Introduction

There are two important points to note about eligibility for free transport.

1. Our Home to School Travel and Transport Policy does not affect a child's eligibility for a place at a school. 
2. Getting a place at a school does not mean a child is entitled to free transport, even for their catchment school. 

We cover all our responsibilities for providing free travel in the Home to School Travel and Transport Policy. However, below are some questions parents and carers ask us. 

Contact us if you can't find the information you need.

Getting your child to school

We do not provide free school transport if you can't take your child to school because of work or domestic arrangements.

You are responsible for:

• taking your child to school or making suitable arrangements for them to be picked up and dropped off at school
• getting them to school with any school bags or equipment they may need.

Educational health and care plans (EHCP) and children with disabilities

EHCP

We only provide free home to school travel to the nearest available school that we agree can meet your child's needs if:

• the distance to the school is over the statutory walking distance
• your child can't walk to school due to a disability or mobility issues related to their SEND. 

Travel to school will be your responsibility if you choose a school that's further than another school that can meet your child's needs.

Disability

If your child has a disability, but we have not awarded free travel, it is likely because:

• they attend their nearest suitable school and
• it is within statutory walking distance.

Contact us to discuss your case for free travel. You will need to provide evidence to confirm any disability or medical condition.

Village catchment area schools and nearest schools

In some areas of Oxfordshire the catchment area school is not physically the nearest school or even second nearest. 

In these cases, we check if it was possible to offer a place at a closer school, even one you didn't apply for, before offering free travel.

We assess each child’s eligibility based on their distance from home to school. Therefore, the outcome could be different from that of a child who lives in the same village.

Concerns about the safety of a walking route

The assessor does not base their assessment on personal safety factors, such as street lighting or children walking alone. It is your responsibility to go with your child if you feel they are not safe on their own.

Contact us if you have concerns about the safety of your child's walking route to school. Tell us about any particular sections or risks that concern you.

Who can travel on school transport

Only children who are eligible for free transport can travel on school transport.

Parents are not normally allowed to travel on school transport.

Reviewing eligibility once free transport has been awarded

Once we have awarded free travel assistance, we will not review eligibility unless there has been a change in circumstances. For example, you may move house, or we may change the status of the route between home and school. However, legislation, or our Home to School Transport Policy, could change before your child completes their time at school. 

Moving to a new address

We will need to re-assess eligibility for free travel from your new address. The change may affect your entitlement to free travel. 

Contact us to tell us your new address. You need to provide proof of your new address before we put any travel arrangements in place. We will accept a copy of:

• a utility bill (electric, gas or water), 
• your signed tenancy agreement 
• confirmation of the purchase of your property.