School - Transport assistance
A pupil is normally expected to attend the nearest suitable
school at which places are available and which provides an
education appropriate to their age, ability and aptitudes.
- Pupils under the age of eleven who attend primary schools may
claim travelling expenses if the walking distance from home to the
nearest suitable school by the shortest reasonable route is more
than two miles.
- Pupils from families in receipt of Free School Meals or the
maximum level of Working Tax Credit who are attending primary
schools may claim travelling expenses if the school is the nearest
suitable school to home and the distance is more than two
miles.
- Pupils over the age of eleven may claim travelling expenses if
the walking distance from home to the nearest suitable school by
the shortest reasonable route is more than three miles. Walking
distances are measured using a computerised application to
calculate walking distances based on Ordnance Survey Maps.
- Pupils from families in receipt of Free School Meals or the
maximum level of Working Tax Credit who are attending secondary
schools may claim travelling expenses if the school is one of their
three nearest schools and is between two and six miles.
- Pupils from families in receipt of Free School Meals or the
maximum level of Working Tax Credit who are attending
denominational secondary schools may claim travelling expenses if
the distance between home and school is between two and
fifteen miles.
Travelling expenses will be paid only to meet the cost of the
most economical route and means of public transport.
Conditions
If a parent arranges for their child to attend a school other
than the nearest suitable school with available places, travelling
expenses will not normally be paid. An exception to this is:
If a parent moves to another part of the borough and wishes
their child to continue at their present school they may claim
travelling expenses:
- If, they are in the last year of attendance at primary school
and the distance from the new place of residence to school is more
than two miles or
- Provided that, if they are attending a secondary school and the
parent can provide a written statement showing reasonable grounds
why they should not transfer to the suitable school with available
places nearest to the new place of residence and the distance
involved is more than three miles.
If a parent moves into the borough and wishes their child to
continue at their present school they may receive travelling
expenses:
- If, they are in the last year of attendance at primary school
and the distance from the new place of residence to school is more
than two miles or
- If the child is aged over eleven years and at that time is
within two years of sitting an external examination for which they
are studying and remains in attendance at their present school,
they may claim travelling expenses until the end of the term in
which they sits that examination if the distance from home to
school is more than three miles.
If a parent feels that special circumstances exist with regards
to an application for assistance with travelling expenses, but
which are not covered by the above policy, the appropriate form may
nevertheless be completed and consideration will be given to
payment of travelling expenses. However, the application should be
accompanied by a written statement giving full details of the
reasons for requesting special consideration.
How to apply
Download a form
to print and fill in (44kb pdf)
Appeals
Parents whose application for assistance with travelling
expenses has been declined can request special consideration be
given to their request in accordance with our Scheme of
Delegation. Should the request still be declined there is no
further right of appeal.
Further consideration can only be given to a request where the
walking distance between home and school is more than two
miles for under elevens or three miles for over
elevens.