School transport for children with special educational needs
If for medical or physical reasons your child cannot use public transport or you live more than three miles from the designated school (or two miles if your child is under eight) your child may be entitled to assistance with home-to-school transport. For more information visit our page on financial help with home-school travel.
To apply for assistance with home to school transport please complete the form below.
If you would like to speak to someone about financial help with home-to-school transport please contact the Special Educational Needs Team.
Frequently asked questions
What special help may be given to my child?
We usually provide a taxi or minibus to our special schools and units, which may be shared with a small number of other children. Alternatively, there may be a school coach service that your child will be able to use.
If your child needs to travel in a wheelchair, we will provide an adapted vehicle. Children are picked up from home – or from an agreed pick-up point if travelling by coach – and taken straight to school.
Will my child have an escort?
We don’t automatically provide an escort on all vehicles serving special schools. If it is recommended that a child needs special help on the journey, an escort will be provided for individual children, if this is needed, or for a small group.
Can I have a say about who my child travels with?
We have to make the best use of the vehicles we have, so we cannot give parents or carers the right to choose who their child will travel with. Careful thought is given to the children who share a vehicle, and changes will be made if difficulties occur that cannot be resolved in other ways.
Will my child be able to travel alone?
Children are normally expected to share a vehicle. In exceptional cases a separate taxi will be provided for children with complex needs, or if circumstances mean there is no alternative.
Who decides if my child can have special transport?
This decision is made at the time the statutory assessment of a child’s special educational needs is completed, when the decision about their school/unit placement is taken.
Will special transport be reviewed?
The need for special transport is reviewed every time the authority holds the annual review of your child’s statement of special educational needs. Parents, carers and schools play a full part in all reviews.
Are all children with statements of special educational needs given special transport?
Transport is not automatically provided just because a child has a statement. For example, children with statements attending mainstream schools will not normally be given special transport help, although it may be agreed for certain children. For all others the normal transport rules will apply.
Can parents appeal if their child is not given special help with transport?
There isn’t a right of appeal, but if parents believe their child should be given special consideration, they can ask for discretionary transport help. They should speak to their caseworker.
Who arranges transport?
All arrangements are made by East Sussex County Council. Passenger Transport Service staff – telephone 01273 482108 – will contact parents with full details of times and pick-up points once the arrangements have been finalised.
The vehicle will not be able to wait for more than five minutes after the agreed pick-up time, so if your child is going to be collected from home, please make sure they are ready in good time.
Someone must be at home to meet your child at the agreed time when they return at the end of the school day.
My child has respite care. What happens about the transport?
In consultation with Children's Services, and subject to suitable notice, we are normally able to arrange for children to be taken from school direct to their respite care placement.
What if my child is ill and cannot go to school?
If a child is ill and is unable to attend school, we ask parents to contact the transport provider direct to avoid a wasted journey. They are given a contact number when the transport is arranged.
What happens if I move house?
You must tell your caseworker as soon as your move is confirmed and give them details of your new address. Please be aware that unless we have at least ten working days' notice, there may be a delay in providing transport from your new address.
