Who can get help with home to school transport

Who can get help with transport

Children who live far from their school

Usually, we can provide free public transport from home to school if your child is:

• under 8 years old and lives more than 2 miles from the appropriate school, which is the closest school to the main home address that had an available place
• over 8 years old and lives more than 3 miles from the appropriate school, which is the closest primary or junior school to the main home address that had an available place or the catchment area secondary school

Most children in Brighton & Hove live within walking distance of the school and do not qualify for free transport.

Families on low income

If you get maximum Working Tax Credit or free school meals for your child, we can provide free public transport for your child if they are:

• 8 to 11 years old and live more than 2 miles from the school (closest school to the main home address that had an available space)
• 11 to 16 years old and they go to school that is 2 to 6 miles away (as long as there are not 3 or more suitable schools nearer to the home)

We may ask you to email us copies of documents that prove you have a low income.

Children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND)

Your child may get help with transport if they can't walk to school due to SEND or mobility problems. We may ask you to email us copies of documents that prove this.

If your child attends a special school, contact the school to ask about help with transport.

Types of transport help available

If your child is eligible for home to school transport, we can offer assistance. We base this on an assessment of your child’s needs. Assistance could include:

• a bus pass
• a group of children travelling together by bus, often with a Vehicle Passenger Assistant
• a taxi or minibus transport from a set meeting point
• a taxi or minibus transport from the home address registered with the school, to and from school

We also offer Independent Travel Training (ITT). ITT supports young people in preparing for adulthood as part of independent living and skills for life. The training is voluntary and provides tailored and practical help for children and young people with SEND. It helps them to travel independently and without fear to school by public transport or on foot.

Mileage payments

If your child or young person is eligible for free home to school transport, you can still choose to take them to school in your family car. We understand that the travel times may better suit the needs of your family.

In this case, the council will provide a mileage payment to contribute towards the cost of travel. This is a payment of 52 pence per mile for 4 journeys a day over the academic year. We will pay it once each term (3 times a year).

Personal Travel Budgets

You may also wish to discuss the option of a Personal Travel Budget (PTB) with us. If your child or young person is eligible for travel assistance, we can provide a PTB as a voluntary alternative to hired transport.

You can spend a PTB in many different ways, as long as your child:

• gets to and from school on time
• travels in a way that ensures their safety
• travels in a way that encourages their attendance
• does not have their learning negatively affected

Home to School Transport policy and safety information

Read our Home to School Transport policy.

Read our post 16 Transport Policy Statement for students in education or training.

The Home to School Transport Service (HTST) co-produces all new policy and practice with Amaze Sussex and the Parent and Carers Council (PaCC). Learn more about our working agreement.

Read our PaCC co-produced service standards.

Read our home to school transport guidelines, which give further information on the responsibilities of HTST, parents/carers, drivers and vehicle passenger assistants.

Learn more about how we keep your child safe on home to school transport, including our safeguarding measures and code of conduct.

Travelling to school by bus

For information on travelling to a particular school by bus, visit the Brighton & Hove Buses website.

Contact us

If you're experiencing any difficulties, have concerns or questions about your home to school transport arrangements, or want to make a complaint, contact us.