Assistance with travel to school and college from home

Parents are responsible for ensuring their child attends school. This means they must take all the action necessary to enable their child to attend school.

For most parents, this includes making their own arrangements for their child to travel to and from school.

Your child may be eligible for free school travel if you meet certain criteria.

Who can apply for free travel assistance

Children between the age of 5 and 16 (Reception to Y11) may qualify for free school travel support if they go to their nearest available qualifying school and live more that the statutory walking distance, which is at least:

• 2 miles or more, if they're 5 to 8 years old
• 3 miles or more if they're 8 years of age or over
• the child has special educational needs (SEN) and attends their nearest suitable school
• the child has an Education, Healthcare and Care plan (EHCP) and attends their nearest suitable school
• the nature of the route to/from school is deemed unsafe to walk (unsafe walking routes (PDF))
• a child is excluded and required to attend a place of education beyond the statutory walking distance outlined above for the temporary period of exclusion.

Apply for a child aged between 5 and 16 with special education needs or a disability

If you are applying for a child aged between 5 and 16 with special educational needs or a disability, you can download an application form for 5 to 16 year olds (Word document).

Apply for a young person aged between 16 and 25

If you are applying for travel assistance for a young person aged between 16 and 25, you can download an application form for 16 to 25 year olds (Word document).

Apply for a bus or rail pass for a child or young person

If you are applying for a bus or rail pass for a child or young person up to and including Year 11, you will need to complete your application through West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Metro). Visit WY Metro Schools website for more information.

Get help with the application forms

If you need further help regarding these application forms, please contact the Travel Assistance Service on 01274 439450 or speak to the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) at your school.

Additional information

The information above is not definitive. If you believe you are eligible for travel assistance to enable your child to attend school or college you are entitled to apply. Every application will be assessed on a case by case basis using the council policies. Additional criteria for eligibility of families on low incomes can be found in the policies.

Travel Assistance Service

Phone: 01274 439450
Email:[email protected]