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Free school transport - find out if your child qualifies

Local authorities must provide transport where they consider it necessary to ensure that a child goes to school. If transport is necessary, then it must be provided free of charge.

In most cases, it’s up to the local authority to decide what transport is necessary. But your child will be automatically entitled to free transport if they:

and:

The statutory walking distance is:

The measurement of the 'statutory walking distance' is not necessarily the shortest distance by road. It is measured by the shortest route along which a child, accompanied as necessary, can walk with reasonable safety. As such, the route measured may include footpaths, bridleways and other pathways, as well as recognised roads. If there is no such route, the local authority must provide free transport no matter what distance you live from the school.

Apply for home to school travel support

You can find out more and/or apply for home to school travel support online. The link below lets you enter details of where you live, and then takes you to the relevant page on your local authority's website.

• Apply for home to school travel support Opens new window

Children with special educational needs or disabilities

Local authorities should take any disability or special educational needs into account when deciding whether transport is necessary for a child.

If your child has a statement of SEN and has transport requirements written into their statement, your local authority must meet them.

Apply for school transport for children with SEN or disabilities

The link below takes you to the page on your local authority's website with more about school transport for children with SEN or disabilities.

• Apply for school transport for a child with special educational needs Opens new window

Help may still be available, even if you don’t qualify automatically

In some cases free transport might be available for pupils who don’t qualify automatically. This is up to your local authority - to get information on their policy, follow the link below to 'Find out about home to school travel support'.

For example, your local authority may provide transport for pupils who live closer than the statutory walking distance.

• Find out about home to school travel support Opens new window

New for 2007/2008: extended rights to free transport

Primary school pupils

Since 1 September 2007, the right to free school transport has been extended to pupils who:

• are aged eight to eleven
• are from low income families
• go to their nearest suitable school, and live more than two miles away

Secondary school pupils

From 1 September 2008, secondary school aged pupils (11 to 16 years old) will be entitled to free school transport if they are from a low income family, and they go to:

• any one of their three nearest suitable schools, and the schools are between two and six miles away from their home address

or:

• the nearest school preferred by their parents on the grounds of religion or belief, and the school is between two and 15 miles away from their home address

The extended rights to free transport are part of wider changes introduced under the Education and Inspections Act 2006.

• More about the Education and Inspections Act 2006 Opens new window

Help with transport costs for over-16s

If your child is over 16 and in Further Education or sixth form, your local authority may be able to help with transport costs. Each local authority has its own policy on help with transport for the over-16s.

• Financial help for young people in education or training
• More about the help available for transport costs for over-16s (education and learning section)

Walking and cycling safely to school

'Walking buses' and 'bike trains' help children walk or cycle to school safely with adult supervision. They are a sustainable alternative to transport by car, bus or train, and help keep children healthy. The Department for Transport (DfT) has also funded the 'Bikeability' programme - the new national cycle training scheme which is being introduced in England.

• £15m pedal power boost for greener, safer, healthier school travel
• Search for safe routes to school near you Opens new window
• Bikeability Opens new window

Sustainable travel to school

Since 2003, the 'Travelling to School Initiative', jointly funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the DfT, has sought to increase the proportion of pupils travelling to school sustainably.

Around £20 million a year is being allocated to schools in small capital grants to develop travel plans and is supported by a further £7.5 million per year to fund a network of school travel advisers.

As well as helping to boost children’s fitness and concentration, walking and cycling helps to reduce the congestion caused by the ‘school run’ - together with the associated accidents and pollution, carbon emissions included.

If walking or cycling isn’t an option, school buses, public transport and car-sharing are more sustainable alternatives to taking the car.

• Find out about safe and sustainable school travel Opens new window
• Information on sustainable schools Opens new window
• Greener travel: a quick guide (environment and greener living section)

More useful links

• Get information on Walk to School Week Opens new window