Home to School Travel Policy for Children of Compulsory School Age

The consultation is now closed. Thank you for taking part.

We are consulting on proposed updates to our draft Home to School Travel and Transport Policy for Children of Compulsory School Age.

The policy explains when children of compulsory school age may be eligible for travel assistance, how applications are assessed, and what types of support may be considered.

The draft policy aims to make the information clearer and easier to understand. It does not propose to change the eligibility criteria for travel assistance.

For many families, there may be little or no change to current travel arrangements. Where a child remains eligible, the type of travel support offered may be reviewed and could change depending on the child’s assessed needs, circumstances and what is safe and appropriate.

Key points for children of compulsory school age

We want your feedback before the policy is approved. No final decisions have been made.
The draft policy does not propose to change the eligibility criteria for travel assistance.
Travel assistance decisions will continue to be based on each child's individual needs and circumstances.
Different travel support options may be appropriate for different children and young people.
Door-to-door transport will continue to be available where it is required to meet assessed needs.

The draft policy

The draft policy covers:

who may be eligible for home to school travel assistance
how decisions are made
what travel support may be available
the responsibilities of parents, carers and the council
how to ask for a review, appeal a decision or make a complaint
new guidance on considering a child's individual circumstances
the role of parents and carers in supporting their child's journey to and from school to reflect the updated Department for Education (DfE) guidance.

This includes information about:

distance and statutory walking distances
eligibility for children from low-income families, including extended rights to free travel*
unsafe walking routes
nearest suitable schools
children and young people with SEND, disabilities or medical needs

Eligibility is usually based on travel to the nearest suitable school, rather than a preferred school further away. Children with SEND, a disability or medical condition may be eligible for travel assistance even if they live close to school, depending on their individual needs and circumstances.

Some families may be affected by national changes to Free School Meal eligibility and transitional protections, which ended in August 2026. These changes were introduced by the Government and are not proposed changes within this consultation.

These national changes may affect entitlement to Extended Rights travel assistance for some families, but they are not changes being proposed by this policy.

*Extended rights home to school transport provides free travel assistance for some children from low-income families who meet certain Government criteria. Eligibility depends on factors such as family circumstances, distance from school and the school attended.

What stays the same

The draft policy does not propose to change who is eligible for travel assistance.

Travel support will continue to be based on each child’s individual needs and circumstances. Specialist transport will remain available where it is needed to meet assessed needs, and independent travel options will only be considered where they are safe and appropriate.

The eligibility criteria for Extended Rights Home to School Transport are not changing. The policy has been updated to reflect national changes to Free School Meal eligibility and current Department for Education guidance.

What is proposed to change

The main proposed changes are:

to reflect updated DfE guidance, including greater clarity about the role of parents and carers in supporting their child's journey to and from school
clearer information about eligibility, travel support options, responsibilities and appeals
clearer information about how applications are assessed and decisions are made
the development of Independent Travel Training to help children and young people develop the skills and confidence needed to travel safely and independently
a greater focus on helping children and young people develop independence where this is suitable

What this could mean for children and families

For many families, there may be little or no change to current travel arrangements. However, where a child remains eligible, the type of travel support offered may be reviewed and could change, depending on the child’s needs, circumstances and what is safe and appropriate.

The draft policy does not propose to change the eligibility criteria for home to school travel assistance. Every application will continue to be assessed individually, based on the child’s needs and circumstances.

The main changes are clearer information about how decisions are made, the travel support options available, and when options such as Personal Travel Budgets and Independent Travel Training may be considered.

Any independent travel option would only be considered where it is appropriate for the child's needs.