For families across London, Monday, March 2, 2026, is known as National Secondary Offer Day. This is the moment thousands of Years 6 pupils find out which secondary school they will attend in September. While this is an exciting milestone, for parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), it is also the starting gun for a critical logistical race.

An offer of a school place does not automatically guarantee an offer of transport. Once a school is named, families must navigate a secondary application process to secure Home-to-School Travel Assistance. Whether it is a place on a specialist minibus, a travel training program, or a Personal Travel Budget (PTB) to hire a private service, the decisions made in the days following March 2nd determine how a child will safely and reliably reach their new school for the next seven years.

For transport operators and local authorities, this day marks the beginning of the “Bidding and Planning Season,” where hundreds of new routes are mapped, and families begin searching for trusted partners to manage their child’s daily commute.

Why March 2nd Matters for Your Operations:

• The “Travel Assistance” Surge: Once a school place is confirmed, parents of children with EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plans) must immediately apply for travel assistance. Councils like Hackney and Waltham Forest typically see a massive spike in transport applications within 48 hours of offer day.
• Contractual Windows: Many councils use the weeks following March 2nd to finalise their “Home-to-School” transport route requirements for the September 2026 intake. This is when new tenders for specific routes often go live.
• Parental Direct Hire: For parents opting for Personal Travel Budgets (PTBs), March is the month they begin “shopping” for reliable private hire and specialised school-run services to secure their child’s spot.

Local Authority Quick-Links for Travel Assistance

If you have received your secondary offer, use the links below to start your transport application immediately:

Key Dates to Remember

• March 2, 2026: National Offer Day (Offers sent via email/portal).
• March 16, 2026: Deadline to accept or decline your school offer.
• March 31, 2026: Recommended “Early Bird” deadline for transport applications to guarantee a September start.

Secure Your Peace of Mind Today

Navigating the transition to secondary school is a major milestone, and we are here to ensure the transport part of that journey is the easiest part.

Let Jimac Cars provide safe and reliable transport for families and young people with SEND needs, making every journey easier and stress-free. Whether you are using a Personal Travel Budget (PTB) or looking for a trusted partner for your child’s new school route, our experienced team is ready to help. Contact us today to discuss your requirements.