SEND transport 5 – 16 year olds

Eligibility for 5 to 16 year olds

Your child will qualify for free SEND school transport if they have a SEN statement or Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and are attending the school allocated by the Local Authority, that meets their needs or a nearer qualifying school.

And the school is more than:

  • 2 miles from where they live for primary age pupils (up to 11 years old)
  • 3 miles from where they live for secondary age pupils (11 to 16 years old)

Exception

We will still consider your child for free SEND school transport if:

  • you live less than 2 miles (for primary age pupils) or less than 3 miles (for secondary age pupils) from your allocated school
  • they don’t have a SEN statement or EHCP but their sensory, physical, medical or behavioural difficulties stop them from getting to school even with help from a parent or carer

How to apply

Special schools

If your child is starting at a special school you will need to complete the Transport Eligibility Assessment Form (TEAF)

Complete the Transport Eligibility Assessment Form (TEAF)Opens another website in new window

We won’t be able to offer your child free transport if you don’t fill this in.

We may contact you to find out more about your child to make sure they get the most suitable transport.

Mainstream schools

If your child is starting, or moving up to their next school, we will contact you if they are eligible. This does not apply to mid-term transfers.

You may need to give us more information to help us work out:

  • whether your child is eligible for free transport to school
  • what the best type of transport will be for your child

We may telephone you to find out more about your child to make sure they get the most suitable transport.

If you think we've made a mistake

Contact our Transport Assessments team if you’d like an explanation of how we worked out that your child doesn’t qualify for home to school transport.

Transport Assessments
Email:
Telephone: 0116 305 0002
(Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm)

How to appeal

Click on the link below and fill in and send the form off

SEN home to school transport appeal form

Send it to the address on the form.

Deadline

You must send in the appeal form within 20 working days of receiving our decision. Working days are Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).