Back to school: School travel

As the schools head back for the Autumn term we are exploring the different educational settings and setups that are often encountered by Children Looked After.

Through this series of articles, we hope to address some of the questions that you might have about how your foster child might access their ongoing education.

In this article, we are looking into school travel, what this might mean and the responsibilities of the foster carers when it comes to school transportation.

In some cases, it is likely that it will be deemed in the best interest of the foster child to remain in their own school allowing them to maintain the relationships that they have already built with the pupils and staff. This is often the case when a child is placed in short term foster care.

In a time when the child’s main support structures will be changing significantly allowing them to remain in their school with their friends gives them a piece of normality. It enables them to continue relationships in a safe space they have already created.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be placed with foster carers in the area of their school. Although this may be the case the foster carers still hold the responsibility for getting the children to and from school.

In some cases where the child requires special circumstances a school taxi may be provided. This is decided and allocated by the local authority. There will be certain criteria put in place by the local authority that will need to be met before a school taxi will be provided.

For more information speak to your supervising social worker.