The Travel Assessment and Training Team are responsible for travel solutions between home and school for children and young people with special educational needs.
The Assessment Team will look at the information you provide and make a decision on what travel support is needed. The team may ask to visit you or ask for relevant documentation if more information is required. The local authority must assess a child’s transport needs individually.
If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) or an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP), or is currently undergoing an assessment for an EHCP, they may be eligible for travel support.
If your child already travels on SEN Transport, please contact Transport Services.
How to apply
To apply please complete a Travel Support Request Form, call us or email indetravel@sheffield.gov.uk to request the form.
You should provide clear and sufficient information about your child’s SEN, disability and health needs when completing the form. You should also provide information about why you are unable to transport your child to school/college.
Please note that all decisions are based on the information available to the officers at the time of making the decision. Once the completed application has been received it will be discussed at Travel Panel, where a decision will be made. The Assessment Team will contact you in writing within 15 working days once the panel has made a the decision.
You can visit our Post 16 Travel Support page for information on payments.
Appeals
If we advise you that you aren’t eligible for free home to school travel support or you disagree with the decision to cease or alter travel support, the following procedure will be adopted:
Stage 1
An appeal will need to be put in writing within 20 working days from receipt of the decision letter. This letter will then be presented to the Manager of the Travel Service, alongside new evidence and original paperwork for the initial decision to be reconsidered. Further assessment may need to be carried out if applicable.
A response to the appeal will be sent to the parent/carer within 20 working days, stating the decision following the appeal, giving reasons why the decision has been made and how it is supported by our policy.
Stage 2
An appeal will need to be put in writing 20 working days from receipt of the decision letter to appeal in writing against the Stage 1 decision to the Admissions Board. A response to the appeal will be sent to the parent/carer within 40 working days, giving reasons for the decision relating to the Transport Policy. Official minutes from Democratic Services Legal and Governance will be included in the response letter.
A final appeal against this decision can be escalated to the Local Government Ombudsman.