Home to School Transport Policy (0 to 25 Year Olds)

Families of pupils/students of all ages with SEND who are eligible for transport can apply for a Personal Transport Budget. This is awarded at the Council's discretion to support the pupil to travel from home to their school or educational setting.

A Personal Transport Budget is paid on the assumption that a pupil of statutory school age attends their school/educational setting 190 days a year (as determined by the government definition of a school year); or for students who are over 16 years old, that they attend a full-time programme of learning that is at least 540 guided learning (planned and funded) hours per year.

If a pupil or student receives a Personal Transport Budget part way through the school year, or attends school or learning on a part-time basis, the total payment is on a pro rata basis to account for the reduced amount of time that a parent/carer would be responsible for transport arrangements.

A Personal Transport Budget allows families to have the freedom and flexibility to make their own travel arrangements rather than travelling on Council organised transport. A Personal Transport Budget is awarded at the discretion of the Council. It is a sum of money to support the pupil or student to travel from home to their school or educational setting. It is not a short-term alternative while a transport application is being processed.

A Personal Transport Budget could be used in many ways, including:

• to pay for fuel and/or running costs on a family vehicle that is used to transport a pupil or student to school/educational setting
• lease a vehicle to use if the family don’t have one
• paying for a shared taxi with other pupils or students
• paying for another person to take a sibling to school to free a parent/carer up to transport the pupil or student with SEND
• buying travel passes for other children in the family so that they can travel to and from school, allowing the parent/carer to transport the pupil or student with SEND
• paying for childcare for another child to allow a parent/carer to take the pupil or student with SEND to school/educational setting
• working with the school to join up transport options with other parents (for example car share), encouraging a sense of community

Personal Transport Budgets can be used for any non-Council provided transport service. This means for, example, a public transport bus pass, commercially-provided closed school bus pass or rail pass. A Personal Transport Budget cannot be used for Council organised transport services, for example the Council’s Spare Seats scheme or to pay for Council arranged transport for an annual fee.

All eligible pupils or students for whom a Personal Transport Budget request is made will have their application assessed. We will take into consideration any cost to the Council of arranging the transport and will make a best value assessment based on the cost of council arranged transport as well as the specific needs of the pupil/student.

If a parent/carer uses the Personal Transport Budget to employ someone (for example for childcare), then they will be responsible for complying with relevant rules regarding Tax and National Insurance, Employment Law, Insurance, Health and Safety or any other relevant rules or legislation in force at that time. In addition, parents/carers should make relevant and appropriate checks on whether employed staff have current Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates; and parents/carers should arrange or pay for those checks if directly employing an individual who doesn’t have one.

Similarly, if a parent/carer uses the Personal Transport Budget to enter into contracts with organisations for example after school/extra-curricular clubs, or individuals, the parent/carer would be responsible for complying with the terms and conditions of those contracts. This may include payment arrangements or notice of cancellation.

Personal Transport Budgets cannot be used in the following circumstances:

• to buy or utilise space on transport services from the Council
• for any purpose that does not enable the pupil or student to travel to/from the school/educational setting
• to travel to activities other than the educational setting, for example work experience
• for any activity that is illegal, unlawful or unsafe
• for other purposes that may bring the Council into disrepute

To apply for a Personal Transport Budget the pupil or student will need to:

• live within the area where Buckinghamshire is the local council
• have an Education, Health and Care Plan
• attend the school/s or educational setting/s outlined in the Education, Health and Care Plan. See section 10.2 for further information
• comply with the eligibility criteria described in section 3.9

All children with an Education, Health and Care Plan in the same family would be considered when agreeing the amount awarded via a Personal Transport Budget. There may be some circumstances where it is appropriate for a family to have one child travelling on Post-16 SEND Council arranged transport (and paying an annual fee), while the other child has a Personal Transport Budget. Where this is an appropriate arrangement this would be discussed with the family. Where a pupil or student attends more than one educational setting, their eligibility for a Personal Transport Budget to each setting will be assessed separately.

Regular and proportionate checks will be carried out to ensure that Personal Transport Budgets are used appropriately, in accordance with the Council’s Personal Transport Budget agreement with the parent/carer.

A Personal Transport Budget may be withdrawn in some circumstances or a reduction in the payment amounts made, including if:

• a pupil/student's attendance falls below 90% (this aligns with the government definition of “Persistent Absence” in school-age children which is an absence rate of 90% and below) - it would be recognised that attendance for some pupils may be affected by their medical needs, and the details and evidence of this will be taken into consideration in determining whether to withdraw, reduce or reclaim a Personal Transport Budget
• a pupil/student regularly arrives late at their educational setting in the mornings or in an unfit state to learn
• a Personal Transport Budget is not being used appropriately
• it is not cost-effective for the Council to continue providing the Personal Transport Budget
• it has been assessed that the pupil/student is no longer eligible for travel assistance
• there is a change to national legislation and/or the Council’s policies

To determine the appropriate Personal Transport Budget amount, the following factors, alongside discussion with the family, will be considered:

• the special educational needs and disabilities of the pupil/student
• the travel distance as measured by the Council
• how the pupil/student might travel to their educational setting
• the time the journey takes
• whether the pupil/student is able to travel alone or if they need to be accompanied
• the age of the pupil/student
• whether any specialist equipment might be required

The standard amount that would be awarded with a Personal Transport Budget is 45p per mile, using the shortest road distance as measured by the Council’s transport software system. The cost of two return journeys per day of attendance at their educational setting (i.e. all four legs of the journeys) would be included in the Personal Transport Budget amount. Any variation to the standard amount will be considered as part of the pupil/student’s travel assessment. As a Personal Transport Budget can be used in many ways there is no expectation that the parent/carer will use the same route as measured by the Council.

There might be circumstances where a Personal Transport Budget is not appropriate. This could include where the Council can arrange transport at a lower cost and would take into account the specific needs of the pupil/student. This will be assessed as part of the application process. The Council will make the final decision based on all the available information.

More detailed information can be found on our Personal Transport Budgets webpage.

Personal Transport Budgets have replaced mileage allowances. However, there may be exceptional circumstances where a mileage allowance could be offered on a temporary basis. These are assessed and offered to parents/carers on a case by case basis.