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School Transport

School transport in North Tyneside.

• Under 16 years
• Over 16 years
• Children with a statement of special education needs
• Pre-schoool age children
  

Under 16 years

A free travel pass is only available for your child if they attend their catchment area school and

a) your child is under 8 years of age and lives more than 2 miles from the school or

b) your child is over 8 years of age and lives 3 miles or more (SHORTEST WALKING DISTANCE) from your nearest appropriate school.

If you have chosen a different school, a free pass may not be available.

If you move out of the area served by your child’s school, free travel may be available at the discretion of the Director of Education and Cultural Services until your child completes an examination course already started, for example in years 10 and 11. Free passes are not available in other cases of leaving the area.

Over 16 years

Students aged over 16 and under 18 on the 1st September, who are attending sixth form may be entitled to travel vouchers. If your home address is more than three miles (SHORTEST WALKING DISTANCE) from your area school you are entitled to free travel.

Travel vouchers cannot be issued for educational establishments outside North Tyneside. Northumbria permits or travelling expenses may be available.

For further information please contact Education and Cultural Services on telephone number 200 1298.

Children with a statement of special educational needs

Wherever possible, pupils/students with Special Educational Needs will be treated in the same way as those without such needs.

Wherever possible, a child, young person or young adult with Special Educational Needs will also be encouraged to travel on public transport, especially when this is considered to be a factor in developing their independence, life and social skills.

a) The provision of Home to School/College transport for pupils with Statements of Special Educational Needs will be provided in line with the Home to School/College Transport Policy. When transport is required this will be specified in the Statement of Special Educational Needs and be subject to annual review. This applies to pupils attending both mainstream schools and day special schools up to 19 years of age.

b) Pupils living outside of the minimum distances but who are following an independence programme including making their own way to school are eligible for a free bus pass for use on public transport to facilitate free travel to and from school.

c) Transport will be provided for pupils attending special schools and units attached to mainstream schools who:

i) are unable to make their own way to school due to their special education needs and or/

ii) live further than the minimum distance of one mile.

d) Pupils living within the minimum distances set out in the Home to School/College Transport Policy would be expected to make their own way to and from school unless prevented from doing so as a result of their Special Educational Need. It is recognised that for certain pupils/students, independent travel is not possible. Such pupils/students must be considered individually and according to their individual needs.

e) An escort is provided, when necessary, to ensure pupils’ safety and to supervise them during the journey. This may require the escort to sit with pupils/students, for example, in the rear seat of a taxi or it may be appropriate for the escort to sit in the front. This will be in response to the pupils/student’s needs.

f) Pupils/students attending a residential provision as a result of their Statement of Special Educational Needs would be provided with free transport as set out above.

Pre-school age children

a) A pre-school age child attending a specialist provision as a result of a Statement of Special Educational Need or for a Special Education Needs assessment is entitled to free transport if required as a result of their Special Education Need.

Arrangements for the transport provision should be addressed when the final Statement of Special Educational Needs is confirmed. The transport needs of children being assessed, should be arranged at the point of agreement to the placement at the specialist provision. A pro forma setting out the child’s transport needs would then be completed at the school, and forwarded to Education and Cultural Services.

b) A child of nursery age that is attending a Child Care Nursery may be provided with assistance at the discretion of the social work team at Children's Services. Any requests for transport assistance should be made directly to the social worker who will pursue the request.

For further information please contact Education and Cultural Services on telephone number 200 5023.

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