SEND home to school travel assistance appeal process

Home to school SEND travel assistance appeals

If your child is assessed as not eligible to receive travel assistance or you believe that the travel assistance arrangements put in place are not suitable for your child’s need, you have the right of appeal against these decisions. The council operates a two-stage appeal process.

Stage 1 appeal: initial appeal

The first stage is a review of your case by a member of the admissions and transport management team.

If you wish to appeal, you will need to complete a stage one appeal form below and must provide your reasons as to why you are appealing the decision made or the travel assistance arrangements put in place. You will need to provide any supporting evidence or information you wish to be considered when you submit your stage one appeal.

Once your stage one appeal is received, the relevant officer will consider it and provide you with a decision within 20 working days from receipt.

If your stage one appeal is not upheld, you have the right to proceed to a stage two appeal.

Stage 2 appeal: further appeal

The second stage of the appeal process is consideration by an appeal panel, which is independent of the transport decision making process. This is only open to cases that have been considered under the first stage of the appeal process.

If you wish to lodge a Stage 2 appeal, you will need to complete the Stage 2 appeal form below and must provide your further reasons as to why you are appealing the decision made or the travel assistance arrangements put in place. You will need to provide any supporting evidence or information you wish to be considered by the appeal panel.

An appeal hearing will be set up for the panel to consider your case and you will be invited to attend (usually via a virtual meeting) to put your case forward. 

Once your stage 2 appeal is received, the panel will meet to consider it within 40 working days from receipt and you will receive the outcome of the panel decision within 5 working days after the appeal hearing.

The appeals process

If you are not satisfied with the panel's decision, you have the right to appeal within 20 working days of receiving the panel decision letter.

Stage 1: Initial appeal

This is the first stage of the appeals procedure. The full appeals process is outlined in our SEND travel assistance policy

Start SEN travel assistance stage 1 appeal  

Stage 2: Further appeal

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the Stage 1 appeal, you can submit a Stage 2 appeal online. This must be lodged within 20 working days of receiving the Stage 1 appeal decision.

Start SEN travel assistance stage 2 appeal 

Next steps

If you remain dissatisfied after the Stage 2 appeal, you can contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for further assistance. 

• If you believe the appeal process was handled unfairly or if there were procedural faults (for example failure to consider evidence properly or adhere to statutory guidance), you can complain to the LGSCO.
• The Ombudsman will not overturn the decision but can investigate whether the council acted fairly and lawfully.
• Evidence of procedural flaws, delays, or inadequate reasoning can support a complaint.

Further details and information on the two-stage appeal process can be found in the education travel assistance policy (LINK) or you can email sentransport@lambeth.gov.uk

Summary of timelines

Support and guidance

• For help completing the appeals form, you can contact the Lambeth Information, Advice and Support Service (LIASS).
  Note: LIASS provides general advice on completing the form but cannot advise on the SEND Travel Assistance team's processes.
• For questions about the appeals process or additional guidance, please contact the SEND travel assistance team at SENtransport@lambeth.gov.uk