Monday, December 1 2008
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Home to School Transport

General Note for Parents/Carers

There may well be situations that arise which are not covered in the guide.  If you feel this may apply to you, or if you have any questions about eligibility for free travel, please do not hesitate to contact the Home to School Transport Team as follows:-

Telephone:  (01924) 305675 / 305643

Fax:  (01924) 305611

Email:  hst@wakefield.gov.uk

A copy of the Home to School Transport Policy is available from the Transport Team or you can download this from the Council's website:

www.wakefield.gov.uk

Q What is Home to School Transport?
A Wakefield LA provides free travel between home and school (usually in the form of a schoolcard or boarding card) for children of compulsory school age (i.e. between 5 – 16 years) who live in the administrative area of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and who attend the nearest qualifying school (normally the catchment area school).
Q How does my child qualify for transport assistance?
A The following basic rules on eligibility apply for Home to School Transport:

(1) Children aged 5 - 8 years who live more than 2 miles from the nearest qualifying school. (Free travel at the 2 mile limit will only apply up to the end of the term in which the child becomes 8 – after that the 3 mile limit will apply).

(2) Children aged 8 - 16 years who live more than 3 miles from the nearest qualifying school.

(3) Children aged 5 - 16 years who attend a denominational Voluntary Aided School which is the nearest maintained faith school subject to the above qualifying distances.
Q What is available for families on low income?
A In addition to the above, the following pupils will also qualify for free travel if they are from low-income families.

(1) Children aged 8 - 11 years who live more than 2 miles from the nearest qualifying school;

(2) Children aged 11 - 16 years who live more than 2 miles but less than 6 miles and attend one of their three nearest qualifying schools, and;

(3) Children aged 11 – 16 years who attend the nearest qualifying school based on the grounds of parents religion or belief who live more than 2 miles, but no more than 15 miles from the school.

It will be the parents’ responsibility to provide evidence that their child is attending a qualifying school based on the parents’ religion or belief.

The definition of a low-income family is if the child involved is entitled to free school meals or where the parents receive the maximum level of Working Tax Credit.

The changes relating to eligibility for pupils from low-income families apply to primary age pupils from September, 2007 and secondary age pupils from September, 2008.

Once eligibility has been determined and confirmed for children from low-income groups then the pupil will remain eligible for the entirety of the school year for which the assessment was made.
Q How is the distance between home and school measured?
A Distance between home and school is measured as the shortest route along which a child, accompanied as necessary, may walk with reasonable safety between the child’s home and the qualifying school. As such, the route measured may include footpaths, bridleways and other pathways as well as recognised roads. Where it is felt the route is unsafe officers from the Home to School Transport Team will carry out a full assessment.

For those children from low-income families the distance is measured as above, however, the distance to the upper limits is measured as a road route (i.e. those passable using a suitable motorised vehicle).
Q What is available for children with Special Educational Needs?
A A pupil, with a Statement of Special Educational Needs, attending a special school or a mainstream school, may qualify for transport regardless of distance between home and school. This will be dependent on the nature and severity of the child’s Special Educational Needs. Where a child has a disability, learning or mobility problem (including temporary medical conditions) and is unable to walk to the nearest qualifying school then free transport will be provided.

Home to school transport is provided between the child’s home address (i.e. the place where he/she is habitually and normally resident) to school and vice-versa. It does not relate to travel between educational institutions during the school day. No variations to journeys can be accommodated without the prior authorisation of the Transport Team.
Q What is available for post 16 students?
A Help with transport for post-16 students is at the discretion of the Local Authority. This refers to all students including those with disabilities who might require transport. A copy of the 2008/2009 Post 16 Transport Policy is available from the beginning of June from the Home to School Transport Team. Due to the escalating costs of providing assisted transport all students who enter post 16 education from September, 2006 are requested to pay a modest charge towards the cost of providing transport.
Q Can I appeal against a decision not to provide help with Home to School Transport?
A When an application for transport assistance falls outside the ‘normal provision’ described in the Home to School Transport Policy it can be considered by the transport review process. Please contact the Home to School Transport Team for an application form and further details.
Q School Travel Plans
A All children and young people in Wakefield should be able to choose to travel safely, sustainably and healthily to schools wherever they live in the district.

In order to achieve this, all schools are required to complete their own school travel plan and, in doing so, must assess the needs of children and young people through the travel planning process. This will include identifying local need for walking and cycle routes which will help reduce the number of children travelling to school by car each day.

Schools will be helped to do this by the School Travel Plan Team, who will liaise with other road safety professionals and through engaging with local communities.

Information about safe routes and transport services to schools are available by viewing the School Transport pages on the Council’s website. A printable map is also available for each school which displays travel facilities in the school’s locality e.g. cycle and walking routes, bus information, safe crossing points and parking facilities.

Wakefield now has a strategy which aims to promote the use of sustainable travel to and from school and this can be viewed on our web site. The strategy outlines the activities taking place across the district and how we aim to reduce the level of car use and improve safety outside school for those walking and cycling.

Internet: www.wakefield.gov.uk/education/schools/schooltransport

Tel: 01924 306001, 305937 or 305586

Email: schooltravel@wakefield.gov.uk