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Mainstream School Transport for 5 to 16 year olds
Eligibility
Your child can get a free bus or train travel pass, if they are:
- 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 (see list in Mainstream home to school transport policy)
You will receive an email or letter from us if your child is eligible (see: Receiving free school transport, below).
Your child won’t qualify for free transport if you choose a school that isn’t their nearest/nearest Leicestershire or frozen area school (more information on this is available in the Mainstream home to school/college transport policy)
Receiving free school transport
If your child is:
- Starting school for the first time: you do not need to apply. If your child has been offered a school place on National Offer Day, you'll hear from us by the end of May in the year they are due to start school. If your child is allocated a school place after National Offer Day, then your transport decision will be later depending on when a school place is finalised.
- Moving up to secondary school: 11+ and 14+ transfer students, you do not need to apply. If your child has been offered a place on National Offer Day, you'll hear from us by the end of April in the year they are due to start at their new school. If your child is allocated a school place after National Offer Day, then your transport decision will be later depending on when a school place is finalised.
Families on low incomes
You can also apply for free school transport, if your child is aged 11 - 16 and:
- they get free school meals, or
- you get the maximum Working Tax 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) 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.
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.