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  5. Policies and appeals

Policies and appeals

These policies explain:

  • who qualifies for home to school transport
  • what travel provision is supplied to children who qualify
  • when transport is not given
  • appeals and complaints

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Home to school transport policy for children of compulsory school age

This document sets out the East Sussex County Council’s current home to school transport policy for students who live in the county. Please see: 

Post 16 Transport Policy Statement

This policy statement [208.5 KB] [pdf] outlines the help that might be available through:

  • the County Council
  • schools
  • colleges and
  • transport operators

to help all young people of sixth form age and adult learners aged 19+ with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to get to school and college.

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): Transport policies

East Sussex County Council’s SEND transport policies are applicable by age group:

Up to school year 11: Travel assistance policy for compulsory school-aged children with an Education, Heath and Care plan (EHC plan) [296.1 KB] [pdf]

16 to 19 years of age: Travel assistance policy for 16-19-year-olds with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan) [324.8 KB] [pdf]

Post-19 years of age: Travel assistance policy for post-19-year-olds with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan) [284.0 KB] [pdf]

Stage 1 appeals

Complete a stage 1 appeal form to make an appeal about a decision to decline school transport. The stage 1 appeal is carried out by a senior officer. They will review the request against the school transport policy. This stage does not take account of personal or extenuating reasons.

The senior officer:

  • will consider your stage 1 appeal form

  • will consider any information provided in support of the appeal

  • will consider the original application form or transport request and any information provided in support

  • will consider any other correspondence used when reaching the initial decision

  • may consult other departments and or agencies as necessary.

We aim to provide you with a decision from your stage 1 appeal within 20 working days of receipt of the appeal form.  You will receive an email with detailed reasoning for the decision and how you can escalate your case to stage 2 if you are not happy with the outcome.

During this stage (or a stage 2 appeal) we will not provide travel assistance or make a change to existing travel assistance. You will continue to be responsible for ensuring your child attends their placement.

Stage 2 appeals

You can only make a stage 2 appeal after you have received a decision from a stage 1 appeal.

There are different appeal forms depending on the age of the learner requiring transport. Your decision letter from the stage 1 appeal will inform you which form to complete.  The forms can be found at the bottom of this page.

All stage 2 appeals will be considered by the Discretionary Transport Appeal Panel.  This is made up of three elected County Councillors. The Appeal Panel will consider the original application and the appeal forms together with any supporting documents or information provided in relation to the application or the appeal. 

If the cost of transport will have a significant impact on your finances, you must complete the financial statement. Please be assured that all information is treated in the strictest confidence.

It is not usually possible to attend Appeal Panel meetings in person. It may be possible to provide verbal representations at the meeting only in exceptional circumstances where there could be significant disadvantage in making an appeal without this.  This can be requested on the appeal form.

The Appeal Panel will meet within 40 working days of receipt of the application.  Within 5 working days of the meeting, you will be informed of their decision in writing by secure email. This will include details of how to escalate your complaint to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. At peak times it is not always possible to send decisions within this timescale.

If your appeal is unsuccessful, to make another appeal for the same child and the same school/college you must prove your circumstances have changed significantly.

Find out about appeal panel members and future meetings.

Stage 2 appeal forms

Stage 1 appeals

Everyone has the right to appeal if they disagree with the initial decision about travel assistance. The County Council operates a two-stage appeal process for transport cases.

Complete a stage 1 appeal form to make an appeal about a decision regarding SEND travel assistance. There are different appeal forms depending on the age group of the child or young adult requiring transport. Your decision letter will inform you which form to complete.  The forms are at the bottom of this page. Please send the completed stage 1 appeal form to Discretionary Transport.

A panel of senior officers from across the County Council will consider all stage 1 appeals. The members of the panel will consider:

  • the appeal form
  • any information provided in support of the appeal
  • the original application form and supporting information provided with the application
  • any other correspondence used by the officer to reach a decision

We shall aim to provide you with a decision from your stage 1 appeal within 20 working days of receipt of the appeal form.  You will receive an email with the detailed reasoning for the decision.

During this stage (or a stage 2 appeal) we will not provide travel assistance or make a change to existing travel assistance. You will continue to be responsible for ensuring your child or young adult attends their placement.

Stage 1 appeal forms

Stage 2 appeals

You can only make a stage 2 appeal regarding SEND travel assistance after you have received a decision from a stage 1 appeal.

There are different appeal forms depending on the age group of the child or young adult requiring transport. Your decision letter from the stage 1 appeal will inform you which form to complete.  The forms can be found at the bottom of this page. Please send the completed stage 2 appeal form to Transport Appeals.

All stage 2 appeals will be considered by The Discretionary Transport Appeal Panel.  This is made up of three elected County Councillors. The Appeal Panel will consider the original application and the appeal forms together with any supporting documents or information provided in relation to the application or the appeal. 

If the cost of transport will have a significant impact on your finances, you must complete the financial statement. Please be assured that all information is treated in the strictest confidence.

It is not usually possible to attend Appeal Panel meetings in person. It may be possible to provide verbal representations at the meeting only in exceptional circumstances where there could be significant disadvantage in making an appeal without this.  This can be requested on the appeal form.

The Appeal Panel will meet within 40 working days of receipt of the application.  Within 5 working days of the meeting, you will be informed of their decision in writing. 

Find out about appeal panel members and future meetings.

Stage 2 appeal forms