travel assistance guide

Home to school travel assistance

A few parents will need some help in getting their special educational needs child to school because of the type of need or the severity of need. The SEN Team decides the travel assistance after considering the individual needs of the child and the distance between home and school.

Home to school transport is a vital service to some of the most vulnerable children attending schools. It is an essential component in reducing the inequality of opportunity for these young people. The service involves a complex interplay of many people -parents, drivers, escorts, administrators, SENCOs and other school staff. To ensure smooth operation of the service all people have responsibilities and must play their part.

Policy on school travel assistance

The Council has a statutory duty to consider the transport needs of children and to publish a policy on home to school transport. The policy determines eligibility for transport assistance and the types of transport assistance that might be provided. This may include:

  • The provision of a bus pass
  • support towards petrol costs
  • reimbursement of rail/tube fare
  • the provision of an escort to accompany a child to school
  • an independent travel training programme
  • in some cases transport by a bus or minibus and transport in an accessible bus or minibus.

Where transport on a vehicle is provided it will be provided to and from a collection point to school or in cases where the child has severe and multiple needs a home collection may be agreed. Transport assistance is provided free of charge. Waltham Forest has overall responsibility for commissioning the service and will co-ordinate the parties involved. Primary responsibility for determining the transport needs of each child rests with officers of Waltham Forest who are guided by the Council’s policy. The Council has contracted CT Plus to undertake the day to day running of transport for children attending schools in Waltham Forest and Ruskin Private Hire Ltd for children attending schools outside the borough.  This year Independent travel training is being provided for young people to support their development of independence for adult life.

The SEN Team will determine the transport needs of children (in consultation) and will review these every year.

Home to school transport is a significant cost. It is important that we work together to deliver high quality services to families in genuine need and reduce inefficiencies wherever possible.

Parents’ responsibilities

  • Parents who wish to use the offered service must
  • ensure that their child is ready at the scheduled pick up time
  • be at home to receive the child after school
  • treat school staff, escorts, drivers and pupils in a courteous and respectful manner
  • provide two emergency telephone contact numbers
  • inform the SEN Team and CT Plus or Ruskin Private Hire Ltd of any change of address in advance

The quality of the service will be monitored to ensure that the performance standard is met. The Transport Contractor’s Performance will be reviewed and this information will be shared with the Council. Parents and schools will be surveyed each year to determine the level of satisfaction with the service.

Download the Home to School Travel Assistance Guide (650KB PDF file) which provides more information and advice to parents/carers about the services available in supporting children in travelling to and from school, college and further education settings.

Some of these documents are in PDF format. To view them you may need to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Schools' responsibilities

Schools can help by:

  • ensuring that sufficient staff members are on hand at the scheduled drop off times to accept children into the school.
    Note that drop off times may be staggered to help reduce traffic congestion around larger schools and to aid efficient scheduling.
  • ensuring that children are ready promptly at the scheduled collection time;
  • assisting with the review of transport requirements each year by carefully considering each child’s transport needs and providing appropriate information at the annual review of statement of special educational needs.
  • providing timely notice of variations in transport requirements.

For non-operational issues, e.g. changes of address, school leavers or complaints, contact the SEN Team (details below).

Regarding day to day operational issues e.g. your child is ill or unable to attend school, holidays, delays in service etc, please telephone:

  • CT Plus on  020 8509 9140 for children attending schools in Waltham Forest
  • Ruskin Private Hire Ltd on 020 7252 6805 for children attending schools outside the borough.

If your child is following an Independent Travel training programme (97KB PDF file) please contact DABD on 020 8526 8062.

If you require further information contact the Transport Officer at the address below.

Contact us

SEN Team
1st Floor, Wood Street Health Centre
Linford Road
London E17 3LA

Tel: 020 8496 6500/6510
Email senteam@walthamforest.gov.uk