How to apply for transport assistance to a SEN school or placement

Introduction

Over 90% of more than 170,000 pupils attending school in Hampshire organise their own transport. Some families will be eligible for support transporting their child to school from Hampshire County Council if they meet specific criteria. School transport assistance costs Hampshire County Council over £50 million every year.

If you need help getting your child to school and think that you meet the criteria, you can apply using the 'Apply now' link below.

Making arrangements for your child

It can take up to 10 working days for a decision to be made on a school transport application. This can take longer between the peak months for applications – March to August. Following an approval decision, it can take up to 15 working days to make the actual transport arrangements. Therefore you should be aware it can take up to 25 working days to start your child on transport.

The application will be reviewed by the School Transport Service who work closely with the Children's SEN Service. The process is:

  1. Parent/carer submits an online application
  2. School Transport receive and assess the application
  3. If the application is eligible then an approval update is sent via the online portal
  4. If the application is NOT eligible then a rejection reason will be sent via the online portal.

If you are the parent of a child with SEN seeking transport for a respite placement, you must contact your Social Worker.

For September 2025, do I need to reapply?

You do not need to reapply when:

  • your child receives Hampshire County Council funded transport because they meet the eligibility criteria and
  • is remaining at the same school in September and
  • your circumstances have not changed

You do need to reapply when:

  • your child's home address changes or
  • the school they are attending changes or
  • any other personal details that may affect their eligibility for transport assistance changes, for example additional needs, change to wheelchair transport, change of wheelchair

If any of the above apply, parents/carers must submit a new application form and eligibility for transport assistance will be reassessed. It can take the School Transport service up to 15 working days to rearrange transport from the date the request is approved. In the meantime it is your responsibility to get your child to school.

Applications being considered as an exception to policy can take significantly longer to process. In these cases parents/carers are notified in due course.