Consideration for transport support is provided to children and young people who are resident on Wirral who have complex special educational needs, a disability or mobility problem as identified through the Special Educational Needs (SEND) assessment process.
Not all children with a statement of Special Educational Needs or EHCP require free transport provision. Where a young person is able to access and use the public transport network safely they will be expected to do so. Where they are unable to walk because of their SEND, a disability or mobility problem they are entitled to free transport.
Eligibility for transport is subject to an initial application which will be assessed in accordance with the councils home to school transport policy.
Following the assessment process parents will be notified of the decision regarding transport provision. Eligibility to provision will be assessed annually.
The decision to provide transport is based on the student’s needs. This means that Wirral Council is not able to take the following into account when considering home to school transport entitlement:
- Parents’ work or other commitments.
- Attendance by siblings at other schools.
- If a parent chooses to send their child to a provider that is not the nearest appropriate provider to the home address.
- A journey from one educational establishment to another.
- Ad hoc visits to other schools, colleges or other establishments.
- Out of hours clubs (breakfast club, after school activities).
- To/ from dental, clinical, medical or hospital appointments
- At a different time due to detention or exclusion.
In these instances, transport arrangements will be the sole responsibility of the student’s parent or carer. Parents sometimes raise issues regarding accompaniment as part of an appeal and these will then be considered on an individual basis.
If young people are assessed as eligible for free transport the type of transport provided will be based on individual assessment of young people’s needs and with regard to the best use of the Council’s resources. This may be in the form of a free pass for use on public transport or transport in a contracted vehicle.
For students travelling in contracted vehicles there is no specific duty on the Council to provide passenger assistants. However, a passenger assistant may be provided to accompany a young person with significant needs arising from a medical condition or a disability and where there is an exceptional need for care or supervision.
The decision on whether to provide a passenger assistant will be made as part of the eligibility assessment taking a number of factors into account. Such factors may include information relating, but not limited, to:
- Medical issues.
- Health and safety related issues, including risk to self or others.
- The young person’s mobility.
- Any challenging behaviour arising from the young person’s SEND.
- Where a passenger has severe learning or physical difficulties, the need for continual care and supervision.
- Age and capability.
- Length of journey.
- The vehicle type and size.
Transport is allocated on an annual basis and parents and carers will be involved in a discussion regarding the ongoing suitability of the existing transport arrangements during the review of the young person’s statement of educational needs.
In cases of students with high risk medical needs (who require additional funding from a number of organisations) decisions regarding transport will be informed by health, education and social care practitioners. If a child is eligible for transport, health professionals will provide recommendations based on the child’s specific needs during transport to ensure safety. This will be reviewed appropriately in order to provide a responsive service.