In This Article
- What’s New for Islington SEND Families in 2026-27
- Who Qualifies for Free SEND School Transport
- The Types of Support Available
- Key Dates and How to Apply
- What Happens If a Request Is Declined
- How Jimac Cars Can Help
What’s New for Islington SEND Families in 2026-27
Every September, the same question comes up for Islington families supporting a child with SEND: how is my child getting to school, and what help can I actually count on this year?
Islington Council has now published its Home to School Travel Assistance Policy for 2026-27. Most of it will look familiar if you’ve been through the process before. But there are a few details worth knowing early, before the new school year begins.
The policy still sits within the legal requirements governing SEND transport. The council has to arrange free travel for children who qualify, whether that’s because of distance, a disability, mobility difficulties, or a walking route that isn’t safe. What’s changed for 2026-27 is mostly about process: clearer communication, a firm reapplication deadline, and a more consistent way of reviewing each family’s situation.
Who Qualifies for Free SEND School Transport
Having an EHCP doesn’t automatically mean your child qualifies for transport. Neither does attending a special school. Islington assesses every application on its own facts.
A child may be eligible if they attend their nearest suitable school and either:
- live beyond the statutory walking distance for their age (2 miles for children under eight and 3 miles for children aged eight and over); or
- live within that distance, but their SEND, disability or temporary medical condition means they genuinely can’t be expected to walk it, even with an adult alongside them.
Assessments look at more than distance: age, the nature of the child’s needs, how manageable the actual route is, journey time, and family circumstances all factor in. An EHCP gets you a proper assessment. It doesn’t get you an automatic seat.
The Types of Support Available
Where support is agreed, Islington offers a few ways of meeting it, and the right one depends on the child rather than a fixed formula. Options include a funded travel pass for public transport, a seat on a shared school bus, or a place in a small shared taxi, these may be delivered through vetted and contracted providers with trained drivers and escorts.
For some families, a Personal Travel Budget works better: a sum of money paid directly to parents to arrange transport in whatever way suits their child. That could mean cycling-related costs, mileage for a car club electric vehicle, or a contribution towards a breakfast club. There’s also a growing independent travel training offer, helping young people build the skills and confidence to travel on their own over time.
Key Dates and How to Apply
Timing matters here. Families need to reapply for travel support by 31 May 2026 to have a realistic chance of everything being ready for September. Apply after that date and the council will still process it, but arrangements aren’t guaranteed to be in place on time. Some families end up waiting into the autumn term.
Once you’ve applied, Islington aims to confirm a decision within 20 working days of receiving everything it needs. If support is agreed, someone from the council will get in touch to talk through which type of assistance fits your child best. One thing to flag: transport arrangements usually only cover the current academic year and need renewing annually. Last year’s approval doesn’t carry over automatically.
What Happens If a Request Is Declined
If an application doesn’t succeed, Islington has to explain why and set out how to challenge it. There’s a two-stage appeals process. First, a senior officer reviews the original decision and responds within 20 working days.
Not satisfied with that? You can escalate to an independent appeal panel, which looks at both written and verbal evidence before giving a full written explanation. Still unhappy after both stages, families can take the case to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Islington’s SEN Team can help at any point, particularly with working out what evidence to include. It’s worth calling them early rather than scrambling once a deadline’s close.
Find more details on this here.
How Jimac Cars Can Help
Knowing the policy is one thing. Having transport, you can actually rely on every morning is another. For families across Hackney and the surrounding boroughs, that reliability matters just as much as meeting the eligibility criteria.
Whichever way your child’s transport ends up being arranged, a local provider who understands SEND journeys, consistent routines, familiar faces, an understanding of sensory needs make the start and end of the school day easier for everyone.
Let Jimac Cars provide safe and reliable transport for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, making every journey easier and stress-free.
