Home-to-School Transport: Update for SEND Families

As families prepare for the start of a new academic year, many parent carers have contacted the Oxfordshire Parent Carers Forum (OxPCF) to share their experiences with the home-to-school transport process. We’ve received feedback through our online forms, peer support groups, and direct messages — and we want to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their feedback.

We know that transport can be a source of huge anxiety, especially for children and young people with SEND who need consistency and routine. Many families told us they hadn’t received communication from the council confirming arrangements. Others were caught off guard by changes to routes or providers, or by the need to reapply for transport even when their child was remaining at the same placement post-16 or post-19. Several parents highlighted the impact of uncertainty on their child’s wellbeing, and how difficult it has been to make alternative arrangements at short notice — particularly for working families or those without access to transport.

We raised this feedback directly with Oxfordshire County Council, along with five specific questions from families. Here’s what they shared with us:

When will families receive confirmation of arrangements?

The transport team recognises that communication has been delayed and apologises for the lack of response in some cases. Arrangements have already been confirmed for some families, and they will continue to send confirmation emails through the end of August and into early September. They are prioritising applications received before the June deadline.

Families who submitted their ‘Request for SEN Transport – Extra Information Form’ but have not heard back yet should expect contact from the team by early next week.

What if I haven’t had any response?

The council acknowledges that some families submitted forms but didn’t receive confirmation or even acknowledgement. They’re now working to address this and plan to contact all families who applied by 21 August with interim travel arrangements where possible, while full-year arrangements are finalised (which can take up to 20 days).

Applications received after 21 August will be contacted separately and advised to make alternative arrangements while their transport is being processed, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Changes to routes or providers

Some families have heard about changes via outgoing providers before receiving any formal notice from the council. The transport team has acknowledged this issue and is reviewing internal processes to avoid this happening in future. They are now contacting families directly to confirm arrangements and clarify any changes.

Post-16/Post-19 applications

The team confirmed that transport assistance for post-16 and post-19 students must be reapplied for annually, even when the young person is staying at the same setting. Letters were sent in late May, with reminders in June. However, they acknowledge that this may not have been made sufficiently clear as part of phase transfer processes, and improvements are being considered for the future.

College transport arrangements (affecting almost 490 young people) will be confirmed by Friday 29 August 2025.

Improving the process for next year

We’ve been assured that there is a wider review underway. Key updates include:

• Plans to send formal acknowledgement letters when applications are received, setting out expected timeframes.

• Process improvements are being mapped and tested and will be shared with the new Parent Carer Advisory Group in the autumn.

• Continued development of the Integrated Transport Delivery Hub (ITDH) programme to improve consistency, communication, and efficiency.

Get Involved: Join the Parent Carer Advisory Group

At the SEND Transport Listening Event in October 2024, held by Oxfordshire Parent Carers Forum, parent carers shared their experiences of Home to School Travel with Oxfordshire County Council (OCC). In response, OCC agreed to review the feedback and work with a new Parent/Carer Advisory Group to enhance travel services for children and young people.

This is your opportunity to help ensure the views of children, young people, and parent carers are considered in shaping how SEND transport is delivered.

We’re looking for 6–8 parent carers who:

• Can meet online every two weeks (initially), then monthly

• Want to help shape improvements to transport communication and processes

• Will receive a £10 voucher per session as a thank you

Aims of the group:

• Clearer, more consistent communication, so families know what to expect

• A shared understanding between parent carers, providers, and settings about how travel should work

Interested? Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/c2jxkF4A6P

Need Help or More Information?

You can find more details about SEND transport, including eligibility and application deadlines, on the Oxfordshire Local Offer website:

Transport if your child has an EHCP – Oxfordshire Local Offer

To contact the SEN Transport team directly:

📧 Email: EE-SpecialEducationalNeedsITU@oxfordshire.gov.uk

📞 Phone: 01865 323795

What next?

We welcome the council’s commitment to improving the process and appreciate the acknowledgement that clear communication must be central to this. We will continue to work closely with the transport team and share any further updates.

If your family has been affected and you’d like to provide feedback or suggest improvements, please do get in touch with us at info@oxpcf.org.uk or via our feedback form. Every experience shared helps shape the bigger picture.

We know how stressful this period has been for many, and we’ll continue doing all we can to ensure your voices are heard.

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Oxfordshire Parent Carers Forum (OxPCF)