Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will increase transport provision for children with SEND requirements who live within three miles of their schools and are over 8 years old.

The government’s home to school transport policy aims to ensure that no child is unable to access education because of a lack of transport. Local authorities must provide free home to school transport for children of compulsory school age who attend their nearest suitable school and live beyond the statutory walking distance (2 miles for children under 8, and 3 miles for children aged 8 and over) or live within the walking distance but would not be able to walk there because of their special educational needs or disability, or because the route is unsafe.

A child who attends their nearest suitable school and would not be able to walk there because of their special educational needs or disability will be eligible for free home to school transport even if they live less than the statutory walking distance from their school. Where a child has an education, health and care plan, the school named in the plan will usually be considered to be their nearest suitable school for transport purposes. Home to school travel and transport guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-to-school-travel-and-transport-guidance.