Guide to transport for children with SEND

There is no automatic entitlement to transport assistance for children who have an education, health and care plan (EHCP).

If you apply for a place at your designated school or the nearest school to your home address, your child will get free transport if they live further than the statutory walking distance from the school.

Walking distance is defined as over:

  • two miles from home to school for children of primary school age
  • three miles from home to school for children of secondary school age

You can find out which is your designated mainstream school at School designated areas.

If your child’s EHCP says that their needs can be met at a mainstream school, the normal eligibility criteria will apply, unless a disability or medical condition means they cannot walk the specified distance for their age.

Where a school is named in accordance with parental preference and is not the nearest suitable school, nor the designated school for the home address then there is no obligation for the Authority to assist with transport.

Please review our Education Travel Policy.

The information contained in this guide is also summarised in the Transport for children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or Education Health Care Plan leaflet.

Applications

If your child is due to start at a special school in September, we will aim to contact you during the spring term. If you do not hear from us by the end of May, or if your child is starting a special school at any other time of year and you have not heard from us, please complete an online transport application form.

When your transport application form has been received, a member of the School Transport Team will contact you to discuss the transport requirements.

For education transport-related queries, please contact the School Transport Team on 0345 155 1019 or by emailing schooltransportservicequeries-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.

Apply now

Apply for school transport to a special school.