Pupils with special transport needs

Special transport needs aren't necessarily the same as special educational needs. Not all children with special educational needs have special transport needs.

A special transport need would be where your child:

• Can't walk
• Lives within walking distance of the school but cannot walk safely to school even if accompanied
• Can't use public transport without help.

If your child has a special transport need, we'll provide free transport or a paid mileage allowance to get your child to the catchment area school no matter how close it is. We don't usually give help for your child to travel to other schools.

Special transport arrangements are usually by bus, minibus, taxi or ambulance. If there is more than one pupil in the vehicle, we may arrange an escort. If your child is travelling alone in a taxi, we may ask you to accompany him or her. If the school is beyond walking distance, the taxi will take you home and pick you up again in the afternoon. If the journey is less than the legal walking distance, we'd expect you to walk home in the morning and back again in the afternoon.

If you think your child has a special transport need, please contact the Children and Family Services team at County Hall.
Tel: 0115 977 4341.