Waltham Forest is strongly committed to safe and inclusive travel for all children and young people to and from school and believes that travel can provide important and varied opportunities in respect of delivering the five outcomes of the Every Child Matters agenda:
- Be healthy – by encouraging regular exercise
- Stay safe – by improving road safety skills, cycle proficiency, competence in using public transport
- Enjoy and achieve – by increasing opportunities for social interaction, communication and participation in clubs etc
- Make a positive contribution
- Achieve economic well-being – by developing confidence and resourcefulness to travel independently and support options/choices for post 16 education or employment.
The majority of young people wish to become more independent with regard to travel, developing skills as adolescents that will be extremely valuable in their future. Supporting young people in travelling to and from school is an important aspect of their social inclusion and, in the longer term, vital for attaining maximum independence and life choices.
A range of options for support with travel in Waltham Forest are available and are able to be reviewed at regular intervals throughout a young person’s education or care. Waltham Forest has a policy that taxi and minibus transport will only be provided where there is no viable alternative. Support with travel will be considered on the basis of each pupil’s individual need and wherever feasible, we will seek to uphold the principle of encouraging independent or peer group travel for all pupils, as appropriate to their age and ability.
For more information download the Waltham Forest Home to School Travel Assistance Policy (619KB PDF file) and also the Local Authority Transport Statement of Intent (Policy Statement) 2011 (53KB PDF file)
Contact us
SEN Team
1st Floor, Wood Street Health Centre
Linford Road
London E17 3LA
Tel: 020 8496 6503/6505
Email senteam@walthamforest.gov.uk
