Transport for students with special educational needs

Under 16s

For pupils who meet the SEN Under 16’s Home to School Transport criteria Warwickshire County Council is currently able to provide transport assistance.

For the 2011/12 academic year, Home to School transport assistance is available to students who meet following criteria:

The pupil must be a resident in Warwickshire
The pupil must have a maintained statement of special educational needs
The pupil must be 16 years of age or under

AND

Have a placement at a specialist nursery

Have a placement at the nearest appropriate special school as selected by the County Council and named on the child’s statement

Have a placement at a designated Speech and Language Resource Base

Have a placement at the nearest appropriate mainstream school as named in the child’s statement which is:

Over 2 miles away for children under the age of 8
Over 3 miles away for children aged 8-16
Two miles away for children aged 8-11 who are entitled to free school meals and whose carers are in receipt of the maximum level of tax credits (proof of this will need to be provided)

For those that meet the above criteria Transport Assistance may be offered in two forms.

Travel Allowance Payments

If a pupil qualifies for transport assistance it is primarily offered in the form of travel allowance payments. A Parent/Carer would be awarded travel allowance payments to enable them to transport the pupil to and from school. Payments are made termly and are strictly based on the pupil’s attendance.

Travel allowances are paid at a rate of 25 pence per mile. The amount paid will be calculated on two return journeys per day. All payments are made in arrears, usually at the end of each term.

Warwickshire County Council Transport

Transport may be provided to pupils whose parents/carers are unable to transport them to and from school. Transport assistance may be given in the form of a bus pass, train pass or private vehicle. This is currently provided free of charge.

Warwickshire County Council will seek advice from relevant professionals if there is any dispute over the nature of transport requested / required.

If you wish to apply for SEN Under16’s Home to School Transport Assistance please find attached the relevant documents. (documents and downloads)

For General Enquiries, to request a paper copy of the application or if you require any assistance in completing the form please contact the SEN Transport Liaison Officer, details can be found below.

Lizi Smith
SEN Transport Liaison Officer
Children, Young People & Families
Assessment, Statementing and Review Service
Warwickshire County Council
Telephone: 01926 742359
lizismith@warwickshire.gov.uk

16-19 Statemented Pupils Attending a Special School or School Sixth Form

For the 2011/12 academic year, transport assistance is available to students who meet ALL of the following criteria:

The Student must be a resident in Warwickshire
The student must be aged over 16 and under 19 years
The student must be attending a full-time course (450 guided learning hours per year)
The student must have a maintained statement of special educational needs.
The student or Parent/Carer must agree to pay a flat rate charge as a contribution towards the cost of transport or would like to apply for travel allowance payments

For those that meet the above criteria Transport Assistance may be offered in two forms.

Travel Allowance Payments

If a student qualifies for transport assistance the parent/carer may opt to receive travel allowance payments to enable them to transport the student to and from school or sixth form. Payments are made termly and are strictly based on the student’s attendance.

Travel allowances are paid at a rate of 25 pence per mile. The amount paid will be calculated on two return journeys per day. This will then be multiplied by the number of days the student attends. All payments are made in arrears, usually at the end of each term.

Warwickshire County Council Transport

Transport may be provided to students who meet the SEN 16-19 Transport Assistance criteria and whose parents/carers are unable to transport them to and from school. Transport assistance may be given in the form of a bus pass, train pass or private vehicle however this is subject to a charge of £660 per school year although some financial assistance is available to families who are classed as having a low income. From September 2011 the contribution charges are as follows:

Annual Charge - £660
Termly Charges - £250 Autumn Term, £250 Spring Term and £160 Summer Term
Standing Order- 8 monthly payments of £82.50

Students of families in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits listed below are considered to be from a low income family and qualify for a reduced charge of;

Annual Charge - £330
Termly Charge - £125 Autumn Term, £125 Spring Term and £80 Summer Term
Standing Order- 8 monthly payments of £41.25

Qualifying benefits

Income Support
Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
The Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
The Maximum Level of Working Tax Credit
Employment and Support Allowance (Income-related)
Child Tax Credit (below the relevant threshold of £16,190 as of May 2011)
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Payments can be made by cheque, postal order or credit/debit card over the telephone. As of September 2011 payment by Standing Order is available for annual pass purchases ONLY.

If you wish to pay by Standing Order, please tick the appropriate box on the application form. You will then be sent an invoice for the full amount along with a standing order mandate by our Finance department. The monthly fee will be £82.50 (or £41.25 for low-income families) payable over 8 months starting from October.

Important information - standing orders

Standing Orders MUST be cancelled by the student/parent once the eight monthly payments have been made. If transport is required for the next academic year, students will need to reapply.

If you wish to apply for 16-19 SEN Transport please find attached the relevant documents.

For General Enquiries, to request a paper copy of the application or if you require any assistance in completing the form please contact the SEN Transport Liaison Officer:

16-25 Attending College/Other Further Education Establishments

For the 2011/12 academic year, support with transport is available to students who meet the following criteria.

You are resident in Warwickshire on 1st September at the beginning of your course.
You are aged over 16 and under 25 years on 31st August 2010.
You are attending a full-time course (450 guided learning hours per year)
You are not attending a school sixth form.
The journey from home to school or college is more than three miles measured by the shortest available walking route to the place of study, or given consideration of your special needs, you would be unable to get to the establishment unless transport was provided.
You agree to pay a flat rate charge as a contribution towards the cost of transport.

As of September 2011, new charges apply

Annual Charge - £660
Termly Charges - £250 Autumn Term, £250 Spring Term and £160 Summer Term

Students or families in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits listed below are considered to be from a low income family and qualify for a reduced charge of;

Annual Charge - £330
Termly Charge - £125 Autumn Term, £125 Spring Term and £80 Summer Term

Qualifying benefits

Income Support
Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
The Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
The Maximum Level of Working Tax Credit
Employment and Support Allowance (Income-related)
Child Tax Credit (below the relevant threshold of £16,190 as of May 2011)
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Payment can be made by cheque, postal order or credit/debit card. As of September 2011 payment by Standing Order is available for payment of the annual charge.

Please note:

Since September 2010, students who start a course while under the age of 25 will only receive assistance up until the end of the academic year in which their 25th birthday falls. Students continuing on a course which started before September 2010 and who are over the age of 25 will continue to receive support.

Transport is procured for the start/end of the school day, however reasonable adjustments can be made to provide transport which accommodates student’s individual timetables in exceptional circumstances. However, when considered necessary and reasonable, students may be required to wait at college at the beginning or end of the day. We will seek advice from relevant professionals if there is any dispute over the nature of transport requested / required.

We encourage young people to travel independently. Travel Allowances are available instead of council transport to help students travel to school independently. We also offer travel allowances when a parent would prefer to transport their child to college. For more information, please contact us using the details on the right

Warwickshire Direct