Free school travel
A free travel pass is only available for your child if:
- they attend their catchment area school
- your child is under 8 years of age and lives more than 2 miles from the school
- your child is 8 years of age or over and lives 3 miles or more (shortest walking distance) from your nearest appropriate school
- there’s no safe walking route between their home and school
- they cannot walk there because of their special educational needs or disabilities or a mobility problem
If you have chosen a different school, a free pass may not be available.
If you move out of the area served by your child's school, free travel may be available at the discretion of the Head of Service until your child completes an examination course already started, for example in years 10 and 11.
Free passes are not available in other cases of leaving the area.
Your child may also qualify for a free travel pass if they’re eligible for free school meals.
Your child must also meet the following criteria:
- Aged 8–11 and attend their nearest suitable school, which is more than 2 miles from their home address.
- Aged 11–16 and attend one of their three nearest suitable schools, where the distance is more than 2 miles but no more than 6 miles from their home address.
- Aged 11–16 and attend a school chosen by their parents on religious or belief grounds, where:
- the school is more than 2 miles but no more than 15 miles from their home address, and
- there is no suitable school closer to their home that meets their religion or belief.
We have a duty to ensure that suitable travel arrangements are made, free of charge, for certain, 'eligible children' in our area where it is considered necessary to facilitate their attendance at relevant educational establishments.