Home to School Transport Policy (0 to 25 Year Olds)
2. Non-statutory school age (0 to 4) Eligibility for Travel Assistance
Children under statutory school age are not automatically entitled to transport to an early years setting or school. Statutory school age begins on the first day of the term following the child’s 5th birthday.
The Council will consider providing travel assistance for any child who will turn 5 within the term that the application is made, subject to them meeting the eligibility criteria and a safety assessment. Parents should not assume automatic entitlement.
The eligibility criteria are outlined in section 3. These are considered in accordance with the following additional guidance.
Children without an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) attending nursery provision aged 0 to 4
Parents are responsible for transporting their child to and from nursery provision.
Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan attending mainstream nursery provision age 0 to 4
If a child has an EHCP and is attending a mainstream nursery then these cases may be brought to the Transport Exceptions Panel to be considered for transport assistance, as long as the placement is the nearest suitable setting. The transport assistance may be in the form of a Personal Transport Budget subject to a consideration of a family’s ability to transport their child to nursery.
Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan attending specialist nursery provision age 0 to 4
If a child’s needs are such that an EHCP prescribes attendance at a specialist nursery then these cases may be brought to the Transport Exceptions Panel to be considered for transport assistance, as long as the placement is the nearest suitable setting. The transport assistance may be in the form of a Personal Transport Budget subject to a consideration of a family’s ability to transport their child to nursery.
Children without an Education Health and Care Plan attending a reception class in a school in the year before they turn 5
If it is determined that once the child is 5 they will meet the eligibility criteria for home to school transport, then they may be transported during the term that they are due to turn 5, providing there is existing transport running from the child’s home area to the educational setting. This is subject to a risk assessment.
Children with an Education Health and Care Plan attending a reception class in a school in the year before they turn 5
If a child with an EHCP would be eligible to receive Council funded home to school transport assistance once they turn 5, then we would consider providing transport assistance if the child needs it before the age of 5. This would be the case even if there was no existing transport provision running from the child’s home area to the educational setting. These cases may be brought to the Transport Exceptions Panel for consideration.