Eligibility
Your child can get a free bus or train travel pass, if they're:
- primary age (up to 11 years old) and live more than 2 miles walking distance to their nearest/nearest Leicestershire school
- secondary age (11 to 16 years old) and live more than 3 miles walking distance to their nearest/nearest Leicestershire school
- or attending a frozen area school
Your child won’t qualify for free transport if you choose a school that isn’t their nearest/nearest Leicestershire or frozen area school. See Mainstream home to school/college transport policy for more information.
Key dates and other relevant information
- Check if you need to apply for a primary or junior school from 1 September until 15 January
- Check if you need to apply for a secondary school from 1 September until 31 October
| Key dates | Key steps |
|---|---|
| National school place offer day for first time admissions (16 April*) and secondary transfer (1 March*) |
1. You do not need to enquire about transport eligibility, if:
School admissions will automatically share applicant information with the school transport team (only for offers on National Offer Day**). |
| Secondary school transport eligibility decision: 17 May* | 2a. If your child has been offered a place on National Offer Day and is eligible, you’ll hear from us by 17 May. |
| Primary school transport eligibility decision: 16 June* | 2b. If your child has been offered a school place on National Offer Day and is eligible, you'll hear from us by 16 June. |
| Transport offer: 18 August | 3. You will receive your transport arrangement details by email and your transport will begin at the start of term. |
*or the next closest working day, if the decision date falls on a non-working day.
**Note: If your child is allocated a school place outside of National Offer Day, you'll need to request an assessment for school transport eligibility.
Enquire online about eligibility for mainstream school transport
If your child's circumstances change please tell us as soon as possible:
Tell us about any changes
You'll need to inform us about any changes, so that our letters reach you properly and your child's school transport arrangements can be maintained.
Tell us about the following changes, if:
- you move house or your child moves to a different address
- you change name or your child changes their name
- you take your child out of school or move them to a different school
Tell us as soon as possible because, depending on the change, it may be necessary for your school transport applications to the re-assessed for entitlement to assistance. In this case we will try to complete this as soon as possible, but please be aware that at peak times of the year there could be a delay in your application being re-assessed.
Families on low incomes
You can also check for free school transport eligibility if your child is aged 11 - 16, and:
- they get free school meals, or
- you get the maximum Working Tax Credit or maximum Universal Credit
and, if the school they attend is:
- (1 of 3) nearest qualifying schools which is more than 2 miles, but less than 6 miles from home (schools less than 2 miles are assessed for the nearest schools and schools in other local authority areas) or
- the nearest preferred faith school, based on the parents' faith or religion is more than 2 miles, but less than 15 miles from home (you’ll need to provide evidence of your faith e.g. a minister’s letter).
More information is available in the Mainstream home to school/college transport policy.
Other transport options
You may be able to get season tickets and discounted fares on public transport for your child’s journey to school.
Some commercial bus operators run 'School specials', ask your school or college for more information.
Use the Choose How You Move journey planner to see what public transport services run between your home and your child’s school or college. Once you’ve found a service, check with the bus company that provides it to see if there are any season ticket discounts.
Transport due to a medical condition
You may be able to get free school transport If your child is temporarily unable to walk to school due to a medical condition, for example a broken leg.
The age and eligibility criteria will still apply. The qualifying distance between your home and school may be less. Fill in the request for school transport on medical ground form to apply:
Please upload the completed application above to school transport on medical grounds form upload.
Measuring home to school distance
If you live less than the qualifying distance of 2 or 3 miles we measure the shortest available walking route from your home and may include footpaths, bridleways and roads.
If you live over the 2 or 3 miles statutory walking distance we measure the shortest driving route.
Please refer to the Mainstream home to school/college transport policy for more information.
Split parenting
If your child lives for part of the week at another home, eligibility will only be assessed from the home where they are habitually resident for 50% or more of the time i.e. the main address for the child which must be within Leicestershire.
Please refer to the Mainstream home to school/college transport policy for more information.
Mainstream home to school and college transport policy
The Mainstream home to school/college transport policy includes detailed information on all aspects of the service, please refer to this before applying and do not assume that because another child receives free home to school transport that your child too will be eligible.
Appeals
If you think we've made a mistake, please visit our appeals page to find out what to do next.