Some pupils may qualify for help with travel between home and school, provided they meet certain criteria. The Local Authority's policies are detailed in the following policy documents:
- Home-to-School Travel - Guidance note for parents (see A below)
- Home-to-School Travel for Pupils With Special Educational Needs - Guidance note for parents (see B below)
A - Home to School Travel - Guidance note for parents
1. STATUTORY PROVISION
Pupils Aged 5-16
Travel support is provided between home and school if:
- pupils attend the nearest appropriate school as determined by the Local Authority; and
- the distance between home and school exceeds the statutory walking distance ie 2 miles or more for pupils under 8 years of age and 3 miles or more for pupils aged 8-16 years of age. (accompanied as necessary)
- Additionally, children aged between 8 and 11 years from low income families are entitled to travel support where they live more than two miles from their nearest, appropriate, qualifying school.
- Children aged 11 to 16 from low income families are entitled to travel support to one of their three nearest qualifying schools where the distance from their home address to the school is more than two miles, but less than six miles from that school or to their nearest suitable school preferred on grounds of religion or belief, where the distance from their home address to the school is more than 2 miles, but not more than 15 miles from that school.
- Travel options may include
- Bus or rail pass
- Reimbursement for mileage for parents / carers
- Escorts for walking / public travel
2. DISCRETIONARY PROVISION
Pupils Under 5 Years of Age
Travel support is provided for full-time pupils in primary school reception classes provided they attend their nearest appropriate school and live more than two miles from that school. Travel support is not provided for part-time pupils at the end of the morning session or at the beginning of the afternoon session.
Pupils Over 16 Years of Age
Travel support for 16 - 19 year old students is provided for disabled students and students with learning difficulties to enable them to access their nearest appropriate school or college. The Council's policy is available on request.
Pupils With Medical Problems
Travel support may be provided on medical grounds, on the advice of a Consultant, to enable pupils to attend their nearest appropriate school even though they may live within the statutory walking distance.
Pupils With Special Educational Needs
Travel support is provided for pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs to attend the nearest appropriate school, as determined by the Statementing Panel, where they live over the statutory walking distance (ie 2 or 3 miles).
STATUTORY SEN PANEL the pupil has a special educational need, impairment or medical condition, the nature and severity of which means they are unable to walk to (even when accompanied by a parent/carer) their educational setting even where this is a relatively short distance.
The Local Authority 's policy relating to children with special educational needs is available on request.
Pupils Attending Denominational Schools
Travel support is provided to denominational schools where pupils:
- attend their nearest appropriate denominational school; and
- live more than the statutory walking distance from that school;
- attend for denominational reasons; and
- parents have expressed a preference for denominational education prior to the start of the admissions process, although late applications will be considered on their own merits.
Pupils in Temporary Accommodation
Travel support may be provided for up to two terms to enable pupils to continue to attend their current school. Once they have been rehoused, parents/carers have the option of transferring them to a nearer school or, if they wish to keep them at their original school, meet the cost of any travel arrangements.
B - Home to School Travel for Pupils with Special Educational Needs
POLICY
Bristol Local Authority will provide travel support for pupils with Special Educational Needs if the distance between home and their nearest appropriate school (as designated by the Local Authority) is more than the statutory walking distance i.e. two miles for children under the age of eight years, three miles for children over the age of eight years or over the designated walking distance if the child is from a low income family.
Under the statutory walking distance, parents have a legal responsibility for getting their children to and from school.
If you choose to send your child to a school which is not the nearest appropriate one, you will be expected to make and pay for your own travel arrangements.
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERVICES' RESPONSIBILITIES
- Passenger Services is responsible for the day-to-day transport arrangements such as booking vehicles, allocating pupils to routes, employing escorts, and notifying parents of all transport arrangements.
- It has been agreed that the travelling time for children with special educational needs should not normally exceed one hour, fifteen minutes. There may be the odd exception, due to severe traffic congestion etc.
- Passenger Services will notify parents, in writing, of any contractual and timetabling changes.
- Specialist seating and harnesses are available for all children who need them.
- As a safety precaution, we make it a requirement in the contracts with the companies which provide transport, that all drivers are vetted by the Police. Staff directly employed by Transport Services (escorts/drivers) are subject to the same checks.
PARENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES
- Whilst some children will receive a door-to-door service, others may be expected to catch the school bus at a pick up point, or will be given a bus pass to travel on public bus services. Parents will be responsible for the safety of their children to and from the pick up point, or bus stop.
- Where a home pick up has been agreed, please ensure that your children are ready in time, and bring them to the vehicle.
- It is vital that parents are home to receive their children at the end of the day, and meet them from the vehicle.
- If pupils misbehave on the school vehicle and pose a threat to the safety of the driver, escort, other children, or other road users, travel support may be withdrawn temporarily by the Authority. Persistent, unresolved, problems of children misbehaving may result in transport being withdrawn completely. Under these circumstances, it will be the parents' responsibility to ensure attendance at school.
- Parents and children are asked to treat drivers and escorts courteously. In the interests of children, confrontations must be avoided and therefore any complaints about travel arrangements, or the actions/conduct of drivers / escorts must be reported to Transport Services and / or the CYPS Directorate.
- Parents are advised to listen for 'bad weather arrangements' as broadcast on local radio stations during the winter period. Advice will be given regarding school closures and cancellation of transport.
Contact:
Sonya Challis
Tel: 0117 90 37671
Fax: 0117 90 37800
Email: sonya.challis@bristol.gov.uk
Mailing address:
CYPS Travel Team (Create)
Bristol City Council
The Council House
College Green
Bristol
BS1 5TR
Visiting address:
CYPS Travel Team
Bristol City Council
Create Centre
Smeaton road
Bristol
BS1 6XN
SEN - Case Officers
tel: 0117 90 37691
fax: 0117 90 37697
post: PO Box 57
BS99 7EB
Passenger Services
tel: 0117 980 1331
fax: 0117 977 3985
Transport Coordinators
Sandy Park Road
Brislington
Bristol BS4 3NZ