This page gives information about school transport assistance for children who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or medical conditions.
For children who do not have SEND or medical conditions please view our
School Transport Assistance for Children Under 16 page.
Is my child eligible for free transport?
Just like other five to 16-year olds, children who have recognised learning difficulties and/or a disability are entitled to free home to school transport if they are either:
- under 8 years old, attend their nearest qualifying school and live 2 miles or more from that school, or
- 8 years old or over, attend their nearest qualifying school and live 3 miles or more from that school
Additional support for children with SEND who live relatively close to their school?
Learning difficulties
Children with SEND, whether or not they have an Education Health & Care Plan, are entitled to support if they attend their nearest qualifying school and:
- cannot walk to school in reasonable safety, even if they are accompanied by a responsible adult
- their disability means they are unable to walk even short distances
It is important to note that having an EHC Plan does not automatically mean a child is eligible to transport assistance.
Assistance on medical grounds
Children who are not already the subject of an EHC plan, but have a disability, mobility problem, congenital or permanent medical condition (for example arthritis or cystic fibrosis) that means they cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school may be eligible for assistance.
Children who suffer a temporary medical condition may also be eligible for assistance. Please see section 5 of the latest version of the Children’s Services Transport Policy, which can be found in the
related documents section at the bottom of this page.
Assistance for children whose parents have a disability
The parents of children of primary school age, who are disabled and, as a result of the incapacity, are unable to accompany their child on the walking route to their nearest qualifying school, may be eligible for assistance. Please see section 6 of the latest version of the Children’s Services Transport Policy, which can be found in the
related documents section at the bottom of this page.
What if I don’t want my child to attend the nearest school that can meet their needs?
If your child attends a school you chose, which is further away than the nearest one that can meet their needs, assistance may be provided on the condition that you agree to pay any additional transport costs incurred by the Council. Those additional costs are currently calculated at the rate of 50p for every extra mile, which is significantly less than the actual cost to the council of providing transport. Please note that our charges may be reviewed.
You can find full details of our eligibility criteria by reading the the latest version of the Children’s Services Transport Policy, which can be found in the
related documents section at the bottom of this page.
How do I apply?
If your child meets the eligibility criteria please download, complete and return the
Application for assistance with home to school travel for those with SEND form (PDF 910KB) to:
The SEND Transport Assessment Team
SENSAP
Learning and Inclusion
Adams Court
Kildare Terrace
Leeds LS12 1DB
Alternatively you can email us at sendtransport@leeds.gov.uk or call us on
0113 535 1990 to ask for a paper copy or for advice.
Once we receive your fully-completed application, it will be assessed and we will aim to advise you of our assessment within 15 working days. Please note that in cases where we offer to provide transport in the form of a minibus or taxi, it may take up to 15 further days from assessment to put those arrangements in place.
It is particularly important to ensure that applications for transport assistance commencing in September are received by the final Friday of June. We cannot guarantee that any transport offered will be in place by the start of term if applications are received after the end of June, although we will do our best to achieve it.
What types of assistance are available?
