Transport for children with special educational needs

There is no automatic entitlement to transport assistance for children who have an Education, health and care plan (EHC plan).

If you apply for a place at your designated school or the nearest school to your home address, your child will get free transport if they live further than the statutory walking distance from the school.

Walking distance is defined as over:

  • two miles from home to school for children of primary school age
  • three miles from home to school for children of secondary school age

You can find out which is your designated mainstream school at School designated areas.

If your child’s EHC plan says that their needs can be met at a mainstream school, the normal eligibility criteria will apply, unless a disability or medical condition means they cannot walk the specified distance for their age.

Where a school is named in accordance with parental preference and is not the nearest suitable school, nor the designated school for the home address then there is no obligation for the Authority to assist with transport.

Please review our Education Travel Policy.

The information contained in this guide is also summarised in the Transport for children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education Health Care Plan leaflet.

Low income families

If your child is entitled to free school meals, or your family gets the maximum level of Working Tax Credit, then your family is considered to be on a low income.

Your child may be entitled to free transport on the grounds of low income provided they attend one of the three nearest schools to your home address and that school is between two and six miles from your home address. This entitlement is reviewed annually and transport provision may be withdrawn if your circumstances have changed.

To confirm that you receive the maximum amount of Working Tax Credit we need to see your new TC602 Tax Award Notice each year.

However, if your financial circumstances have not changed since the previous financial year you will not have to complete the HMRC annual review and will not be sent a TC602 Tax Award Notice automatically.

We advise you to request a copy of the TC602 Award Notice by phoning the Tax Credit Helpline on 0345 300 3900 and explaining you need it as evidence for transport assistance for your child.

Please do this as soon as possible as it can be several weeks before you receive the TC602 form.

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