Appeal a decision
This information is also available in Easy Read: School travel assistance reviews and appeals - Easy Read version (PDF)
You can challenge a school travel assistance decision if you disagree with it.
The review and appeals process is in two stages. This is in line with Department for Education guidance.
Where a review or an appeal request has been submitted, the original decision will stand until the review or appeal has been considered and a decision notified to the parent or carer.
Where the decision is not to provide travel assistance, it will be the responsibility of the parents, carers or young person to make arrangements to get to and from the school, college or placement until the review or appeal process has been completed.
First stage - Review
You should request a review in writing within 20 working days from the date of the travel assistance decision letter. We will provide contact information in the decision letter.
It is important to supply as much evidence as possible in support of the review request, including why you believe the policy has not been applied correctly.
It may be necessary to request additional information or clarification. This may delay the outcome of the review.
A senior officer who was not involved in the original decision will carry out the review. We will aim to provide details of the outcome of the review within 20 working days of receiving your request.
Second stage - Appeal
If the outcome of the review is the same as the original decision, you can make a request for an appeal.
You should request an appeal in writing within 20 working days from the date of the review outcome letter. If we do not receive a request within 20 working days, the review decision will stand.
As with a review, is important to supply as much evidence as possible in support of the appeal request, including why you believe the policy has not been applied correctly.
A independent panel will assess the appeal within 40 working days of receiving the request. This will be made up of three senior officers who were not involved in the original decision or review.
The panel will:
- hear written or verbal representation from the parents, carers or young person, including where they believe the policy has not been applied correctly
- hear appropriate representation from council officers or representatives
- be guided by the policy, in particular whether the policy has been applied correctly and whether there are any grounds for amending the decision
- send a final decision letter within five working days
