When your child is eligible
Distance measurements to determine entitlement will be undertaken using our computerised Geographical Information Service (GIS) and will be to be the nearest entrance on the school site, which is available at the time of undertaking the assessment your application.
Your child is eligible if they are of compulsory school age, go to their nearest or catchment school (2026 to 2027 school year only) and one of the following applies:
- they are under 8 and the school is more than two miles away
- they are 8 or over and the school is more than three miles away
- they wouldn’t be able to walk there safely, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian
- they wouldn’t be able 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
From the beginning of the 2026/27 academic year, there will be two categories of benefits-based free school meals (FSM). These are:
- Targeted Free School Meals – for pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of no more than £7,400
- Expanded Free School Meals – for pupils who do not qualify for Targeted FSM, but whose households receive Universal Credit
If your child is eligible for Targeted Free School Meals, or you are in receipt of Universal Credit, then they are entitled to assistance with transport if your child is aged:
- 8, 9, 10 and 11 and where the distance is more than two miles
- 11 to 16 years, and attending one of their three nearest suitable schools provided it is more than 2 miles but not more than 6 miles from their home
- 11 to 16 and attending their nearest faith secondary school preferred by parents on the basis of religion and which is greater than two 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. If your family income becomes higher than the threshold, 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 attends a faith-based school
You may be eligible for transport at a cost for a faith-based school, if your child:
- is aged between five and 16
- has applied for a place in a school for religious reasons
- cannot get an appropriate religious education via catchment or nearest school, in the view of the Director of Children’s Services
This would be provided that:
- adherence to the relevant denomination can be demonstrated, for example a copy of your child’s baptism certificate
- your child is attending the nearest school, and it is no more than eight miles away in the case of a primary school and 15 miles for a secondary school
- your child is aged under 8 years old, and you live more than two miles from school or aged 8 or over and you live more than three miles away, measured by the shortest available walking route
Transport fees for faith-based schools
The 2026 to 2027 academic year annual cost is £867.03 per child, which is payable each term. This breaks down into:
- autumn term at £333.12
- spring term at £241.85
- summer term at £292.06
These fees are reviewed each year. The cost for the 2027 to 2028 academic year will be determined in April 2027.
No refunds are given for valid travel passes that are no longer needed.
Low income groups
Children aged 11 to 16 from low-income families attending their nearest faith secondary school preferred by their parents/carers on the basis of religion and, which is greater than two miles but not more than 15 miles from their home are entitled to assistance with transport.
If the family income increases above the threshold limit for low-income families, the additional 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 policy detailed above.
It is important to remember that you, and not the local authority, are responsible for your child’s transport to school. You must consider this even if you are currently in a low-income group.
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.
If your child has Special Educational Needs
Your child is eligible for free travel to school if:
- they attend their nearest suitable school, and it is within the statutory walking distance of their home
- they could not reasonably be expected to walk there because of their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, even if they were accompanied by their parent or guardian
To be eligible on these grounds, your child does not need to:
- have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- attend a special school
- live beyond the statutory walking distance
Not every child that has an EHCP or goes to a special school will be eligible for free travel to school.
The Council will assess eligibility on the grounds of special educational needs, disability or mobility problems on a case-by-case basis.
Full information can be found on the SEND Local Offer.
If your child is not eligible
Your child may still be able to travel in a spare seat as part of the ‘Spare Seat Scheme’ (available from reception to year 11).
You can also use local bus services in your region.
Alternatively, you can appeal against the decision.