SEND Home to School and College Travel: Latest Update – 30 October 2026
Following our meeting with Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) on this week, we wanted to share the latest information about SEND home-to-school and college travel arrangements, including outstanding applications, communication with families and travel payments.
We know that some families are still waiting for transport arrangements to be confirmed, while others have experienced delays in receiving payments or responses to their queries.
We continue to raise these concerns directly with OCC and wanted to share the latest information we've received.
Outstanding transport arrangements
OCC has confirmed that families whose applications were received by 31 August and who are still awaiting confirmation of their arrangements are being contacted on 29 and 30 October, ahead of the return to education on Monday 2 November.
Applications received after 31 August are also being processed, alongside priority cases.
During the busy summer and autumn period, the process can take up to 10 weeks from receipt of a completed application. This is because OCC needs time to assess travel needs, identify suitable arrangements and, where necessary, arrange routes and contracts with transport providers. This can take longer when large numbers of applications are received at the same time.
We recognise how difficult this uncertainty can be for families, particularly when children and young people are unable to access education without suitable transport.
Still waiting to hear about your transport?
If you're still waiting for confirmation of your child's travel arrangements or need an update, please email OCC's Supported Travel team:
Please use the following email subject line to help OCC identify your enquiry:
Travel arrangements not yet received – [Child's full name] – [School/college name]
If you're currently providing transport yourself while waiting for arrangements to be put in place, reimbursement forms are available through OCC.
Communication with families
We raised ongoing concerns about families not receiving responses to emails, difficulties getting updates and the impact this has on families trying to plan around their child's education.
OCC has confirmed that it is taking steps to improve communication, including:
Introducing regular meetings with state-funded special schools to discuss outstanding transport arrangements and resolve issues.
Looking into extending these meetings to independent special schools and alternative provision.
Linking transport coordinators with schools and settings to provide clearer points of contact.
Families whose children attend state-funded special schools can also raise outstanding transport concerns through their school.
We will continue to raise the importance of clear, timely communication with families, particularly when arrangements are delayed or change unexpectedly.
Travel payments and reimbursements
We know that some families are also waiting for payments or are unsure when they should expect to receive them.
OCC has provided the following information about Direct Travel Payments, Personal Travel Budgets and reimbursements.
Direct Travel Payments (DTPs)
Direct Travel Payments help families arrange their child's own transport to school or college, usually based on the journeys or attendance agreed with OCC.
When will payments be made?
Attendance information is requested at half term. Once this has been checked and the payment processed, families will receive a remittance notification confirming that payment has been made.
Money should then reach their bank account within 3–5 working days.
The timing depends on when attendance information is received from schools or parent carers, so payments may arrive during or after half term.
Personal Travel Budgets (PTBs)
Personal Travel Budgets provide funding to help families make their own travel arrangements, rather than using transport arranged by OCC.
When will payments be made?
The first payment is made within 10 working days of OCC's Finance Team receiving the completed agreement.
Once processed, families will receive a remittance notification, with funds reaching their bank account within 3–5 working days.
Further payments are made monthly in advance.
Reimbursements
If you're providing transport yourself while waiting for OCC to arrange it, you may be able to claim back agreed travel costs.
OCC has confirmed that reimbursement claims are currently being processed.
Questions about your payments?
If you have any questions about your Direct Travel Payments, Personal Travel Budget or reimbursement claims, please contact OCC's Supported Travel team directly:
Improving the Supported Travel service
Alongside resolving outstanding arrangements, we have continued discussions with OCC about the wider improvements needed to make the Supported Travel service work better for children, young people and their families.
OCC has told us it is working to:
Improve communication between education, EHCP and transport teams.
Provide clearer information and points of contact for families.
Strengthen communication with schools and education settings.
Begin planning future transport arrangements earlier to help reduce delays.
OxPCF will continue meeting regularly with OCC to raise concerns, share parent carer experiences and review progress.
The wider Parent Carer Transport Advisory Group is expected to meet again in January 2027, providing an opportunity for parent carers to contribute to longer-term service improvements.
Keep sharing your experiences with OxPCF
We know that transport continues to be a significant concern for many families, and we want to make sure your experiences are heard.
Whether you're still waiting for arrangements, experiencing difficulties with communication or payments, or things have improved, please keep sharing your feedback with us.
Your experiences help us identify wider issues, understand what's working and what needs to change, and raise these directly with OCC.
Email: feedback@oxpcf.org.uk
WhatsApp or voice note: 07394 735666
Please remember that OxPCF cannot resolve individual transport cases. For questions about your child's arrangements or payments, please contact OCC's Supported Travel team directly.
You can also find our previous updates and useful resources on our dedicated Supported Travel page: https://www.oxpcf.org.uk/supportedtransport
We will continue to share updates as further information becomes available.
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