| Q |
Will I get free transport when my child starts secondary school? (Part 1) |
| A |
Wakefield LA provides free travel between home and school for children of compulsory school age
(i.e. between 5 to 16 years of age) who live in the administrative area of WMDC and who attend the
nearest qualifying school (normally the catchment area school) in the following circumstances.
- Children who live within the statutory walking distance of their nearest qualifying school where
the nature of the route is such that a child cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school
(accompanied as necessary) because of the unsafe nature of the route;
- Children who live beyond the statutory walking distance of the school where no suitable alternative
arrangements have been made by the Local Authority either for boarding accommodation for
the child at or near the school for enabling the child to attend a qualifying school nearer to his
home i.e.
Two miles for children aged 5 years to 8 years and three miles for pupils aged 8 years to 16 years.
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| Q |
Will I get free transport when my child starts secondary school? (Part 2) |
| A |
Free travel at the two mile limit will only be provided up to the end of the term in which the child
reaches 8 years of age. After that, the three mile limit will apply.
- Children entitled to free school meals or whose parents receive the maximum level of Working
Tax Credit:
- who are over the age of 8 but under the age of 11 and live more than 2 miles from the
nearest qualifying school (primary aged children);
- who are aged 11 to 16 and attend one of their three nearest qualifying schools which is
above 2 miles but less than 6 miles from their home.
Distance between home and school in terms of walking distance between the child’s home and the
qualifying school is measured as follows:
- nearest available route (accompanied as necessary) for the statutory walking distances that
the child may walk with reasonable safety to school. This route can include footpaths, bridleways
and other pathways as well as recognised roads;
- road route for the 2 to 6 mile range for pupils who qualify because they receive free school
meals or the parents receive the maximum level of Working Tax Credit.
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| Q |
Home to School Travel on the Grounds of Religion or Belief |
| A |
The extended rights to free travel on the grounds of religion or belief only applies to secondary pupils
(i.e. children of compulsory school age who are 11 and over).
Eligible children are:
a) i) children who are entitled to free school meals or whose parents are in receipt of the
maximum level of Working Tax Credit; and
ii) are aged 11 to 16; and
iii) are attending their nearest suitable school preferred on the grounds of religion or belief
where their ordinary place of residence is more than 2 miles, but not more than 15 miles
from that school;
b) Primary aged children and children who are not entitled to free school meals and whose
parents are not on the maximum level of Working Tax Credit and are attending their
nearest suitable preferred on the grounds of religion or belief where their ordinary place
of residence is:
i) over 2 miles for children aged 5 to 8; or
ii) over 3 miles for children aged 8 to 16;
from that school.
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| Q |
My child has SEN, will he/she get free transport? |
| 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 and will only be provided within the two or three mile limit if a pupil, accompanied by the parent if necessary, is considered unable to make the journey in any other way.
Where a parent chooses to send his/her child to a school, which is not the nearest appropriate school (and is not named as the appropriate school on the statement), the LA will not provide assistance with transport. The Education Act 1996 and associated Code of Practice (paragraphs 8.87 - 8.90) makes provision for the LA to name a preferred school, despite this not being compatible with the efficient use of the LA’s resources, so long as the parent meets the transport costs. The LA will consider proposals on an individual basis, but only where the parent has given a written undertaking to meet the full transport costs at the outset and for the duration of the child’s placement at the school.
These provisions will also apply if the child has a disability who is unable to walk even relatively short distances to school and to children with mobility problems (including temporary medical conditions).
Staff within the Special Educational Needs Team will discuss any specific transport requirements with parents, when the statement is either being written or reviewed.
Home to school transport is provided from the child’s home address (i.e. the main place of residence) to school and vice-versa. No variation to the journey can be accommodated without the prior authorisation of the Transport Team at County Hall.
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| Q |
What if my child wishes to take part in an after school club? |
| A |
The principle behind disability discrimination legislation is that, wherever possible, pupils with disabilities should have the same opportunities as pupils without disabilities, to benefit from whatever education or other related provision is available.
There will be instances when young people with special requirements and who receive transport assistance, wish to participate in after school activities. In these cases, the LA will seek to implement reasonable adjustments e.g. change of journey time, to ensure young people are not disadvantaged because of their disability. It will, however, expect parents to play their part, and it may sometimes be more appropriate for the parent to collect their child from school. Each case will be considered on its merits.
