School transport frequently asked questions

A guide to school transport in Plymouth

• Who is responsible for getting a child to school?
• Who qualifies for assistance?
• How far is walking distance?
• What if a child does not attend the designated school?
• Is there any assistance for pupils attending denominational schools?
• Are there any exceptions?
• What assistance is available for pupils with special educational needs?
• Is there any other help available if my child does not qualify for free travel?
• I am on a low income, is there any additional help available?
• How do I make an application for free travel?

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Who is responsible for getting a child to school?

The legal responsibility for ensuring that a child attends school rests with the parents. Plymouth City Council has a duty in some cases to assist with transport to and from school.

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Who qualifies for assistance?

Pupils of compulsory school age are entitled to free school transport if they live beyond the statutory walking distance and attend the school designated by Local Education Authority (LEA) to serve the home address.

Within Plymouth there are very few pupils attending mainstream schools who qualify for free travel. This is because nearly every address in Plymouth is within walking distance of the designated school.

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How far is walking distance?

For a child under eight years of age the walking distance is two miles from home to the school. For a child aged eight or over the walking distance is three miles.

Walking distance is measured by the shortest available route, from the nearest entrance to the home (eg front gate), to the nearest school entrance.

The Courts have defined an available route as one 'along which a child accompanied as necessary can walk and walk with reasonable safety to school. It does not fail to qualify as 'available’ because of dangers which would arise if the child is unaccompanied'.

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What if a child does not attend the designated school?

If as a result of parental preference, a child attends a school other than that designated by the Local Education Authority to serve the home address, free transport will not be provided. Parents are then responsible for making their own transport arrangements and for all transport costs for the whole time the child is attending the school.

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Is there any assistance for pupils attending denominational schools?

Pupils who attend a particular primary school for denominational reasons may be provided with free travel if they live beyond walking distance of the school. There is no additional support available for a child attending a denominational secondary school.

If you are on a low income please see the section below giving details of new assistance available from September 2007 for primary school pupils and from September 2008 for secondary school pupils.

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Are there any exceptions?

Transport may be provided to schools not designated as serving the home address where there are exceptional educational, medical or social considerations that require special attention.

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What assistance is available for pupils with special educational needs?

Pupils who have a statement of special educational needs are not automatically entitled to free transport. Each pupil will be individually assessed according to their need.

Transport may be provided where either:

• the child's home to school distance qualifies him/her; or
• for shorter distances, where the child has an identified need that would prevent him/her walking or travelling on public transport to school.

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Is there any other help available if my child does not qualify for free travel?

Plymouth City Council currently supports a concessionary fare scheme for pupils who are eligible for free school meals. Pupils who are eligible can travel to and from school for a maximum of 60p per single journey.

In order to show the bus driver that you are entitled to travel at a concessionary fare, pupils in Years 7 to 11 need to have a young persons travel pass. Applications should be made on the free school meals application form which is available from your child's school or can be downloaded from the documents table below.

Bus operators also offer season tickets which offer good value for money for regular travellers. You should contact them direct for further information.

Further information on bus routes and timetables can be obtained from the Traveline website.

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I am on a low income, is there any additional help available?

The government has recently announced that from September 2007 there will be additional help available for primary school pupils and from September 2008 for secondary school pupils who are eligible for free school meals or where the family are in receipt of the maximum amount of working tax credit.

Primary school age pupils - from September 2007

In order to qualify for free travel the following criteria must be met:

• The pupil must be attending their designated or nearest primary school (this includes attending a school which is based on the parents religion or belief) and
• The distance from home to school measures more than 2 miles on the shortest available walking route and
• The pupil is eligible for free school meals or the family are in receipt of the maximum amount of working tax credit.

Secondary school age pupils age 11 to 16 - from September 2008

* Please note qualification on low income grounds for secondary school pupils is being phased in, beginning with pupils who will be starting Year 7 in September 2008.

In order to qualify for free travel the following criteria must be met:

• The pupil must be attending one of their three nearest schools and
• The distance from home to the school attended measures between 2 and 6 miles (the upper limit is extended to 15 miles for pupils attending the nearest school which is based on the parent’s religion or belief) and
• The pupil is eligible for free school meals or the family are in receipt of the maximum amount of working tax credit

Free travel granted on the above criteria will be reassessed on an annual basis.

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How do I make an application for free travel?

Application forms for mainstream pupils are available from your child's school or the school transport section. Or you can complete the online form.

Application forms for pupils who have special education needs are available from your child's school or the school transport section.

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