1.1 Children of statutory school age
The Education & Inspections Act 2006 (Section 508B) requires local authorities to ensure that suitable travel arrangements for “eligible children” in their area are made to facilitate their attendance at “qualifying schools”.
1.1.1. Eligible children and young people
The terms “eligible children” and “qualifying schools” relate to the age of the child, the school which the child attends (including cross border schools) and the distance between the child’s home address and the school measured by the shortest available walking route (which may include rights of way).
Walking routes are from where the property meets the adopted road to the nearest available entrance to school grounds as measured using the Dorset Council GIS system. This GIS system measures the distance from home to school according to the shortest available walking routes. The term “parent” relates to any person responsible for the child.
Transport eligibility (free provision) is provided to the end of the respective educational year in the following cases:
- if the child is in Reception Year to Year 4 (aged between 4 & 9) and lives two miles or more from the catchment area or nearest school
- if the child is in Year 5 to Year 11 (aged between 9 & 16) and lives three miles or more from the catchment area or nearest school
1.1.2. Catchment/nearest school or ‘nearest suitable school with places available considering efficient use of resources’.
Your postal address will define your catchment school. If another school is the ‘nearest’, this may also qualify for transport eligibility.
These schools may be Community, Voluntary Controlled, Voluntary Aided, Foundation/Trust, Academy or a Free School.
If you are applying to a school on denominational grounds, you should refer to section 1.1.15 of this policy.
Eligible transport is currently provided to the nearest or catchment area school where the child meets the qualifying criteria.
Whilst these agreed areas remain unaltered, schools will continue to have eligible transport provided by the LA.
However, if any school* (including where this affects a relevant pyramid or network area) chooses to alter their catchment area or admissions policy, they will need to consult on their arrangements with the LA, as the LA is only legally required to provide transport to the nearest appropriate school.
If schools change their arrangements, it will be their responsibility to inform parents. *This refers to all types of schooling including maintained schools, voluntary controlled (VC), voluntary aided (VA), trusts, academies and free schools (Studio Schools and University Technical Colleges included).
If the catchment and nearest school do not have places available you may be offered transport to the ‘nearest suitable school with places available considering efficient use of resources’ – this will be decided by identifying the transport options, routes and timings (see section 1.6.6).
You will need to contact the admissions team to find out which school in the area would qualify under this category. ‘Nearest School’ is assessed on the basis of a straight-line distance between the home address and the school using the Dorset GIS system, using the Eastings and Northings for each location.
Children who are subject to an Education Health & Care Plan (EHCP) will only be eligible for transport if they fulfil criteria in 1.1.1 and 1.1.4 and:
- they are attending their catchment or nearest mainstream school; or
- they are attending the closest appropriate base provision; or
- they are attending their closest appropriate Special School
The statements in Section I of the EHCP will clearly articulate where the named school differs from that which the Local Authority deems appropriate and there will be clear reference as to whether there is entitlement to transport to the named school based on the criteria laid out above.
If the named school does not fit the criteria detailed above, transport will not be allocated.
Please also refer to Section 1.1.12 for further information about eligibility in exceptional circumstances for children with SEND, Disability or Medical Needs.
1.1.3. Area specific rules In the case of:
- Gillingham
- Blandford
- Verwood
- Weymouth
where there are joint primary catchments, eligible transport will only be provided to the nearest catchment school and the child is eligible within the terms of 1.1.1. or 1.1.4
In the case of the Dorset Studio School on the Kingston Maurward Campus, as they moved to a Year 7 point of entry from September 2019, a young person will be eligible to transport if the Studio School is the nearest school providing KS4 provision (year 10 and 11).
In the case of Thomas Hardye School, a young person will be eligible if the school is the nearest or catchment school and you are eligible within terms of 1.1.1 or 1.1.4.
In the case of the Swanage School, the Local Authority will recognise a transport priority area that is consistent with the size of the combined local primary schools’ yearly cohort capacity and within the Pupil Admissions Number (PAN) of the Swanage School.
