See answers to previous information requests

WHO THIS COVERS - Children of compulsory school age (roughly ages 5 to 16) where the application for travel assistance was made because the child's special educational needs, disability or mobility problems mean they cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school. (This is the eligibility route under section 508B of, and Schedule 35B to, the Education Act 1996.) We call these "SEND-ground applications" below.
If your records cannot separate these from other transport applications, that is fine — see "If any of this is difficult" at the end.

For each academic year — 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 (year to date) — please provide:

1. Applications decided: the number of SEND-ground applications your authority made a decision on.

2. Refused in full: of those, the number where no travel assistance of any kind was awarded.

3. Stage 1 challenges: the number of those refusals the family asked you to look at again (your first review or appeal stage, whatever it is called locally).

4. Stage 1 successes: of those, the number where the outcome changed so that some assistance was awarded.

5. Stage 2 appeals: the number that went on to your second (final) appeal stage — an appeal panel or equivalent.

6. Stage 2 successes: of those, the number where some assistance was awarded.

And one non-numerical question:
7. Who currently decides your Stage 2 appeals: (a) a panel independent of the original decision-makers, (b) elected councillors, or (c) a council officer? Please also provide a copy of, or a link to, your current home to school travel policy and appeals procedure.