Appeal a decision

Where a child or young person is not eligible for travel support, parent carers or the student may ask for the decision to be reconsidered to include any exceptional circumstances they wish to put forward.

• For mainstream school children or young people whose school application was made as part of the standard mainstream school admissions application process (including exceptional circumstances applications) please appeal via Citizen Portal
• For applications for children or young people placed at a school by the Council’s SEND team – please request an Appeal Form by email to: travel.cordination@southampton.gov.uk. Alternatively, an Appeal Form can be received by post: School Travel Service, Southampton City Council, Civic Centre, Southampton. SO14 7LY

If we find that travel support was granted in error, we will give you one full term's notice to allow you time to make other arrangements.

If we find that travel support was denied in error, we will arrange school travel support as soon as possible. We will consider reimbursing parents in retrospect, with a normal time limit of the start of the academic year in question.

How to appeal against decision on eligibility for school/post-16 travel support

Please read the following guidance carefully before submitting your appeal.

The appeals process is divided into two stages: Stage 1 and Stage 2. You must request a review within 20 working days of receiving the decision from Southampton City Council.

Stage 1 appeal guidance

1. A request for a review of the travel support decision by Southampton City Council must be made within 20 working days of receiving the school ravel support application outcome
2. Stage 1 appeals should clearly set out the reason(s) for appealing the school or post-16 travel support decision. Please include details of any personal and/or family circumstances that should be considered. If there are additional reports or other information to support the case, please itemise these in Part B of this form and include with, or attach to, this form
3. Please complete and return this form within 20 working days of the travel support decision
4. Within 20 working days of receiving the Stage 1 appeal form, a review by a panel of at least two senior officer(s) at Southampton City Council will take place. A decision will be made which will be provided in writing to the appellant, unless the review is adjourned, e.g. where the panel require further information to make a decision that delays the process
5. Written notification of the outcome will be provided to the appellant. This will clearly explain:
   • How the review was conducted, e.g. date, panel members
   • Whether the original decision is being upheld
   • The factors considered and why the decision was reached
   • Any other agencies or departments that were consulted as part of the review
   • Information about how the client can appeal the Stage 1 decision
6. When making the case, try to concentrate on the following:
   • Is the case based on the fact that the client (child / student) lives further from their designated school than the legal minimum above which the client is entitled to free travel support?
   • Is there a problem with the safety of the route the client must take to their education setting?
   • Are there circumstances which means the client cannot be accompanied to their education setting - especially if they are young?
7. In certain circumstances, panel may need to contact third parties for further information or to validate the information provided. In such cases, we will notify the appellant beforehand

Stage 2 appeal details

1. The decision outcome of Stage 1 of the appeals procedure can be appealed through Stage 2 of the appeals procedure. Stage 2 is a Hearing by an independent Appeal Hearing Panel
2. Stage 2 appeals should clearly set out the reason(s) for appealing the Stage 1 decision. Please include any further reports or other information to support the case and itemise these in Part B of this form and include with, or attach to, this form
3. Please complete and return this form within 20 working days of receipt
4. The Stage 2 Hearing will take place within 40 working days of receipt of the Stage 2 appeal form
5. The Appeal Hearing Panel will be independent of the original travel support decision-making and the Stage 1 and comprising at least two senior officers who may not be independent of Southampton City Council
6. The Chair will always try to give the appellant at least 7 calendar days’ notice of the date, time and location of the Hearing, and the appellant is encouraged to attend the Hearing. They will have the option to attend by Microsoft Teams or in person and they may also bring a friend or representative with them. If the appellant does not attend the Hearing, the Appeal Hearing Panel will decide the case on the documentation submitted
7. The Appeal Hearing Panel will consider information provided at Stage 1 of the appeal, as well as any additional information provided in the Stage 2 appeal and any oral representations made at the Hearing
8. A decision will be made, and written notification of the outcome will be provided to the appellant, within 5 working days of the Hearing. This will clearly explain:
   • How the Hearing was conducted, e.g. date, location, attendees
   • Whether the original decision has been upheld
   • The factors considered and why the decision was reached
   • Any other agencies or departments that were consulted as part of the review
   • Information about how the client can appeal the Stage 2 decision
9. In certain circumstances, panel may need to contact third parties for further information or to validate the information provided. In such cases, we will notify the appellant beforehand
10. The decision of the appeal panel is final