The transport priority (catchment area) for determining eligibility for transport (subject to 1.1.1 or 1.1.4) will be the combined catchment areas of the:
- Swanage Primary School
- St. Mark’s CE VA Primary School (Swanage)
- St. Georges Langton Matravers Primary School
Children and young people who are outside of this transport priority area may still be eligible for transport support under nearest school grounds (see 1.1.2), or ‘one of the three nearest schools’ criteria (see 1.1.4).
In the case of the Purbeck School, a young person will be eligible if the school is the nearest or catchment school and you are eligible within terms of 1.1.1 or 1.1.4.
1.1.4. Additional criteria additional criteria apply to children from low income families.
If families are in receipt of Maximum Working Tax Credit, or the child is eligible to Free School Meals, transport eligibility will be confirmed;
- in the case of children in Year 5 and 6 (aged 9 – 11) – to their catchment area or nearest school where the distance between home and the school is more than two miles (shortest available walking route)
- in the case of children in Year 7 to Year 11 (aged 11 -16) - to one of their three nearest qualifying schools (which includes schools in neighbouring authorities) with places available at the time of the original application by the parent, where the distance between home and the school is more than two miles (shortest available walking route) and less than six miles (shortest available driven route)
Children who are for any reason being educated outside their normal year group will have their transport eligibility assessed according to the year group which they are in.
Parents and guardians will only be sent a pass when they have confirmed that they wish to accept the transport provision offered.
Those parents and guardians who do not take up the offer of a pass at the beginning of the academic year, may still apply, at any time, for a pass if their personal circumstances change. In some instances, the most appropriate transport may be a public bus route for which a season ticket will be provided.
1.1.5. Universal Credit
There is no statutory duty on Local Authorities to consider receipt of Universal Credit itself in determining eligibility for Extended Rights to Home to School Transport under section 1.1.4.
However, currently, pupils in households that receive any level of Universal Credit are eligible for free school meals and it is this eligibility for free school meals specifically that entitles them to extended rights to free home to school transport under section 1.1.4
A parent who transfers from Maximum Working Tax Credit onto Universal Credit, will retain eligibility for extended rights (subject to distance criteria, etc in section 1.1.1) should they become eligible to Free School Meals subject to a family registering their eligibility through Dorset Council.
Eligibility under Universal Credit will be reviewed as and when there is further Guidance from the Department for Education.
1.1.6. Parental preference:
If a child is attending a school on “parental preference” grounds i.e. the school applied for is not the catchment/nearest school (or one of the three nearest eligible schools in the case of 1.1.4 above) there is no duty for the Local Authority (LA) to provide transport and the families are responsible for their own arrangements.
If a child or young person on an Education Health & Care Plan attends a mainstream school other than their catchment or nearest due to parental preference having that school named on their EHCP, the family will not be eligible for free transport.
1.1.7. Year group full transport
If families apply ‘on time’ (based on the nationally recognised deadlines for applications) for the Normal Year of Entry to a School for their catchment school (or in the case where there is no catchment school the nearest school) and are refused due to oversubscription (referred to as ‘year group full’) transport eligibility may be provided to the nearest suitable school with places available considering efficient use of resources subject to the age/distance criteria set out in paragraph 1.1.1.
A school would only be considered unsuitable if there was a physical reason that the child could not attend. Reasons for this include a boy attending a girl’s school, secondary aged child attending a primary school or a private school to which we do not provide transport.
Where an application in the normal year of entry is late, though the application could have been made on time, and an alternative school has to be provided on year group full grounds, then transport provision will remain the responsibility of the parent.
A child who has attended an alternative school nominated by the LA (due to year group full or other such reason) will only be eligible to continued transport support at age of transfer to that pyramid’s receiver school if the child’s catchment area school does not operate the same age of transfer or they would not have been able to offer a place.
The LA has a duty to offer an alternative school place if unable to offer a preferred/catchment or nearest school.
