Appeals
There is a two stage process for parents who wish to challenge a decision about:
- the transport arrangements offered
- their child’s eligibility
- the distance measurement in relation to statutory walking distances
- the safety of the route.
Stage one: review by a senior officer
A parent has 20 working days from receipt of the local authority’s home to school transport decision to make a written request asking for a review of the decision.
The written request should detail why the parent believes the decision should be reviewed and give details of any personal and/or family circumstances the parent believes should be considered when the decision is reviewed.
Where this is possible, within 20 working days of receipt of the parent’s written request a senior officer reviews the original decision and sends the parent a detailed written notification of the outcome of their review
Stage two: review by an independent appeal panel
A parent has 20 working days from receipt of the local authority’s stage one written decision notification to make a written request to escalate the matter to stage two.
Within 40 working days of receipt of the parents request an independent appeal panel considers written and verbal representations from both the parent and officers involved in the case and gives a detailed written notification of the outcome (within 5 working days).