Apply for help with home to school transport

Apply for help with home to school transport

Before you start your application, read our who can get home to school transport page.

Use this form to:

• check if you can get free school transport
• apply for free school transport

To help us check if you can get free school transport, you need to tell us your child's:

• full name
• date of birth
• main home address details
• school name

To apply for free school transport, you'll need:

• your bank account or building society details (for primary school applications)
• your bus pass ID number (for secondary school applications)
• proof of maximum working tax credits, if you receive them 

Read the Home to School Transport Policy (5 to 16 years of age).

Read the Home to School Transport Policy (post 16).

Learn how we use your personal information when you apply for help with home to school transport.

Application deadlines

Applications for Home to School Transport September 2026

Applications will be open from 1 March 2026, and the deadlines are as follows:

• 30 April 2026 - if your child is under 16
• 31 May 2026 - if your child is over 16
• 31 May 2026 - if you're an adult learner, over 19 years of age with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan

Bus pass applications for September 2026

We're taking applications for bus passes from 1 May 2026.

Bus pass applications submitted after 28 August 2026 will be processed from 1 October 2026. 

How we process your application

Learn how the Home to School Transport Team processes applications.

We consider all applications at a weekly Transport Panel. We'll tell you the Panel’s decision within:

• 7 working days during term time
• 14 working days outside of term time

We'll contact you if we need more information to support your application.

Reapplying for home to school transport

If your child is under 16 and you already receive free hired home to school transport from us, there's no need to reapply each year.

You do need to reapply if:

• you or your child’s circumstances change, for example, a change of placement or a change of address
• you already receive a free bus pass from the council
• your child is over 16 years old and going into Year 12
• you're an adult learner (aged 19 and over) moving from Year 14 to Year 15 with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan

Home to school transport appeals

If you think we've made a mistake about a decision on your child or young person’s eligibility for transport, you can appeal.

Read our home to school transport appeals page for more information about the appeals process.

Contact us

Contact us if you need support with your online application or need this information in another format or language.