Transport will not be provided to the alternative Dorset school if there is a closer school in a neighbouring authority which is under the qualifying distance.
In this case parents will be informed of the space/s available in closer neighbouring school(s). If one child in a family is eligible for transport to a specific school, other than the catchment/nearest, and remains on roll, transport support will normally be provided for all other children from the same family unit to attend that same school (until the standard age of transfer or a change in circumstance).
1.1.8. Moving house
Parents are advised to check availability of school places before moving house, as there are no guarantees places will be available at the new catchment or nearest school.
Unless nearer schools do not have places available in the relevant year group, any request for a child to remain at the existing school upon a house move will be considered as parental preference and, therefore, families will be responsible for making their own transport arrangements.
Transport support provided on exceptional grounds will normally cease if a family move to an area served by a school with places available in the relevant year group.
The LA will not provide transport support for children who have been displaced from their home because of family related issues (e.g. family disagreements).
1.1.9. Temporary housing
Occasionally, families have to move involuntarily from their established home address to alternative accommodation on a temporary basis.
Transport support to a child’s existing school may be considered for a maximum period of two school terms when a family has had to be temporarily re-housed.
Agreement to transport support will depend upon the location of the temporary housing, the age/distance criteria, the basis of the original application (i.e. was the place secured on in-area or parental preference grounds), the cost of transport and satisfactory reasons for the loss of the registered accommodation.
Transport support from the temporary address will cease at the end of the two school terms period (unless the cost of providing transport support to an alternative school is greater) or upon a return to the original property or permanent re-housing, whichever comes first.
The Authority will not provide transport support to those families whose main residence is located in another authority’s area but who have to move to a Dorset based location on a temporary.
1.1.10. Changing school for other reasons:
Applications for transport support following a parents’ decision to change schools (whether or not the decision is supported/encouraged by the existing or receiving school) will not be approved unless the school they transfer to is the catchment/nearest school and/or all avenues of support at the current school have been pursued and the move is supported by the Alternative Provision Team or the School Attendance Team or other professional where the request for support may be considered.
1.1.11. Year 11
If a family moves house when a child is in Year 11, transport support may be provided if it is sought to enable the child to remain at the existing school, if the following circumstances apply:
- the existing school is a reasonable and appropriate alternative school to which transport can be offered from the new address
- where exceptional circumstances apply, unavoidable reasons for move or the school(s) that serves the area where the new property is located is/are inappropriate
1.1.12. Special Educational Needs, disability and medical needs
Children and young people who as a result of their Special Education Need, Disability or Medical need who do not qualify on the distance criteria but, because they are unable to walk to school even if they are accompanied by an adult, may be eligible for travel assistance.
Supporting evidence through a Professional Assessment will always be necessary.
Family circumstances will also be taken into account, however an employment commitment is not in itself a reason to approve transport support.
When a child has a need or disability that would prevent them from making the usual type of accompanied journey made by other children of his/her age additional travel assistance may be provided.
The conditions that may give rise to such assistance may include:
- long term severely restricted mobility – for example, circumstances requiring the daily use of significant physical aids such as a wheelchair
- long term medical condition resulting in severely restricted mobility due to pain and/or extreme tiredness - for example, juvenile arthritis
- long term medical condition resulting in restrictive mobility leading to serious health and safety risks - for example, epilepsy or life threatening heart defects
- a sensory impairment resulting in severely restricted mobility - for example, where a child is effectively without the use of sight
- a child has a disability leading to significant social, and / or emotional immaturity in comparison with other children of his / her age. This may mean a child’s behaviour leaves them extremely vulnerable in social settings – for example, a child with Asperger’s Syndrome who has very little awareness of personal danger
- a child with severe learning difficulties who has an inability to manage the complexity of the process with safety or demonstrates constant challenging behaviour suggesting that this child cannot make an accompanied journey
All professional assessments have to be in the form of a written statement from a relevant Medical Professional who is treating the young person.
Transport provision in very limited circumstances may operate to suit a reduced timetable and professional advice and evidence would be needed to support this.
