How to apply for school or college travel assistance

If your child is entitled to help with getting to school or college you will need to apply to the council’s Admissions and Transport Team or the SEN Home to School Transport Officer for travel assistance for your child.

You can read about the criteria for help with getting to school and college by reading the following articles.

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Applying for travel assistance

Children under 16

If your child is under 16, applications for assistance with travel to school should be submitted to the admissions and transport team using the assistance with travel to school application form.

If your child is under 16 and has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) applications for assistance with travel to school should be submitted to the SEN Home to School Transport Officer using the Travel Assistance to School EHCP children application form.

Children post 16 with an education health and care plan (EHCP)

If your child is over 16 and has an EHCP, applications for assistance with travel to college or post 16 providers should be submitted to the admissions and transport team.  Forms and the travel assistance policy are updated every year from the 31st May.  Applications should be submitted annually using the most recent form.

Download the application for post 16 assistance with travel to school/college form.

Concessionary travel scheme

If you are applying for a place as a concessionary passenger on a school contract vehicle you should use the concessionary travel scheme form.

Your application will be assessed once the admissions and transport team receive it.  If your child has an education health and care plan, the team will also involve the 0-25 education team in the assessment. 

You will be contacted with the outcome of the assessment as soon as possible.

For further information see the article school travel concessionary travel scheme.

When travel assistance has been agreed

Once travel assistance has been agreed, your child’s details will be passed to the council’s Client Transport Team.  They will organise the practical arrangements, for example issuing travel passes, organising travel routes and allocating the type of transport.  The Client Transport Team manages all transport for South Gloucestershire, not just for schools.

The Client Transport Team will notify you of the arrangements as soon as possible.  

For more information refer to our article on travel assistance arrangements.

If your application for travel assistance was refused

If you are unhappy with the decision on your travel assistance application you may appeal.

Your appeal will be considered by a senior officer not previously involved with your application.  They will consider the law, the council’s travel assistance policy, your application and any exceptional circumstances.

The senior officer will then write to you with the outcome of the appeal.

If you are unhappy with the decision, you can move your appeal to the next stage which is an independent appeal panel.

If you have any queries regarding your application or want to find out further details about the process, contact the Schools Admissions and Transport Team at South Gloucestershire Council, telephone 01454 868008.