Transport for students under the age of 16

How do I apply?

If you would like to apply for help with transport, please complete an application found in the 'Downloads and documents' section.

Do I qualify?

To qualify for transport assistance you must meet the following criteria:

you are resident in Warwickshire;
your child is attending the nearest qualifying school to home. This is the school in whose priority area you live, or another if nearer to home by the shortest walking route.

The walking distance (using the shortest walking route) from your home to the nearest qualifying school is over:

Two miles for children under the age of 8 years
Three miles for children aged 8 –16

Transport to Church Aided Schools (2011/12)

Transport assistance may be available to the nearest faith school. In Warwickshire, faith schools are either Catholic or Church of England Aided. This is known as denominational transport. You or your child will need to have been accepted into that faith (proof may be required) and / or regularly practice that faith. The school must be your nearest Roman Catholic or Church of England Aided School, and should meet the distance criteria shown above. For primary school children, the distance from home to school should not exceed six miles, and for secondary school children, should not exceed fifteen miles. However, if the distance from Home to School exceeds fifteen miles, and the school is within Warwickshire, transport may be granted.

Transport to Church Aided Schools (2012/13)

From September 2012, new applicants will only receive free transport if they are attending the nearest qualifying school to their home address, or if they qualify for free transport as a low-income family. The distance from home to school will also need to exceed the relevant walking distance shown above. If a child is receiving free transport on denominational grounds in July 2012, this will continue until they leave their current school or transfer into the sixth form (subject to there being no change in their circumstances such as a house move).

Help available for low-income families

If your child is entitled to free school meals, or your family is in receipt of the maximum level of Working Tax Credit, free transport will normally be provided for:

Children aged 8-11, attending the nearest qualifying school to home, provided it is more than two miles (by the shortest available walking route)

Children aged 11-16, attending one of their three nearest qualifying schools, provided it is more than two miles (by the shortest available walking route), but not more than six miles (by motorised route) from their home. (From September 2008)

Children aged 11-16, attending the nearest qualifying school which accords with the parents’ religion or belief, provided it is more than two miles (by the shortest available walking route), but not more than fifteen miles (by motorised route) from their home. (From September 2008)

Walking distance and walking route

These are not necessarily the shortest distance by road, but are measured by the shortest route along which a child, accompanied as necessary, may walk with reasonable safety. As such, the route measured may include footpaths, bridleways, and other pathways, as well as recognised roads.

Walking distance will be measured from the home boundary gate to the nearest school gate.

Motorised routes. These are those routes which are passable by using a suitable motorised vehicle. Paths and roads not passable by motorised transport will not therefore be considered. Measurements will be made by our Education Transport Office.

Route allocation

Help for those that do not qualify for free assistance

In some cases there is an option to receive transport under our Vacant seat scheme. Payment will be required.

Warwickshire Direct