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033: Slough Borough Council's Schools Transport Policy Valid from 25 July 2005 1.     General Policy   (1)  Medical Needs   (2)  Special Educational Needs   (3)  Safety of the Route   (4)  Denominational Schools   (5)  Post 16 Transport   (6)  Respite Care   (7)  Part Time Provision   (8)  Appeals   (9)  Procedures 2.     Notes for Parents 3.     How to Appeal - Pending 4.     The Appeal Hearing 1.      General Policy Pupils of statutory school age attending maintained schools are provided with a free travel pass if: (a) they live in the Borough of Slough and (b) they attend their designated school and (c) they live more than 2 miles from school if they are aged under 8 (Reception and years 1 to 3) or more than 3 miles if they are aged between 8 and 16 (years 4 to 11) The distance will be calculated by the Local Education Authority (LEA) using the shortest available walking route from the child’s home to the school. Designated schools are those that serve the designated areas as defined by the LEA. If the designated school is full, transport will be provided to the nearest school with a place available as determined by the LEA. Parents may be asked to provide evidence that they have been unsuccessful in applying for a place at their designated school and any other schools. Parents with children eligible for transport will be required to re-apply for transport if they move house or their child(ren) change(s) school. Exceptions to the General Policy Slough residents may also be provided with transport to maintained schools or colleges as below.      (1)  Medical Needs If a child has a medical need which prevents them making their own way to school, when accompanied if appropriate, transport will be provided to their designated school providing their application is supported by both their GP/Consultant. All applications made on medical grounds will be considered by the transport medical panel. The medical panel will examine each case individually. The distance criteria in the general policy above do not apply. Appropriate transport will be provided for a limited period based on the medical information available, and then reviewed taking account of any new medical information.      (2) Pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) Appropriate transport will be provided for pupils attending the nearest suitable school or college. To be eligible for transport the pupil must: (a) meet the distance criteria in the general policy or (b) have a medical or physical condition that prevents them walking or using public transport or (c) be considered vulnerable or at risk by the Special Needs Team if they were to walk or use public transport. The Special Needs Team will consider whether transport is necessary using the criteria above and allocate transport from the categories below, using the highest appropriate category on the list, taking into account the needs of the pupil. Generally the cost of transport increases from 1 to 7 below. 1. Provision of a travel pass for the pupil 2. Payment of car mileage for the pupil’s parent(s) 3. Provision of a travel pass for pupil and parent 4. Provision of a shared vehicle without escort 5. Provision of a shared vehicle with escort 6. Provision of an individual vehicle without escort 7. Provision of an individual vehicle with escort All transport provision will be reviewed as part of the annual review of needs and if appropriate as part of an early review. Transport provision may be withdrawn or amended if circumstances have changed or the SEN Panel considers the withdrawal appropriate as an encouragement to independence. Transport will not be provided for after school clubs or school trips.      (3) Safety of the Route A travel pass will be provided if the route is considered to be unsafe in terms of traffic and highway conditions. Routes where there is a footpath of reasonable width and condition are considered to be safe. It is assumed that pupils are accompanied to and from school as appropriate. The safety of a route where there are no footpaths will be assessed by a Road Safety Officer.      (4) Denominational Schools Pupils will receive a travel pass or a seat on a coach, where numbers justify provision of a specific vehicle, and they are attending the nearest school of the parents’ practising faith (selective and non selective denominational schools are considered separately) providing: (a) they meet the distance criteria in the general policy and (b) the parent(s) is/are able to provide evidence in the required format that they are practising and (c) they live no more than 6 miles (primary age children) or 12 miles (secondary age children) from the school. The distance measured is the radial distance (as the crow flies) from the child’s home to the school entrance.      (5) Post 16 Transport Pupils and students without a statement of SEN, aged between 16 and 19 and attending a full-time course at a maintained school or college may be entitled to apply for an award and assistance for travel. For further information pupils and students should contact the awards helpline on 01753 875721 between 1.00pm and 4.30pm each day. Students aged between 16 and 19 with a statement of SEN will be considered under (2) above.      (6) Respite Care For pupils attending Slough special schools, transport will be provided to respite care at the end of the school day and from respite care at the beginning of the school day where there are no additional transport costs. If there are additional transport costs parents or the organisations providing respite care will be required to meet these costs.      (7) Part Time Provision A travel pass will be provided for children attending the following units within Slough if the distance criteria in the general policy are met and the application is supported in writing by the Head of the Unit. Northbrook Pupil Referral Unit Wexham Pupil Referral Unit & Manor Lodge A taxi will be provided in exceptional circumstances if supported in writing by the Head of the Unit.      (8) Appeals Parents or students who are unsuccessful in applying for transport can appeal. The appeal panel will consider each case on its merits. Pupils with a statement of SEN appeal via the SEN tribunal. (section 2 above)      (9) Procedures All applications for transport, other than for children with a statement of SEN, will be considered by the Transport Team (Education & Children’s Services) following receipt of the appropriate application form. For children with a statement of SEN the provision of transport will be considered by the Special Needs Team (Education & Children’s Services). If the Special Needs Team consider transport should be provided a request will be forwarded to the Transport Team. Transport will be arranged in all cases by the Transport Team in conjunction with transport contractors 2.      GUIDANCE NOTES FOR PARENTS These notes should be read in conjunction with the policy above. Applications All applications for transport, other than for children with a statement of SEN, will be considered by the Transport Team in the Education & Children Services. Parents who need an application form or have any queries about transport should contact 01753 875729. The Transport Team will aim to notify parents of the outcome of their application within 10 working days of receiving a correctly completed form. Parents of children with a statement of SEN should initially contact the Special Needs Team on 01753 787676. The Special Needs Team will decide whether or not transport is required according to the home to school transport policy above. The Special Needs Team will ask the Transport Team to organise transport and let parents know the arrangements. General Policy Pupils without a statement of SEN, who are eligible under the general policy, will be provided with either a train or bus pass, not both. Pupils will be offered the most appropriate according to their home address and the location of their school. Information on the designated areas of schools in Slough is available from the Admissions Team, Education & Children Services. The admissions helpline is 01753 875728. If the school attended is closer than the designated school but more than the qualifying distance in the general policy, transport will be provided. Denominational Transport Eligible pupils will receive a travel pass unless there are sufficient numbers of eligible pupils attending one school to justify the provision of a coach (more than 16 seats). Replacement Travel Passes If pupils lose their travel passes, a replacement pass will be provided by the LEA at a cost of £15. Parents should contact the transport helpline on 01753 875729 for more information. NB. A replacement travel pass will only be issued twice in any academic year. Damaged Bus Passes If a pass is damaged and becomes difficult to read the bus company may refuse travel. In this case the normal fare will be required until a replacement pass is issued. There is no charge for replacement of a defaced bus pass providing the old pass is returned with the application for replacement. 25 July 2005