FA5

Travel Assistance to School or Further Education for Children and Young People

Information for Parents / Carers

Islington Council normally expects pupils to travel to school by walking or making use of free travel available on London Transport or with a Freedom Pass, either on their own or accompanied by an adult. If you are interested in applying for support with travel assistance please refer to the council’s Education Transport and Travel Policy.

Active journeys, such as walking and cycling, provide real health benefits for children and their families. They also contribute to environmental improvements which affect all local residents, through reduced levels of congestion and noise and improvements in air quality.

A small number of children and young people with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school/college because of their mobility problems or because of associated health and safety issues. In these cases the Council may provide support to enable them to attend school/college.

In deciding whether a child / young person is entitled to this support we look at the particular circumstances of the child/young person and their parents/carers. We take into account:

  • the child’s special educational needs and/or disabilities
  • the distance from home to school/college
  • any difficulties in travelling by public transport
  • family circumstances, such as other caring responsibilities and parent/carer disability
  • whether the child’s needs can be meet at a more local school/college

If we do agree to provide travel assistance this can take the form of:

  • A Personal Travel Budget. This means that the Council provides the family with a sum of money to enable them to make their own travel arrangements
  • A vehicle provided bythe Council’s Accessible Community Service, with an escort if required
  • A Passenger Assistant, who will travel with a child/young person on foot or by public transport. Wherever possible the Passenger Assistant will provide Travel Training so that the child/young person develops the ability to travel independently.

Using the form overleaf please provide us with any information that will enable us to decide whether your child needs this service. The more detail that is provided the more quickly we will be able to make a decision.

If your child does not have a statement of SEN or an Education, Health and Care Plan please also attach supporting evidence or reports from the relevant professionals regarding your child’s needs, and any relevant documentation.

Completed forms should be sent to the SEN Team, Islington Council, 222 Upper Street, London

N1 1XR, or by email to .

.

FA5Travel Assistance Application Form

Please read the information for Parents / Carers above before you complete this form

  • All sections must be completed
  • If we do agree to provide transport it can take up to 10 days to put the necessary arrangements in place

SECTION 1:Student Details

First Name
Surname
Date of Birth
Age
Address
Postcode
Mobile number (If over 16)
Email (if over 16)
Does the student have a statement of special educational needs?
Does the student have a Section 139a Learning Difficulties Assessment?
Does the student have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)?
Is the student entitled to Free School Meals under the national criteria?*
Does the student receive Disability Living Allowance** (DLA)?
Does the student receive the mobility element of DLA?
If YES which level of mobility support do you receive?
How does your child currently travel to their school or setting?

* This is based on as assessment of your income and any benefits you receive.

**The Local Authority may take into account receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for the student when assessing what support might be needed by the student (i.e. as a proxy of the severity of a disability) but may not require the student to use this to support their transport costs to learning.

SECTION 2:Parent / Carer Details

Title
First Name
Surname
Relationship to child
Address
(if different to your child)
Postcode
Email Address
Telephone Number

SECTION 3:School / College Details

Name of school / college
Site (if split site)
Address
Postcode
Days and start / finish times
Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday
Start time
Finish time

SECTION 4:Family Circumstances

Do you have other children under the age of 11?
If YES, please tell us how old they are, and which school / early years setting they go to
Child 1 / Name / Click here to enter text. /
Age
School
Child 2 / Name
Age
School
Child 3 / Name
Age
School
Do you have a disability which prevents you from taking your child to school yourself?
If YES, please give details
Does the family have a car?
Does your child receive support from the Disabled Children’s Team?
Does your child receive support from the Islington Learning Disability Partnership?
Name of social / family worker
(if applicable)
Email Address of social / family support worker
(if applicable)
Telephone number of social / family support worker
(if applicable)
Is the student in care to Islington Local Authority?
Is the student in care to another Local Authority?
If YES, state the name of Local Authority

SECTION 5:Mobility

Is the student able to:
Walk unaided?
Walk unaided but with some difficulty?
Walk with assistance?
Climb up / down steps?
Does the student:
Use a mobility aid to walk?
Need help to get in and out of a vehicle?
Have tendency to fall / stumble / trip?
Use a wheelchair / buggy?
Need to travel in their wheelchair / buggy?

SECTION 6:Independence

There are many benefits of becoming an independent travellerincluding an increase in confidence, and being able to take part in a wider range of activities such as after school clubs and college placements. All learners with special educational needs are expected to participate in an Independent Travel Training assessment from the time they start secondary school.

Does the student’s condition prevent them from travelling to school/college on public transport on their own?
Could they make the journey accompanied by a responsible adult?
If NO, please state the reasons below
Can the student walk to school or college on their own?
Could they walk to school or college accompanied by a responsible adult?
If NO, please state the reasons below
How do they travel when not at a school or college (i.e. weekends, school holiday, after school)?
Does the student receive help with travel to any other venue apart from school / college (i.e. respite, short breaks)?
If Yes, please provide full details (i.e. frequency, how they travel) below
Has the student received any independent travel training whilst in school / college?
If Yes, please provide details below
Is there any reason why the student could not take part in independent travel training?
If Yes, please provide details below

SECTION 7:Additional Information

Please include any additional information below which we should be aware of (this could include details of medical information (i.e. seizures) or any likes / dislikes or particular phobias). Please feel free to add additional pages.

SECTION 8:Declarations

The Data Protection Act 1998

By signing the declaration below you are giving us permission to share the information contained in this application form for the purpose of considering your request for support for transport.

Declaration by Parent / Carer

I can confirm that to the best of my knowledge the information given on this form is correct and true.
Name
Signature
Date
For young people over the age of 16 who are applying on their own behalf
Name
Signature
Date

Completed forms should be sent to the SEN Team, Islington Council, 222 Upper Street, London

N1 1XR, or by email to .