One minute guide: Children's transport team

What the Children’s Transport team does

The Children's Transport team is responsible for the assessment of applications for home-to-school transport assistance. The Children’s Transport Policy 2024/25 sets out the criteria under which children and young people qualify for support.

Support may be available to:

• children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) between the ages of 5 to 25
• children in mainstream education who live some distance from school
• children who aren’t subject to an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) but who have a temporary or permanent disability or medical condition,
• children attending a particular school on the grounds of faith/religious beliefs
• primary-aged children whose parents have a disability prevents them from being able to accompany their child on the walking route to their nearest qualifying school
• children Looked After by the Local Authority

Children’s Transport also maintains the Children’s Transport Policy, ensuring it fulfils the council’s statutory duties for travel to school for children of compulsory school age. This includes maintaining suitable application procedures, convening an appeals process in respect of awards and decisions reached following the assessment of an application, and responding to enquiries about transport eligibility.

The team works with Metro, West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), School admissions, Social workers, and SEN casework officers in managing the implementation of the policy. There is close cooperation with the council’s Passenger Transport Services in moving children from the eligibility assessment stage through to the provision of any awarded door-to-door transport arrangements.

What kind of support the Children’s Transport team offers

Applications for children in mainstream education will be assessed by WYCA and eligible applicants will generally be awarded a zero-fare travel pass for use on public transport or school bus services.

Applications for children with SEND will be assessed by SEND Assessment Officers within Children’s Transport. Eligible applicants will be awarded support that is assessed as best meeting their individual needs, provides value for money, and is sustainable, as referred to below.

Children Looked After may also be offered a zero-fare travel pass, Independent Travel Training (ITT), or be transported to school by the council. Appropriate support is decided by the child’s Social Worker, in line with the Children’s Transport policy, with input in some cases from Children’s Transport.

Support available for young people with SEND

For some children and young people, walking or travelling to school or college on public transport may not be possible at the time of assessment, so other travel options are needed.

The options as outlined within the Children’s Transport Policy, include one or more of the following: a zero-fare travel pass; Independent Travel Training; a mileage allowance or personal travel allowance; or a seat in a taxi or minibus that they will share with peers or access as the only passenger, with or without a passenger assistant.

All travel assistance awarded is reviewed periodically, and this may result in a change to the type of support offered. If a child moves house or school or if their transport or medical needs change, it is the family's responsibility to notify us of this change and reapply for assistance.

Independent Travel Training (ITT)

ITT helps young people travel independently to school or college. Through personalised training, young people gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to travel safely. Some start with classroom, while others receive hands-on guidance from a Travel Buddy. The travel buddy gradually reduces support as the young person gains independence, tracking progress along the way. ITT coordinators also assess trainees before they are officially approved as independent travellers. Most young people also receive a zero-fare travel pass.

ITT provides lasting benefits, improving safety, confidence, self-esteem, and access to education, social, and job opportunities.

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