Rights and Responsibilities of the Partners 

All partners in SEND Transport - parents, students, schools, governors, the SEND Transport Team (Transport Officer; Assistants; Improvement Assistants, Travel Trainers; Business Support: on behalf of the LA), providers (transport company), drivers and travel assistants have the entitlement to be in a safe, secure and non-oppressive environment. However, those entitlements can only be met where they and the other partners fully comply with their responsibilities. It is important to ensure, therefore, that there are consequences and/or sanctions which can be applied where one or more partner fails to meet their responsibility, to ensure that no entitlements are affected, and that SEND transport meets the needs of all “users” and the service. 

Where there is felt to be a cause for complaint in connection with the LA's, schools, operator's, driver's or passenger assistant’s failure to meet responsibilities the SEND Transport Team must be advised in writing via email to sendtransportservice@newcastle.gov.uk. 

This policy also gives parents a right to have a review of the decision made by the Transport Officer/Senior Transport Assistant regarding the short and long-term withdrawal of a student's transport.

Links with Safeguarding when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a student is suffering or is likely to suffer ‘significant harm,’ a bullying incident will be addressed as a child protection concern under the Children Act 1989. Records will be made through our incident log procedure and passed onto all relevant agencies.