Appealing a home-to-school transport decision

Step by step

1. Decide whether this is an appeal or a service problem

   Appeal a decision about eligibility, distance, walking-route safety or whether the assistance offered is suitable. Report repeated lateness, a missed collection, operator conduct or an administrative delay through the operational, compliance or complaint route instead.

2. Get the decision, policy and calculation

   Keep the written decision and ask which policy year and criterion were used, the measured route and distance, which school the council treats as nearest suitable, whether a place was available and how the child's ability to walk with accompaniment was assessed.

3. Stage 1: request a review within 20 working days

   Both councils currently publish a 20-working-day deadline from receipt of the decision. Identify the exact decision challenged, explain each disputed point and attach evidence. Their published process says a senior officer should issue the review outcome within 20 working days.

4. Stage 2: ask for the panel within 20 working days

   If Stage 1 does not resolve the dispute, both councils currently allow a further 20 working days to request Stage 2 and say the independent panel should be convened within 40 working days. Ask how to attend, submit further evidence and request accessible communication or another adjustment.

5. Build evidence around the disputed test

   Use the EHC plan where relevant, school-placement evidence, route maps and photographs, risk assessments, medical or specialist letters, mobility or sensory evidence, accompaniment information, a journey chronology and evidence showing why the offered arrangement is unsuitable. A diagnosis alone may not explain the functional travel risk.

6. Check for a linked EHC-plan dispute

   If Section I names a school conditionally on the family providing transport, or the disagreement is about the nearest suitable school, seek SENDIASS or specialist SEND-law advice promptly. Part of the remedy may concern the EHC plan rather than only the council's transport appeal.

7. After the council appeal

   The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman can consider administrative fault after the council process, such as a failure to follow published rules or consider relevant evidence. Get urgent legal advice where waiting for the ordinary complaint route could expose the child to serious harm or loss of education.