Explain
School transport
The council decides on free travel to school under the Education Act 1996. This is usually separate from the EHC plan. A child of compulsory school age can qualify if they cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school because of their special educational needs, disability or mobility problems. There are other ways to qualify too. Decisions are challenged through the council's own review process, then the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. The SEND Tribunal does not normally deal with transport. Post-16 transport has separate rules.
For children of compulsory school age, the government's statutory guidance on travel to school says each council decides how its appeals process works. The guidance recommends two stages: a review by a senior officer, then a panel independent of the original decision. It also says the council should tell the parent that they can complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
- Type of rule
- Law (Act or Regulations)
- Rule id
school_transport- Rules version
- england-2026.10
- Law as at
- 30 September 2026
Sources
- Education Act 1996, s 508BLaw (Act or Regulations)
- Education Act 1996, Sch 35B para 2Law (Act or Regulations)
- Education Act 1996, Sch 35B para 3Law (Act or Regulations)
- Education Act 1996, s 509AALaw (Act or Regulations)
- Local Government Act 1974, s 26Law (Act or Regulations)
- Department for Education, Travel to school for children of compulsory school age: statutory guidance (May 2026), paras 130 to 143Official guidance
Related
- Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO)
- Education for children out of school (Education Act 1996, section 19)
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