School travel application deadlines

Our Supported Travel Service supports travel for over 10,000 people each day across Oxfordshire, including almost 8,000 children and young people travelling to school.

Our deadlines for home to school travel applications help ensure that requests can be reviewed in good time and that suitable travel arrangements are in place for children and young people to attend their named educational setting.

Applying on time

We strongly encourage you to apply by the relevant deadline.

Applications received by the deadline are prioritised. This helps us review requests and arrange travel in time for the start of the new school year.

Late applications

Applications received after the deadline will be treated as late.

For late applications:

• We cannot guarantee that travel arrangements will be in place for the start of term
• Applications are processed after on-time applications
• You may need to make your own travel arrangements, potentially until October half-term
• Where appropriate, we may offer a Personal Travel Budget (PTB) as an interim measure to help ensure travel support is in place for the start of the academic year

Processing times – what to expect

During quieter periods (November – March)

For applications submitted during the academic year (outside peak months):

• We aim to review applications within 7 working days

Once your application has been reviewed and assessed, we will arrange travel as quickly as possible. Typical timeframes are:

• Personal Travel Budgets (PTB): usually within 1 week
• Council-arranged transport: typically up to 2 weeks
• External taxi or contracted routes: may take up to 4 weeks

During peak period (April to October half term)

Between April and October half-term, we receive a very high volume of applications.

During this time:

• It may take 4 to 6 weeks for your application to be reviewed 

Once your application has been reviewed and assessed, we will arrange travel as quickly as possible. Typical timeframes are:

• Personal Travel Budgets (PTB): usually within 1 week
• Council-arranged transport: typically, up to 2 weeks
• External taxi or contracted routes: may take up to 4 weeks

So, due to the high volume of applications during this peak period, it will take longer to arrange your child’s travel than it would during quieter times of the year.

Hearing about your application

For applications for a September start:

• We aim to confirm travel arrangements during August

If you apply after the deadline or during peak periods, you may hear from us later than this.

Travel at the start of term

If your travel arrangements are not yet in place at the start of term:

• You will need to make temporary travel arrangements
• This may be required until your child’s travel support begins

Travel journey times

We follow Department for Education guidance on reasonable journey times.

As a guide:

• Primary-aged children: up to 45 minutes each way
• Secondary-aged children: up to 75 minutes each way

These are guidelines only. Journey times may vary depending on factors such as distance, traffic, and route availability.

If your circumstances have changed

If your circumstances have changed, for example, if you have moved home or your child has changed school, you will need to reapply to be considered for home-to-school travel eligibility.