Schools & Education · Swindon
Ombudsman upholds Swindon Council decision on school transport application
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A parent's complaint regarding Swindon Borough Council's refusal to provide home-to-school transport for their child has been dismissed by the Local Government Ombudsman.
A parent who challenged Swindon Borough Council over its refusal to provide free home-to-school transport has had their complaint dismissed by the Local Government Ombudsman. The case, which centred on an application for the 2025-26 academic year, has highlighted the criteria used by the council when assessing transport assistance for children with special educational needs.
The parent, identified as Mrs X, sought transport for her child, Z, who has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan and attends a special secondary school. Swindon Borough Council rejected the application, citing that the pupil lived within walking distance of the school. The authority further noted there was no professional evidence to suggest that Z could not walk the route if accompanied by an adult, and that the pupil was not in receipt of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.
In her complaint, Mrs X argued that a personal travel budget (PTB) of £513 for the year, offered by the council as an alternative, was insufficient to cover taxi costs. She stated that her own personal circumstances, which included the needs of another child, prevented her from escorting Z to school. The mother argued the council acted inconsistently, noting that in October 2024, an appeal panel had granted transport due to exceptional circumstances. She also highlighted that school attendance had fallen to 65 per cent due to transport-related anxiety.
The Ombudsman investigated the matter and concluded that the council had followed its established processes. In the decision notice issued in June 2026, the Ombudsman noted that the council is entitled to review transport eligibility annually to reflect updated circumstances. The ruling emphasised that the Ombudsman’s role is not to substitute its own judgement for that of the local authority, but to determine whether the decision was reached fairly and in accordance with policy.
The council's policy remains that eligibility for transport assistance is assessed on an individual basis, and the possession of an EHC plan does not automatically guarantee free transport. The Ombudsman noted that Mrs X is entitled to reapply for transport assistance for the 2026-27 school year if her family circumstances change.
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