KCC is responsible for organising school transport for Ifield School & Sixth Form.
Unless home to school transport is included as a need within a pupil’s Statement or Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), Kent Local Authority will only provide free transport to and from Ifield School for pupils who live more than two miles (for pupils under 8 years of age) and three miles (for pupils aged 8 years and over) away from the school.
Where transport is refused parents may appeal, this may often involve providing further evidence of medical conditions or other reasons why the child should have transport provided.
For any individual or different transport requirements needed by a particular child parents should contact the transport office either by phone on 03000 412121 or by emailing homeschooltransport@kent.gov.uk. If you are moving house, you will need to inform the transport department and make a new application for transport before this happens.
The majority of our pupils are transported on minibuses others travel in taxis and some are brought by parents. We ask that parents co-operate with transport companies to ensure the safe transport of all pupils. All pupils must wear seat belts and there is an escort on most vehicles, but it is the parent’s responsibility to deliver the pupil to the vehicle. It is NOT part of the escort’s duties to knock on the front door of each home when collecting pupils.
Parents should ensure that they have their child ready to be collected on time and that they, or a responsible adult, are at the appointed place to collect their child at the end of the school day.
There may be occasions when transport will be delayed by traffic, breakdown or weather. Should the transport fail to arrive and parents choose to bring pupils to school it is then their responsibility to liaise with the transport providers to make sure that their child is collected from school that day.
