Home to School Transport is for eligible students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). It helps them get to and from their school or educational setting. This is only available at the beginning and end of the school day.
Our SEND Travel Support Team will decide if Home to School Transport is appropriate based on a child's needs. If it is, they will:
Depending on the route, other children getting SEND travel assistance may be picked up and dropped off as well.
You can read the information below to learn about how Home to School Transport works.
Our team helps run the Home to School Transport Service. They will be in touch with you if there are any issues. You can also call or email them if you have problems or need to update us about your child or situation.
Commonly asked questions
To help keep transport running smoothly, there are several ways you can help us.
You must inform SEND Travel Support Team if:
Contact our SEND Travel Support team on the first day of illness to let us know. We will pause the transport.
You must contact us again when your child is better and returning to school. Then we will resume transport arrangements.
You will need to make a new application. Please give a minimum of 10 working days. This is so that we can check that your child is still eligible for transport. It also gives us time to make the necessary changes to your child’s transport.
We will collect information about how we can support your child's needs when travelling. This information will come from:
We will share this information with the provider.
All drivers and travel escorts must have an enhanced DBS certificate. It must also be renewed every three years. Our SEND Travel Support Team will monitor this.
Drivers and travel escorts must also complete:
All of the above must be completed every 3 years.
The transport provider will contact you before the route begins. They will arrange to meet you and your child.
Please contact the SEND Travel Support Team if you do not hear from them.
Unfortunately, this can happen. There are many unavoidable reasons why transport may be delayed. This includes:
You will be told about this as soon as possible. This could be from our SEND Travel Support Team or the transport provider.
Very rarely, we might have to cancel the transport. This could be because of a staff illness or vehicle breaking down. We will tell you as soon as possible and do our best to find a solution.
We do our best to tell you about changes as soon as possible. However, sometimes changes have to be made at very short notice. This could be because of a staff illness or vehicle breakdown.
We will always contact you about it as soon as we can.
No.
Transport will only pick up and drop off from the home address and school. Locations and times cannot be changed for any reason.
Transport can only wait for 3 minutes for your child to arrive at the vehicle. This is so transport is not late for other students or arriving at the school.
No.
It is your responsibility to bring your child to and from the vehicle. Drivers and travel escorts are not permitted to leave the vehicle.
Please know that drivers should not sound their horn.
For car seats, parents and carers are responsible. You will need to provide this and fit the car seat in the vehicle.
For a buckle guard or harness, our SEND Travel Support Team can give you this. However, they can only be used on SEND Home to School Transport routes.
A responsible adult must collect your child when they are dropped off at home. If no one does this after 3 minutes, the driver or travel escort will call the SEND Travel Support Team. We will then try to contact:
If we cannot get in touch, we will contact children's or adult's social care. They will decide the best action. Please know we will try everything possible before doing this.
If this happens more than once, home to school transport may be paused. It can be resumed when we can guarantee someone will be home to collect your child.
We have a duty to safeguard all children and young people. When there are any concerns, we will pass on information to appropriate services.
We can only transport your child if we can do this safely.
Transport may be paused or stopped because of disruptive behaviour that creates risks.
If transport is suspended or withdrawn, we can still give you a Personal Travel Budget.
Your child might have prescription medication that they need to take to school. This must:
Any medication transported must be signed at the home and school.
Travel escorts are not allowed to give medication unless a plan is in place.
All drivers and travel escorts are given a Newcastle City Council SEND Transport ID badge. This will include:
Drivers and travel escorts must have their badge with them at all times. You should contact the SEND Travel Support Team if they cannot show you their badge.
Sometimes, the driver or travel escort may have to be changed. This could be because of sickness or staff leaving. We always ask transport providers to contact you about any changes as soon as possible.
It is your responsibility to check ID badges of drivers and travel escorts from home. This is important if they have not previously transported your child.
If you have any concerns, please contact SEND Transport by calling 0191 2774646.