Eligibility
Parents and carers have a legal duty to ensure that their statutory school-aged children (age 5-16) attend school regularly and to make any necessary arrangements to ensure that they attend school.
A child is of compulsory school age from the start of term after their fifth birthday up until the last day of the academic year in which they are in year 11. This applies to both children with and without an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
There are four core categories of eligible children:
- statutory walking distances
- unsafe walking routes
- extended rights
- special educational needs, disability and mobility problems
Children below the age of 5 will not be eligible for free travel assistance between their home and school.
For pupils in year 12 and above (post-16 year olds), please check the Post 16 transport policy.
Statutory walking distances
The Council will provide free home to school travel assistance for children of compulsory school age to the nearest suitable school from their home address who meet the ‘qualifying distance’ criteria which is:
- 2 miles or more for children below the age of eight, measured by the shortest walking distance between the home and the school
- 3 miles or more for children aged 8 and above, measured by the shortest walking distance between the home and the school
Children who live between 2 and 3 miles from their school will cease to be entitled to free travel from the start of the term following their eighth birthday.
If the child/family qualify for free school meals or they are in receipt of maximum Working Tax Credit then please refer to the Extended Rights section below.
Further detail on eligibility is dealt with in the application section below.
Unsafe walking routes
The Council will provide travel assistance if it is determined that a child cannot reasonably be expected to walk to the nearest suitable school because the nature of the route is deemed unsafe
to walk. The Council regularly assesses walking routes using the “Road Safety GB Guidelines on Assessment of Walked Routes to School.” Routes that have been determined to be unsafe will be kept under review and support will be withdrawn when the walking route is no longer deemed to be unsafe. The Council will expect a parent or carer to accompany the child along a route which would otherwise be classified as being unsafe and will not provide travel assistance if this accompaniment will make the route safe.
Extended rights
Children from low-income families are entitled to additional support in certain circumstances. This applies to pupils who are entitled to free school meals, or those families who are in receipt of the maximum level of Working Tax Credit (WTC).
Children above the age of 8, but under the age of 11, from low-income families will be entitled to travel assistance to their nearest suitable school if the shortest walking distance between their home and the school is more than two miles.
Children aged 11 and over (years 7 – 11) from low-income families will be entitled to travel assistance if they attend one of their three nearest suitable schools where they live between two miles (measured by the shortest walking distance) and 6 miles (measured by the shortest road route) from their school.
- Children aged 11 and over (years 7 - 11) from low-income families who are attending their nearest designated faith school preferred on the grounds of religion or belief will also be entitled to travel assistance if their school is more than two miles (measured by the shortest walking distance) but not more than 15 miles (measured by the shortest road route) from their home.