any travelling arrangements or expenses will be the responsibility of parents if there is a nearer suitable qualifying school. It is the parents’ or carers’ responsibility to ensure that their child gets to school safely, and they should consider the practicalities of choosing a school that is not within the qualifying walking distance.