Your child is eligible if they are of compulsory school age, go to their nearest suitable school and one of the following applies:
- they are aged 8 and under and the school is more than 2 miles away
- they are aged 8 and over and the school is more than 3 miles away
- they wouldn’t be able to walk there safely, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian
- they wouldn’t be able to walk there because of their special educational needs, disability or a mobility problem, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian
Entitlement to free transport is linked to your catchment or nearest qualifying school. Children from your area may be attending a school which is not the catchment school.
If you're on a low income
If your child is entitled to free school meals, or you receive the maximum level of Working Tax Credit, then you are entitled to assistance with transport if your child is:
- a primary school pupil aged 8 to 11 years and where the distance is more than 2 miles
- a secondary school pupil aged 11 to 16 years who lives more than 2 but less than 6 miles from any of your child's 3 closest schools
- 11 to 16 years and attending their nearest faith secondary school, preferred by parents on the basis of religion, and which is greater than 2 miles but not more than 15 miles from their home
When choosing a school, you will need to consider the possibility of your income increasing above the threshold. Should your family income increase above the threshold limit for low income families, the additional transport benefit will continue up to the end of the current academic year in July. In the following year, assistance will revert to that based on the statutory entitlement.
If your child has special educational needs (SEN)
A statement of SEN or an education, health and care (EHC) plan may contain details of transport which we consider appropriate to meet a child’s individual needs. If this is not the case, the normal school transport policy will apply.
Having an education, health and care (EHC) plan does not automatically mean that your child will be eligible for travel assistance.
Exceptional circumstances
There may be rare occasions where the circumstances are such that we will assist with transport to make sure your child can access education.
For instance, a child with a medical condition living below the statutory walking distance from school may be given transport.
Behaviour on school buses
The behaviour of the majority of children on the school buses are generally good. We have a Behaviour Policy and Code of Conduct for schools, parents and carers, and the children.
The policy sets out advice and expectations for anyone travelling on a contracted or local bus service.
If your child is not eligible
You can appeal against the decision.