If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), you can appeal a school transport decision using this process. School transport includes:
- free transport
- paid transport through the Surplus Seat Travel Scheme
You can appeal if you feel:
- you have been wrongly refused school transport
- the type of transport does not meet your child’s needs
- concerned about the safety of your child's walked route to school
Before you start, please ensure you have supporting documents ready to attach to your appeal. These can include:
- medical letters and reports
- financial statements
- benefit details
Appeal a decision
Appeal a school transport decision for a child that has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Make sure you have your supporting documents handy.
If you are unable to use the online form, fill out a school transport appeal paper form.
What to expect during the appeals process
Stage 1
- You submit an appeal form and we review it.
- We will contact you if your child is still not entitled to free school transport and your appeal is rejected, or if we decide that we have provided the right form of transport.
- You then have the option to go to appeal stage 2.
Stage 2
- You submit a stage 2 appeal form and we review it.
- We compile information on your case and provide it to councillors to review in advance of the formal appeal.
- We contact you with the date of your appeal hearing.
- The Dorset Travel Team, the SEND Team and councillors are present during the hearing. You can attend if you want to.
- Information about your situation is presented to the appeal committee.
- You are given the opportunity to put your case forward.
- Councillors consider all of the information and make a decision in private.
- You are told the outcome of your appeal.
- If your appeal is unsuccessful, it’s up to you to arrange your child’s transport.