School transport appeals
Stage 1
If you have recently applied and been declined for home to school transport but feel there are extenuating circumstances why your child is entitled, please complete the online form below and attach any supporting evidence that you think is appropriate to support your case. This must be submitted within 20 working days of the original transport application decision.
The first stage involves our senior officers examining your evidence to ensure the home to school transport policy (PDF) has been applied properly and fairly. If they find that it has not been and that you are entitled to travel assistance, we will provide transport. If they find that the policy has been applied properly and fairly, your stage 1 appeal will be rejected, and we will write to you explaining why this decision has been made. Responses to appeals are made within 20 working days of submission.
Stage 2
If you are unsuccessful at stage 1 and you feel your child is entitled to travel assistance due to your circumstances, you can escalate your appeal to stage 2. A stage 2 appeal allows you to supply all necessary evidence explaining why you feel your child is entitled to travel assistance and to verbally represent your case to an independent transport eligibility panel. If you provide evidence that was not part of your application or Stage 1 appeal and it fits within the exceptional circumstances criteria, you may be contacted to offer transport before the panel takes place.
This panel is made up of 3 members who are not employed by us and have no affiliation with the school your child attends. If you are unsuccessful at stage 1 and wish to escalate to stage 2, you must complete the Stage 2 Appeal online form. This must be submitted within 20 working days of the Stage 1 decision.
For more information on the appeals process, please view our home to school transport policy (PDF) or contact us.
As post-16 transport entitlement and policy are set locally by each individual council, there is no formal appeal process. If you disagree with a decision regarding post-16 transport, you must submit a complaint ticket via the self-service portal for a review by the Head of Service or Strategic Lead.