Specialised School Transport Assistance (SESTA)

What is SESTA

We provide a transport service to help children and young people with safety and/or mobility needs get to school. When a child or young person qualifies for SESTA, we either provide a place in a vehicle or a payment to contribute to their travel costs.

Who is eligible

To be eligible for SESTA, a child or young person must:

• be aged between 5 and 21 years
• be enrolled at their nearest state or state-integrated school that meets their special education needs
• have mobility or safety needs that prevent them from travelling independently to school.

A safety need may be where a significant risk of harm or danger to the student, or to others, exists during the journey to and from school. This may be due to challenges such as:

• epilepsy
• communication and social skills
• understanding
• self-management
• decision-making.

A mobility need may be due to challenges such as:

• reduced mobility
• fatigue
• medical conditions
• limited motor skill.

If a child is eligible, they are not guaranteed a place in a vehicle as we will not always have a suitable service available. In this circumstance, the family can get the SESTA Conveyance Allowance.

Who cannot get support from SESTA

Students are not eligible for SESTA if they are:

• receiving ACC for a short period of time
• boarding at residential schools, and need transport to and from home for the weekend or holidays
• enrolled at a private school.

How to support families to apply for SESTA

Families are responsible for getting their child to school. You can support families to apply for SESTA or make the application on their behalf.

There is also a part of the application that must come from the school.

Applications for new or amended services should be submitted at least one full school term before the service is required. If the availability of transport is going to affect enrolment decisions for a family, discuss this with your learning support coordinator or manager at your regional office.

Parents and caregivers: SESTA application – Pokapū Waka Kura

Schools: SESTA application

If the child's needs mean they could be a risk to themselves or others while in a vehicle, you will need to help the family to complete a Safe Travel Plan form. This plan outlines any measures to keep everyone safe while travelling.

Specialist equipment funding

We provide funding for specialised equipment if a student needs it to travel safely to and from school. Schools can help caregivers to apply. This is separate to the SESTA application.

School responsibilities

Caregivers, service providers, and the Ministry all have a role in ensuring SESTA services operate efficiently and meet the needs of students.

SESTA drivers are expressly forbidden to touch any student or leave the vehicle unattended. This means school staff must:

• be present to assist in the loading and unloading of students into or out of a SESTA vehicle
• assist students, where required, in and out of the vehicle and fasten their seat belt and any other personal positioning devices
• make sure that students have been toileted and is ready to be collected from the agreed pick-up point at the agreed time
• inform the driver, caregiver, transport service provider and us if there have been any changes or events that may impact on student behaviour.

Find more information on school responsibilities in the guide below.

If circumstances change

If the student's school or home address changes, the family need to re-apply for SESTA.

If there is a change to the student's timetable, satellite class address or respite address, you need to tell us using the form below.

If a child no longer needs to use the service, you must tell us using the email address below.

Email: [email protected]

Appealing a decision

If a caregiver wants to appeal a decision, they should complete the SESTA appeals form below and send it to us.

Email: [email protected].