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| Q |
What is the difference between Schoolcards and Boarding Cards? (Part 1) |
| A |
(a) Boarding Cards
Wakefield LA pays for the special buses on which children travel via an Agency Agreement with the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (Metro). Boarding Cards must only be used on the school special bus shown on the front of the card and pupils are not permitted to use any bus other than the one stated. Pupils will only receive Boarding Cards if they are aged between 5 -16 years of age, live in a specific area within the Wakefield District or where children attend a denominational voluntary aided school (i.e. Roman Catholic School); this must be the nearest maintained school of the faith in which the child is baptised. In order to qualify on a statutory basis, children aged 8 –16 years must reside over three miles from the nearest appropriate school and children over 5 but under 8 years of age must reside over two miles from the nearest appropriate school.
Boarding Cards will normally be issued to pupils who attend the following schools and live in specific areas. If no special bus is available in your area, a Schoolcard will be issued. - St. Wilfrid’s Catholic High School, Sixth Form and Language College;
- Holy Family and St. Michael’s Catholic Primar (VA);
- Pontefract St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary (VA);
- St. Austin’s Catholic Primary (VA);
- Hemsworth Arts and Community College (pupils will normally reside in the Ryhill/Havercroft areas).
If a pupil does not qualify for a Boarding Card under the above criteria, the parent/guardian may purchase a card for part or whole of the school year (from Metro), providing a place is available on the bus concerned.
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| Q |
What is the difference between Schoolcards and Boarding Cards? (Part 2) |
| A |
(b) Schoolcards
Pupils will only receive a Metro Schoolcard if they reside and attend a school within the Wakefield District. In order to qualify on a statutory basis, children aged 8-16 years must reside over 3 miles from the nearest appropriate school and children over 5 but under 8 years of age must reside over 2 miles from the nearest appropriate school. A Schoolcard will enable pupils to travel on the normal service bus and may be used only for one journey to school (before 12.00 noon) and one journey home (between 12.00 noon and 19.00 hours) each school day between the places specified on the front of the card. It is not valid outside these times nor during weekends or school holidays.
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| Q |
If my child misplaces his/her Schoolcard/Boarding Card is it possible to obtain a replacement? |
| A |
Yes. Replacement Schoolcards are issued by the Transport Team, County Hall, Wakefield. To apply for a replacement, you will need to send a letter explaining the reason for the replacement and enclose a cheque or postal order for £5.00 made payable to Wakefield MDC, a passport size photograph and stamped, addressed envelope.
Replacement Boarding Cards, however, are issued by Metro in Leeds (Wellington House, 40/50 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 2DE - Tel. No. 0113 2517291). To apply for a replacement, you will need to send a letter explaining the reason for the replacement and enclose a cheque or postal order 28 Home to School Transport www.wakefield.gov.uk/admissiontoschool for £5.00 made payable to WYPTE, passport size photograph and stamped, addressed envelope.
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| Q |
What if my child receives a school detention? |
| A |
Pupils, who are subject to a school detention, will not qualify for any transport assistance if the LA is
unable to rearrange transport at no extra cost. This only applies to pupils already in receipt of travel assistance.
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| Q |
If my child receives education (either full-time or part-time) and attends a centre, which is not on a school site such as a Pupil Referral Unit, will any help be given with transport costs? |
| A |
Yes, as long as the distance involved is more than two to three miles, depending on the age of the
child and also taking into account whether the child is eligible for free school meals or if the parent
receives the maximum level of Working Tax Credit.
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| Q |
What happens with regard to transport costs if my child transfers to the local Further Education College before reaching the normal age for leaving school? |
| A |
This is called an ‘Early College Transfer’ and, as long as the distance between home and college is
more than three miles, help can be provided. We may also take into account whether the child received
free school meals or whether the parent receives the maximum level of Working Tax Credit.
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| Q |
Am I entitled to transport assistance if I attend a Sixth Form or Further Education? |
| A |
Help with transport for post-16 students is at the discretion of the LA. This refers to all students,
including those with disabilities, who might require special transport.