If your child has a statement or Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), please contact your SEN planning coordinator who will be able to discuss how you can get your child to school and whether any assistance can be given. If your child does not have a statement or EHCP, please apply on an application via the council website.
There is no guarantee that siblings of a child with transport provided on these grounds will be eligible to transport.
Applications for siblings to travel with the eligible child should be made in the usual way.
If the sibling is not eligible but receives a surplus seat place on the same vehicle, please note that this transport will not automatically continue after the transport requirements for the child with the additional needs leaves, or run if this child is ill or excluded from school. If the seat on an available vehicle is required by another eligible child, the surplus seat may be withdrawn at short notice.
1.1.13. Young carers
Children who are registered carers and who receive transport support may be considered for alternative methods of transport if the normal arrangements require the child to be away from home for an unreasonable length of time. (Support from Young Carers Association and health care professionals would be required.)
1.1.14. Exceptional circumstances
There may be exceptions to the general criteria set out above and these are considered on a case by case basis.
If a family has been identified by a Family Partnership Zone as requiring transport support in order to support their needs, it must be confirmed via the Locality Manager to the Dorset Travel team identifying the reasons and any relevant time scale.
Where a place could be offered in the catchment or a nearer school and there would be no cost, the alternative transport should only be considered on a temporary basis for a maximum of a year.
In all cases there will be at least termly reviews. The Family Partnership Zone will liaise directly with Dorset Travel to commission transport under exceptional circumstances.
Transport support may be considered where a temporary, part time timetable is agreed due to medical needs or reintegration programme.
Evidence and the views of professionals would be required to support such cases.
1.1.15. Transport provided on religious or belief grounds - Secondary Year 7 – Year 11 (Aged 11 – 16)
Children, whose families are in receipt of Maximum Working Tax Credit/ Universal Credit, or the child is eligible to Free School Meals are eligible to free transport to the nearest denominational secondary school, if the distance is between:
- 2 miles shortest available walking route and 15 miles shortest available driven route
It is important to note that a parent will need to satisfy the LA of the genuine nature of the religious and or/philosophical belief. Providing evidence of any religion or belief lies with the child’s parent/parents.
Examples of acceptable evidence are:
- the provision of baptismal certificate
- a statement of atheism
- a statement of adherence to a particular faith
- a letter of support from a priest or equivalent religious leader stating that the child belongs to a particular congregation
Normally two pieces of evidence will be required.
Evidence may be checked with the school. Parents and guardians will only be sent a denominational pass when they have confirmed that they wish to accept the transport provision offered.
Those parents and guardians who do not take up the offer of a pass at the beginning of the academic year, may still apply at any time for a pass, if their personal circumstances change.
1.1.16. Alternative provision and Managed Moves
Where a child, through the In Year Fair Access process or the Local Inclusion Panel, is referred to a new school including a Managed Move, then consideration will be given to providing transport.
As part of the allocation of a place, consideration will be given as to whether this is the next nearest appropriate school, or the only other appropriate school for the child to attend.
If a Managed Move is agreed as a result of parent making an application, then transport eligibility will be determined based on section 1.1.1 and 1.1.4., the previous school always being considered as appropriate.
Where a child is referred to Alternative Provision, including Learning Centres, then transport will be provided to that setting for the duration of their attendance, or until such time as it is deemed appropriate that they remain and the setting is over the minimum statutory distance for their age.
1.1.17. Distribution of passes
Once it has been confirmed that a child is eligible for school transport, they will be directed to an online application process where they can confirm that they wish to receive school transport.
Dorset Travel will then process the application and passes will be sent to the student’s home address by mid-august.
Despatch of passes may be arranged by Dorset Travel or by the bus operator depending on which school the pass is for.
Details of the routes and contractors will be available to view on the Dorset website. For children starting or moving school in September, this should be resolved by the end of the previous academic year.
It is important to note that bus passes will not be issued until a family has confirmed that they wish to take up their transport eligibility.