Transport
Travel assistance for a child with special educational needs and disability (SEND)
The following information (in italics) is taken from the South Gloucestershire Council Website and is copied here for your convenience. For further information and to apply please visit the South Gloucestershire Council website.
Your child may need help to get to and from school or college of further education because of their specific needs.
The council do not automatically give travel assistance to and from school because a child has a special educational need or disability. They will always check to see if a child is eligible on a case by case basis.
Pupils with SEND have the same entitlement to assistance with travel as any other South Gloucestershire pupil on the grounds of distance.
If a child attends a school on parental/carer preference which is not the nearest appropriate school as defined by the council, then assistance with travel will not be available and the responsibility will remain with the parent/carer.
Some children with SEND who have an education health and care plan (EHCP) will have no entitlement under the normal travel to school policies. They will however be considered on a case by case basis depending on the child’s particular needs and disabilities.
If travel assistance is provided, in most cases this will not include the provision of an escort. The council will however consider the specific needs of your child, in specific cases entitlement to assistance may include an escort.
Applying for travel assistance
If your child is under 16 and has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) applications for assistance with travel to school should be submitted to the SEN Home to School Transport Officer using the Travel Assistance to School EHCP children application form.
If your child is over 16 and has an EHCP, applications for assistance with travel to college or post 16 providers should be submitted to the admissions and transport team. Post 16 travel assistance leaflet provides further information. Forms and the travel assistance policy are updated every year from the 31st May. Applications should be submitted annually using the Post 16 Transport application form.
When travel assistance has been agreed
Once travel assistance has been agreed, your child’s details will be passed to the council’s Client Transport Team. They will organise the practical arrangements, for example issuing travel passes, organising travel routes and allocating the type of transport.
The Client Transport Team will notify you of the arrangements as soon as possible.
For more information refer to the South Gloucestershire Council article on travel assistance arrangements.
Contact
For further information please contact South Gloucestershire Council:
Client Transport Team on 01454 863924/5/6 or email: clienttransport@southglos.gov.uk