The Education Act 2002 requires LAs to establish a post-16 transport partnership to co-ordinate
arrangements for post-16 students. The LA works closely with NEW College, Wakefield College, the
Connexions Service and the Learning Skills Council to ensure consistency of treatment for all post-16
students whether they attend school or college.
Partnerships are required to review and publish their policy. A copy of the 2007/2008 policy is available
from the Transport Team. Because of the escalating cost of providing assisted transport (e.g. taxis,
specially adapted vehicles), students with disabilities including learning or mobility, who entered post-
16 education in September 2006, were asked to pay a modest charge. This scheme will continue to
be applied. The charge is based at £6.75 per week which is the cost to independent travellers of the
Schoolplus Metro card.
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| Q |
What if my application is refused; can it be reviewed? (Part 1) |
| A |
When an application for transport assistance falls outside the ‘normal provision’ described in this
policy, it will be considered by the transport review procedure. The type of circumstances where the
review procedures might apply are as follows:
- Unsafe walking route;
- Medical reasons and where clear supporting evidence (e.g. a letter from a GP) has been received;
- Children taken into care due to emergencies (these will be reviewed on a termly basis);
- Tragic family circumstances (with supporting evidence from the Headteacher and the
Education Welfare Officer);
- In exceptional cases to maintain continuity and stability of education (with supporting
evidence from the Headteacher and the Education Welfare Officer);
- Separation/death of parent resulting in change of address, but where there is a need
for continuity of school placement;
- In exceptional cases substantiated cases of bullying, physical, racial or sexual abuse and where
a change of school is considered to be in the best interests of the young person (with supporting
evidence from the Headteacher, Education Welfare Service or Race Equality Service);
- Pupils who change address in Year 6 and Year 11 maintain continuity of provision at
this vital time of their education.
- Attendance at a school based on the parents’ belief or religion.
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| Q |
What if my application is refused; can it be reviewed? (Part 2) |
| A |
The LA would normally expect families to receive one of the following benefits.
- Income Support;
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance;
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; or
- Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit with Child Tax Credit but no Working Tax Credit with an
annual income (as assessed by the Inland Revenue) of less than £14,495.00.
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| Q |
Behaviour Policy/Removal of Pupils From Transport? |
| A |
Children travelling on Special Needs transport
From time to time, there are a number of children who experience problems on home to schooltransport and when this happens we may have to remove them as an interim measure until a solutioncan be found. This is always done as a last resort, to provide us with an opportunity to work closely with parents, school and other professionals in trying to come to a satisfactory conclusion and to eventually place the pupil back on home to school transport.A child’s behaviour may suddenly become unpredictable for a variety of reasons i.e. change inmedication, family circumstances, clash of personalities etc., and we may have to explore a number of options available to us. Whatever decision we make will be done with everyone’s safety in mind and any changes that are implemented will be subject to close monitoring. Following the issue of a warning letter to parents regarding their child’s behaviour, it will be normal policy for the school to convene a meeting where all relevant personnel, including parents, will be invited to explore issues surrounding the difficulties and discuss possible solutions. Children should be made aware that good behaviour whilst travelling on school transport is essential. Children who persist in misbehaving, placing others at risk, may be withdrawn on health and safety grounds and responsibility for transporting the pupil will then pass to the parent/carer. The LA will make the decision as to whether a child should be withdrawn from transport. This is not a decision that can be made by individual escorts, drivers, operators or Metro. However, it is appreciated that all parties, including parents, will normally be involved in the final decision making process by the LA.
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| Q |
Children travelling on mainstream services? |
| A |
Children who misbehave on the mainstream services causing a nuisance or health and safety risk
to other passengers and road users may have their bus pass or boarding card withdrawn after
consultation with Metro. Where a Schoolcard has been defaced or is illegible the driver may
withdraw this. Headteachers can also make recommendations to the LA that free travel may be
withdrawn having regard to the circumstances of the pupils behaviour where this has been
persistent and or serious.
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| Q |
What is Sustainable Travel to School in Wakefield? |
| A |
All students in Wakefield and their parents 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 paths and cycle routes which will help students
and parents reduce the needs for children to be taken to school by car each day.
Schools will be helped to do this by the Home-to-School Transport team, who will liaise with other
road safety professionals and through engaging with the local communities.
Information about safe routes to school is available.
www.wakefield.gov.uk/TransportandTravel/RoadSafety
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