Transport and getting around

Assistance with travel

Home-to-school transport

We sometimes provide free home to school transport for a child with SEND, based on our assessment of individual needs. See the home to school travel section below.

Freedom Pass

The Freedom Pass for disabled people gives free travel on:

most public transport in London 24/7
most National Rail services within London after 9.30am and all day at weekends and on public holidays
local bus services in the rest of England

Disabled Person's Railcard

With a Disabled Person’s Railcard you can save up to a third on the cost of train tickets. If travelling with an adult family member, carer, or friend, you both get the discount.

Taxicard

If you have serious permanent mobility problems or severe sight impairment, the Taxicard scheme provides subsidised travel in black taxis and private hire vehicles.

Dial-a-Ride

TfL runs a door-to-door service for people with long-term disabilities. Taxicard scheme members are automatically eligible for Dial-a-Ride.

Transport for London Mentoring Service

TfL Mentoring service to help vulnerable people learn travel routes and gain confidence in travelling independently.

Waltham Forest wheelchair service

If you're registered with a GP in Waltham Forest, you can access wheelchair service through AJM Healthcare, our NHS wheelchair service provider.

Home-to-school travel assistance

We may provide free home-to-school travel assistance for a child with SEND. The reasons for this include living far from a school or college, age, type of special educational need or disability.

Our policy on school travel assistance outlines how we determine eligibility and what type of support we might give. This could include:

providing a bus pass
support towards mileage costs
reimbursement of rail/Tube fare
providing an escort to accompany a child to school
an independent travel training programme
transport by bus or minibus or an accessible bus or minibus

Our home-to-school travel assistance policies

Parents' responsibilities

Parents wishing to use this service must:

ensure their child's ready at the scheduled pick up time
be at home/pick up point to receive the child after school
be polite to school staff, escorts, drivers and pupils
provide two emergency telephone contact numbers
inform the SEN team of any change of address and give notice if any changes to transport routes are required.

We will monitor standards and survey parents and schools yearly to check their satisfaction with the service.

School's responsibilities

Schools can help by:

making sure there are enough staff at scheduled drop-off times to accept children into the school.
ensuring children are ready at the scheduled collection time
helping with the review of transport requirements each year by considering each child's transport needs. This information should be provided at the annual review of statement of special educational needs
giving timely notice of changes in transport requirements.

Find out more

SEN travel assistance aged 16 and over

If you're 16 or over, you can apply for travel support if:

You're 16 but under 19 when the course begins
You're at college full-time
You attend the nearest appropriate school or college, accounting for your needs, chosen course of study, and any faith preference
It is more than three miles from your home to the place of study
You or your family receive one of the following benefits:
- Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based)
- Child Tax Credit but NOT also Working Tax Credit and have annual taxable income within HMRC's specified limits for the financial year of the course
- Financial support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) or the council's Asylum Resettlement Team
You previously had a statement of Special Education Needs, and the need for travel support post-16 is stated in your transition plan.

Apply to the SEN team as early as possible. Contact the SEN transport officer on 020 8496 6500 for details.

Applying for assistance with Travel

Important notice - Changes to assistance with Travel Application Form

We have now digitized our applications for Assistance with Travel.

You can still apply for assistance with travel by completing a paper copy of the application. This will cease on 31st August 2024 and then you can only apply via our online application form.

Apply for assistance with travel

Appealing a decision

If you are unhappy with our decision following your application for assistance with travel and wish to appeal, please fill in the review form and email it to assistancewithtravel@walthamforest.gov.uk.

Please note, that you must complete and return this form to us within 20 working days of receiving your Outcome letter.

Failure to do so within 20 working days of the date of the Outcome letter will automatically disqualify you from appealing.

Specialist, community, and public transport

Community transport

Community transport is usually run by local people for others who have difficulty using normal transport.

Individuals and community groups can book transport in advance for leisure or other trips. Volunteer drives are trained in helping people with mobility difficulties.

Registered charity Community Transport Waltham Forest (CTWF) provides safe, affordable and accessible group travel service to local community and voluntary groups.

To find out more, email info@ctwf.co.uk or call 020 8521 0665.

Specialist transport for those with mobility issues

Various services can help if you have difficulty getting about, whether it’s a physical or learning disability, sensory impairment, frailty or lack of confidence.

Motability Scheme is an exchange scheme which offers disabled people access to a new car, powered wheelchair or scooter.

Mobility schemes

Shopmobility schemes lend manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and powered scooters to people with limited mobility to help them get around.

You can borrow a mobility scooter for up to one week from Shopmobility.

To find out more, call: 020 8520 3366.

Using public transport if you're disabled or have mobility issues

Easy-Access Buses

Plan your journey ahead using the Walthamstow bus service information to find out about bus services with low floors.

You can also talk to a qualified rehabilitation officer for advice.

If you need assistance to move around, a companion may be able to travel free.

Plan a route with TfL using the accessibility options right for you.

Driving and parking

Free parking: carer's parking permit

You can apply for a free carer’s parking permit if you are:

the owner or main keeper of the vehicle
caring for a resident who lives in a controlled parking zone (CPZ)
getting Carer’s Allowance
a Foster Carer who lives within a CPZ in Waltham Forest (Foster Carer status will be confirmed via our Foster Team. You must provide proof of address).
If you are an unofficial carer, you may be allowed to buy a permit.

Blue Badge

Annual Blue Badge resident permits are available to Waltham forest residents who live within a CPZ, and not part of a car-free development.

Congestion Charge

If you hold a valid Blue Badge, you can register for a 100 per cent discount on the congestion charge, even if you don't own a vehicle or drive. You can also apply on behalf of another person, for example a child.