This is a summary of who may be eligible for transport assistance, and how you can apply as a parent or carer of a child who lives in Derbyshire, for help to attend school or other place of learning.
This includes children with special educational needs or disabilities.
This information is only for children attending school up to school leaving age. There is a separate post-16 policy for students who continue in education after this point.
For full details please refer to the relevant policy document attached to this page.
Eligibility for children of compulsory school age
In Derbyshire, home to school transport arrangements will be made for children of compulsory school age, attending a maintained school, college or academy, who meet any of the following eligibility criteria until they reach school leaving age:
- the child attends the normal area school, a school closer than the normal area school, or the nearest suitable school as determined by us
- the child lives beyond the statutory walking distance from that school
The statutory walking distance is:
- 2 miles for children under the age of 8
- 3 miles for children aged 8 and above
(Education Act 1996, Section 444(5)).
You can find the normal area school for your home address.
If you would like to check if there are schools closer than your normal area school:
How the distance is measured
Eligibility for assistance is assessed using the parental address at which the child lives during the normal school week. Where the child shares equal time between different parental addresses, eligibility will normally be assessed from the property nearest to the school attended. Where a child is eligible, transport will be provided only from the address used in the assessment.
Distances under the statutory walking distance will normally be measured:
- by the 'shortest available walking route', which is defined as the shortest route along which a child, accompanied as necessary, may walk safely
- the route measured may include footpaths, bridleways, and other pathways, as well as recognised roads
Distances over the statutory walking distance and distances linked to low income entitlement, will be measured along road routes.
Assistance available
Families entitled to transport assistance will normally be provided with a free bus pass. This may be for travel on a dedicated school bus or a public bus service.
For families who live in rural areas where no suitable bus service is available, we may offer mileage allowance.
Assistance for families on low income
The Education and Inspections Act 2006 introduced additional right to transport assistance for families with low incomes. This is known as 'extended rights'. More information is available on our home to school transport - families in receipt of benefit page.
Assistance to faith schools
Unless the usual criteria is met, we do not provide transport assistance to faith schools. You may be entitled if your family is on a low income and more information is in the policy document attached to this page.
Assistance for children with an education health and care plan
If your child has an education health and care plan (EHCP) find out about special educational needs (SEND) school transport.
Applying for travel assistance for all other children
If you feel you may be entitled to transport assistance please apply online.
Apply for home to school transport assistance
Year 7 secondary intake
Many year 6 pupils transferring to secondary school are automatically assessed for eligibility for home to school transport and notified of entitlement by email or letter.
This process does not identify all eligible children. Parents and carers who have not received a letter or email by May half term should apply as soon as possible if they feel their child is eligible.
If you have any questions about entitlement to travel assistance, email admissions.transport@derbyshire.gov.uk
If you have any questions about school bus services, routes, and charges email schooltransport@derbyshire.gov.uk
Paying for travel on a school bus
Students who are not eligible for help with school transport may still be able to travel and pay a fare to the school bus driver for each journey they make. However, this is only available on school bus services that are registered to take paying passengers. Where the option to pay a fare is not available, parents can apply to buy a pass for transport on these services.
For more information, email schooltransport@derbyshire.gov.uk
Other help with travel costs
You may be able to get help with travel costs through our b_line travel scheme for all young people aged 11 to 18.
Transport review process
If you have received a written decision about school transport assistance that you are not happy with, you can request a review of that decision.
Requests should be made within 20 working days of the decision date on your letter.
A review of the decision will be made within 20 working days of your request being received and a detailed written notification of the outcome will be issued. If you are still dissatisfied with the outcome of the review you can, within 20 working days of the review decision, request a further review by an independent appeal panel. These requests should be made in writing:
Further details about the review process are available in the 'home to school transport policy for children of compulsory school age' attached to this page.