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School travel support for children with SEND or mobility needs

If your child has special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or a mobility need that prevents them walking to school, they may be able to get travel assistance. This could be provided in a number of ways, such as:

  • independent travel training

  • a personal travel budget

  • mileage reimbursement

  • school minibus or taxi

You can read more about these in section 3 of our home to school travel assistance policy.

If you child doesn't have SEND or a mobility need, see our pages about the zero fare pass for travel to school and travel support for post-16 students.

Eligibility

Eligibility for school travel support for children with SEND or a mobility need depends on the child's age and distance to their school.

Under 4 year olds

If your child is under 4 years old, travel assistance may be provided in exceptional circumstances if you can't get to the nearest suitable school or educational setting yourself.

4 to 7 year olds

If your child is aged 4 to 7 years old, travel assistance is provided if the distance between your home and the school agreed in their education, health and care plan (EHCP) is more than 2 miles.

If the distance is less than 2 miles, or if the child doesn't have an EHCP, travel assistance will be considered depending on individual circumstances and travel needs. These may include significant sensory, medical or behavioural difficulties that prevent the child from getting to school, even when accompanied by a parent or carer. We'll use a range of written evidence from the preceding 12 months to make our decision, including evidence from education or healthcare professionals, parents, carers and the school.

8 to 16 year olds

If your child is aged 8 to 16 years old, travel assistance is provided if the distance between your home and the school agreed in their education, health and care plan (EHCP) is more than 3 miles.

If the distance is less than 3 miles, or if the child doesn't have an EHCP, travel assistance will be considered depending on individual circumstances and travel needs. These may include significant sensory, medical or behavioural difficulties that prevent the child from getting to school, even when accompanied by a parent or carer. We'll use a range of written evidence from the preceding 12 months to make our decision, including evidence from education or healthcare professionals, parents, carers and the school.

16 to 25 year olds

For young people aged 16 to 25, travel assistance is provided if the distance between their home and school, college or place of training is more than 3 miles.

If the distance is less than 3 miles, or if the student doesn't have an education, health and care plan (EHCP), travel assistance will be considered depending on individual circumstances and travel needs. These may include significant sensory, medical or behavioural difficulties that prevent the child from getting to school or college, even when accompanied by a parent or carer. We'll use a range of written evidence from the preceding 12 months to make our decision, including evidence from education or healthcare professionals, parents, carers and the school, college or place of training.

For more details about travel support for over 16s read our post-16 travel policy statement.

You can also visit GOV.UK for details about subsidised transport for 16 to 19 year olds in education.

When to apply for travel assistance

You need to apply by mid-June for travel assistance starting in September of the same year. If you apply after this date,  your application might not be processed by the start of the new academic year.

For pupils offered a school place after mid-June, you should apply for travel assistance as soon as possible. We'll consider these on a case by case basis under exceptional circumstances.

How to apply

You can apply for travel assistance by filling in our online form.

If your travel assistance application is refused

If your application for travel assistance is refused, you can ask us to review the decision by making an appeal.  Read more about making an appeal in our home to school travel assistance policy.