Ensuring children and young people can travel safely and reliably to school is a vital part of supporting their education and wellbeing. In Leeds, feedback from families has highlighted several challenges with the Home to School Transport service – prompting a series of improvements and future plans to make the system more responsive, inclusive, and user-friendly.
What Families Told Us
At the start of the academic year, families raised concerns about:
- Transport not arriving as scheduled
- A lack of coordination between transport services and schools
- Delays in receiving transport details after school places were confirmed
- Limited flexibility for children with varying school hours or during transitions
- A need for a simpler, more accessible transport application process
This feedback has been instrumental in shaping service improvements.
What’s Already Changed
In response, several key updates have been introduced:
- A new phone line for Passenger Transport with increased capacity for quicker responses
- A simplified online transport application form
- FAQs co-developed with Leeds Parent Carer Forum, now sent with transport confirmation emails and available on the Leeds Local Offer website
- A revised transport allocation letter, created in partnership with Leeds Parent Carer Forum for improved clarity
Looking Ahead
Collaboration between Children’s Transport, Passenger Transport, and Leeds Parent Carer Forum continues, with exciting developments planned for 2026:
- A “What to Expect from Home to School Transport” video to guide families through the process
- Transport passports for young people and staff to support consistency and communication
- An online information session for parents and carers in May 2026
Thank you to all the families who have shared their experiences – your voices are helping shape a better service for everyone. We’ll continue to update you with further information as we hear more.