FAQs

Most children and young people living in the BCP Council area are not eligible for home to school transport assistance because they have access to a suitable school within a reasonable distance from their home.

A reasonable distance (the statutory walking distance) is legally defined as:

• Up to two miles walking distance from home to school for statutory school age children under eight years old
• Up to two miles walking distance from home to school for statutory school age children and young people aged eight-16 years old and receiving the maximum working tax credit or the child/young person is eligible for free school meals
• Up to three miles walking distance from home to school for all other statutory school age children and young people aged eight-16 years old

There are some exceptions where home to school transport assistance may be provided and details are included in the policy.

BCP Council decides the most appropriate means of supporting children and young people to travel to and from school, considering the aims of promoting independence and sustainable travel, while ensuring cost effectiveness.

The following types of travel assistance are provided:

• issue of a travel pass for use on bus and/or train networks, supported by independent travel training, if needed.
• Personal travel budgets for children and young people with an education, health and care plan (EHCP).
• Minibus
• Taxi.

Fuel, wear and tear contribution if it is shown to be a cost-effective solution and/or there are no suitable or appropriate alternative arrangements available.

The opportunity to appeal the decision of the eligibility assessment and the form of travel assistance offered is available to families.

The mainstream school home to school transport budget for 2021/22 is £853,800 with a projected overspend of £19,163. The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) home to school transport budget for 2021/22 is £6,485,200, with a projected overspend of £845,500. This reflects the home to school transport needs resulting from the placement of increased numbers of children and young people with EHCPs in specialist provision.

A senior officer will evaluate your appeal using the following categories:

• Appeals for children and young people with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
• Appeals regarding the distance measurement or safety of the route
• All other appeals

Regardless of the category for appeal, checks will be made by officers to ensure that your application was correctly considered using the policy.

Appeals regarding the distance measurement or safety of the route will be reviewed by one officer. 

For all other appeals, there will be a panel of three Childrens Services Officers to review the appeal. 

Children with EHCP may also be referred to STAR Panel by the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Team if they are unable to resolve the appeal request.

The STAR panel will comprise of three senior officers from Children’s Services supported by a senior officer from the school admissions team and/or the SEND team. Including Children’s Services senior officers in the stage one appeal will ensure a child/young person and family focussed approach to the review. The STAR panel will have discretion to make a range of decisions including upholding the family’s appeal, providing temporary transport assistance and signposting/referral to appropriate support.

Following both senior officer or STAR panel review, the family will receive a detailed decision letter and the opportunity to request a Stage Two appeal. The Stage Two appeal will be heard by a panel of council members (this has not changed).

Any appeal for a child/young person with an EHCP will be passed to the relevant senior officer(s) within the SEND team to ensure that the needs of your child/young person are assessed in line with their plan. If required, it will then be forwarded to the school transport appeal review (STAR) panel.

This change affects all BCP Council residents. This is to ensure that the needs of the child are thoroughly acknowledged when making a decision regarding an appeal.