Entitlement to School Transport for Pupils with Complex Special
Needs
Summary of General Statement of Policy which applies to all
pupils
Generally the council will provide transport for pupils who are
registered pupils at their local school and live more than the
recognised (statutory) walking distance from it, that is 2 miles
for children of primary school age, and 3 miles for older
children. For most children this transport is free, but there
are charges for those who make use of the council’s school
transport services but are not themselves entitled to free
transport. If a parent sends his/her child to another school,
she/he cannot claim from the council the money the school transport
service would otherwise have been prepared to spend on transporting
the child to his/her local school.
If Cheshire East Transport think that your child may be eligible
for transport to your allocated school they will write to you
telling you what you need to do next. A change in government
legislation could mean that you may be entitled to help under a new
section of the School Transport Policy if your family is eligible
for Free School Meals or is in receipt of the maximum level of
Working Families Tax Credit. If you do not receive any
details from Cheshire East Transport and believe you may be
eligible for school transport please call 0300 123 5012.
Entitlement to Transport on Complex/Special Needs Grounds
When assessing a child/young person’s complex special needs, the
Local Authority will decide whether the child/young person would be
able to comply with the distance criteria. If the advice
indicates that a child/young person would be unable to fulfil this
requirement, then transport will be provided free of charge.
Decisions are evidence based and made following an individual
assessment of need. The Local Authority will look at factors
such as the needs of the child, the nature of the route to school
and the suitability of existing transport options.
Criteria will include:
- The child/young person’s physical or sensory impairment
prevents them from achieving independent travel or walking the
statutory walking distance accompanied by an adult.
- Assessed behaviours and social independence skills of the
child/young person are such that they would be unable to travel
safely, accompanied by an adult.
Students with Complex Special Needs who attend post 16
education establishments
Students who continue their education after the age of 16, can
apply for transport via the CSN Transport Policy.
It is expected that the Local Authority will collaborate with
Learning and Skills Council, Further Education Colleges, Integrated
Youth Support Service Personal Advisors and the Integrated
Transport Service in developing, publishing and delivering
transport for students.
Schools, College Personnel and Connexions Personal Advisers have
the responsibility of introducing independence training and
reducing the reliance on specialist transport. These
personnel will also be required to provide evidence for the purpose
of assessing eligibility of the student’s independence skills,
levels of attainment and course details in adequate time for an
appropriate and thorough assessment to be made.
Transport will only be provided to the nearest college offering the
appropriate course or similar. Parents/carers will need to re-apply
for transport on an annual basis. Support with transport may
be provided at least up to the age of 21 and for a maximum of three
years. The appropriate application form is available by
telephoning 0300 123 5012.
Parental Preference
Where a child attends a school other than that designated by the
Local Authority to serve the pupil’s home address or, is not the
nearest appropriate school as deemed by the Local Authority, the
parents are responsible for making their own transport arrangements
and for all the transport costs.
Appeals
Should the Local Authority refuse to provide travel assistance
or free travel, there is a parental right of appeal to a Special
Appeals Committee. Please click for details of the appeals
procedure (MS Word, 69KB).
Provision
The arrangements for assisted transport which may be made under
this policy will be at the Council’s discretion, taking account of
the child/young person needs and best value principles.
These arrangements will take the form of:
- standard mileage allowance where no existing transport was
available or pupil would be travelling alone; or
- travel pass for use on public transport; or
- travel pass or other authorisation for use on private contract
services; or
- alternative/accessible vehicle.
Transport Arrangements
Transport will be provided at an appropriate specified place and
time. It is the parent/carer’s responsibility to ensure that the
child/young person is ready and taken to the agreed pick up
point. No alternative transport will be made
on that day and the parent/carer will responsible for ensuring the
child/young person’s attendance at school.
