Local Authority Transport
Help with the journey between home and school, arranged and decided by Bury Council. Here's who can apply, what support looks like, and how long each step takes.
Travel assistance for children with special educational needs and disabilities is arranged by the School and College Transport Team at Bury Council, not by the school. Brookhaven can help you get the form and answer questions about your child's needs, but eligibility and the type of support offered are the Council's decision.
Applications are assessed for one academic year at a time. You'll need to reapply each year, and tell the Council if you move house or your child changes school.
Eligibility for children aged 5 to 16
Travel arrangements may be available where all three of the following apply.
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Living in the borough
Your child lives within the boundaries of Bury Council.
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An EHC plan in place
Your child has an Education, Health and Care plan, or an older Statement of Special Educational Needs.
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A named school, too far to walk
Your child attends a school named by the Authority to meet their needs, further than a reasonable walking distance once their disability is taken into account.
Under 5: the Council does not usually arrange transport for pre-school children, but each application is considered on its own merits and support can be given at its discretion.
Post 16: there is no automatic entitlement after Year 11. The Council publishes a separate Post 16 Travel Policy Statement each year setting out what may be available.
No EHC plan? You can still apply. A separate assessment is made that takes your child's individual needs into account.
Types of travel assistance
A vehicle is not the only option, and often not the first one. The Council decides which arrangement suits your child, starting with whether independent travel training would work.
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Independent travel training
One-to-one support to build road safety skills and the confidence to use public transport. Considered first in every application, because the aim is long-term independence.
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Travel pass
A pass for bus, train or tram across Greater Manchester, valid between home and school on school days. An escort can travel with your child where that is needed.
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Mileage reimbursement
Payment towards the cost of using your own vehicle, where you're able to make the journey yourself.
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Personal travel budget
A sum paid to your family to arrange travel in the way that works best, provided it gets your child to school. It can be used flexibly.
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Shared vehicle
Transport in a vehicle shared with other pupils, adapted where needed, with a trained escort on board for children who cannot travel alone.
How to apply
Download the SEN Travel Application Form from the forms page on our website, complete it, and return it to the School and College Transport Team. If you'd like help filling it in, speak to us at school first — we can go through it with you.
What happens after you apply
The Council works to published timescales at each stage. Working days mean Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.
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Acknowledged
Within 5 working days
The Transport Team confirms your application has arrived. If you haven't heard anything by then, call them — forms do occasionally go astray.
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Assessed
Normally within 15 working days of stage 1
Your child's needs and journey are assessed against the travel policy, including whether independent travel training would be suitable.
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Arranged
Normally within 10 working days of agreement
If assistance is agreed, the Council decides which arrangement fits and asks you to sign an agreement. Transport then starts, usually within ten working days.
School and College Transport Team
For help with the form, questions about a decision, or to report a change of address, contact the team at Bury Council directly.
This page summarises Bury Council's SEND travel policy, in effect from 1 June 2024. It is a guide only — the Council's published policy and its decision on your individual application always take precedence.
