Special educational needs transport

We offer free home to school transport for all children of compulsory school age (5-16 years) who meet the entitlement criteria. Visit school transport for further information and view our home to school and college transport policy.

It is also our policy to offer:

• Free transport to children who start school at four years old, if they will be five years old before 31 August that school year
• A subsidised transport scheme for students aged 16-19 years, using existing local bus or train services or education transport contract vehicles. Visit Post16 travel scheme

For students aged 16-25 years who have learning difficulties or disabilities, we’ll provide subsidised specialist transport where we think it’s necessary. Find out more about SEND transport. 

TITAN transport support programme

When we assess a student’s travel needs, we will consider whether they might benefit from our Travel Independence Training (TITAN) scheme. This is training to help the student use public transport services or contract buses. We will withdraw any special transport provision, if students or families choose not to take part in the travel training programme, or do not comply with reasonable arrangements recommended by TITAN representatives. Find out more about transport support and training.

Transport for a pupil aged 5-16 years with a special educational need and/or a disability

If your child is aged 5-16 years, we will provide transport if they have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan that says they need help to attend school.

They will need to go to the school that is identified in their EHC plan, as the nearest one that can meet their needs. If you choose for your child to go to a different school, then you will take full responsibility for transport.

Transport for students aged 16-25 years with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan

Young people who have an EHC plan will be entitled to travel assistance to attend sixth form or college, if:

• They are attending the nearest educational establishment that can meet their needs
• The educational establishment is named in their EHC plan
• They live over the qualifying three-mile distance

If your child has an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan there is no need to apply for travel assistance as the Travel Independence Training Team (TITAN) are already assessing who is entitled to travel assistance and if independent travel training might be appropriate for them - you will hear direct from one of the TITAN team soon.

All students are expected to undertake travel independence training, to enable them to use public transport, unless we assess them as unlikely to benefit from such training.  

The team will work with students, parents/carers and other professionals. Travel training will take place over the summer holidays with a dedicated travel training ‘buddy’. Visit summer buddy service for more information.

We will keep you up-to-date with the progress of your application. All travel assistance is provided subject to a financial contribution. This must be paid in advance, unless the young person will be over 19 years old on 1 September.

Read the full terms and conditions of the post16 transport policy.

Transport for students aged 16-25 years who are attending a special school

If your child will be continuing at a special school beyond the age of 16, travel assistance will continue to be provided, subject to a review of needs and potential travel training.

You will need to pay the standard parental contribution, as shown on the cost and payment page.

Parental responsibility before boarding and at drop-off 

Parents are responsible for their children before they board the vehicle and after they get off at the end of the day. This includes ensuring they have a pass to travel, if using a service which requires one.

Children of primary school age (Reception - Year 6) and children with special needs, should be collected from school transport by an appropriate adult, eg a parent/guardian. Parents should ensure that someone can be at the drop-off point. If there is no adult present at the drop-off point, the child will not be left. This may mean that the school transport continues its route with the child on board, whilst the parent/guardian is contacted.