Home to School Transport, Hampshire County Council

Hampshire County Council’s SEN transport team make arrangements for children and young people to access special education at school and college. Following a process where entitlement to transport is determined, the transport team will make the most appropriate transport arrangements for pupils to enable them to attend education. Transport arrangements are usually carried out by commercial contractors, and are contracted through a tender process to ensure the most cost effective solution. Where it is considered appropriate, a member of the council’s staff (known as a school escort), will be provided to travel with children (up to the age of 16). The type of vehicle provided can be anything from a taxi to a large bus. However you may wish to take your child yourself, and this can be considered, and a parental mileage rate offered. The service carries out regular reviews of the transport provision with a view to ensuring that the most cost effective service is provided. This can mean changes year to year and sometimes during the school year. This also means that your child’s transport solutions is regularly monitored and reviewed. The school escort service aims to provide your child with a high level of care, and the staff undergo regular training and performance reviews. There are a number of tasks that they are unable to perform, including dispensing and administering of medication, medical care, and lifting and handling. They will however, provide a safe and caring environment for your child’s journey to school.

Provision is made for:
• Some pre-school age children
• All statemented school age pupils that meet the council’s eligibility criteria.
• Post-16 students attending the nearest suitable course.
Where a child is statutory school age, following an assessment by SEN professionals, an adult (known as a school escort) can be provided to accompany the child on their journey to school. The school escort is unable to provide medical care except in exceptional circumstances. Where it is vital that medical care is provided on the journey to school. Parents and carers would be encouraged to speak to their health professionals about continuing care provision. In addition, school escorts are unable to carry out any lifting and handling procedures, so parents and carers may need to take this into consideration before applying for travel to school. The school escort service is not provided to young people attending college.

OurChildren’s Services Department’s SEN Service will liaise with schools, parents and carers to discuss entitlement to transport, and will advise on whether the child/young person meets the entitlement criteria. The school, on behalf of the parent/carer will make an application for transport to the SEN Service, who will determine whether the application meets the entitlement criteria. If approved the school transport team will make suitable arrangements within 10 working days of receipt of the application. Travel arrangements will be in the form of a public transport season ticket, multiple passenger vehicle (bus/minibus/taxi) or a payment of mileage rate.

The service provides transport for entitled pupils to educational settings determined as appropriate placements by HCC’s SEN Service in Children’s Services. This can be at a wide range of settings both within and outside Hampshire. Hampshire’s Local authority area excludes Southampton and Portsmouth cities, which will have their own Local offers. You can check Hampshire County Council’s area [http://www3.hants.gov.uk/traveltoschool/school-transport.htm here] or [http://www.hants.gov.uk/redirect-district?IgsI-116 here]

HCC’s Children Services Department has a comprehensive home to school transport policy. The EHCP/SEN Service will apply the criteria to your child’s individual circumstances and advise you on whether they are entitled to receive travel to school. They will be able to advise you further. The policy can be found [http://www3.hants.gov.uk/traveltoschool/school-transport.htm here]

The transport team is available to talk directly with parents and carers. Communication is made in a variety of forms including letter, telephone and email. Where there are communication issues, advice is sought from the appropriate sources. There are a range of leaflets within the service that are provided to service users, advising what the service is, for example what you can expect of the council, what we expect from you and what you can expect from a school escort. Where a school escort is provided, a range of training is delivered to those staff. The council is obliged to and will always make the most cost efficient provision for the circumstances that are presented

A young persons needs will always be considered in making the most appropriate travel arrangements. It is important that the school transport staff are made aware of all of your child’s needs at the point of application for transport. There are a wide range of transport solutions that can be accessed, so it is vital that you share your child’s requirements at an early stage.

HCC’s School Escorts are directly employed by the council, and they work closely with children. They receive the following training:
* Emergency first Aid * Epilepsy Awareness * Autism 1 and further Autism * Wheelchair Awareness * Managing Challenging Behaviour * Safeguarding * Customer Service Skills * Lifting and Handling (back care) * Makaton.

All transport staff that have contact with your child are subject to criminal record checks, now known as a DBS check. This includes drivers and school escorts. As outlined above, school escorts receive a wise variety of training to help them provide a good service for your child. The school escorts undergo regular risk assessments and refresher training. Hampshire County Council is committed to safer recruitment policies..

You can contact the team directly, using the contact details listed above.