Who qualifies in England
The duty comes from the Education Act 1996 and the Department for Education's statutory guidance. For a child of compulsory school age (5–16) attending their nearest suitable school, your council must provide free home-to-school transport if any of these apply:
- Distance. The child lives beyond the statutory walking distance from the nearest suitable school — 2 miles for children under 8, 3 miles for children aged 8 and over.
- No safe walking route. There is no route along which the child could walk in reasonable safety, with or without an adult — even if the school is closer than the walking distance.
- Special educational needs, disability or mobility problem. The child cannot reasonably be expected to walk because of their needs — transport is provided regardless of distance.
- Low-income "extended rights". The family is eligible for free school meals, or the parent receives the maximum Working Tax Credit — with the wider distance bands set out below.
Distance is measured by the nearest available walking route — the shortest route a child, accompanied as necessary, could walk in reasonable safety. That can include footpaths and pathways, so it is not necessarily the shortest distance by road.
The statutory walking distances
| Child's age | Statutory walking distance (England) |
|---|
| Under 8 | 2 miles |
| Aged 8 and over | 3 miles |
Low-income extended rights
If your family is on a low income (eligible for free school meals, or getting the maximum Working Tax Credit), the distance rules are more generous:
- Aged 8–11: free transport to the nearest suitable school if it is more than 2 miles away.
- Aged 11–16: free transport where the child attends one of their three nearest suitable schools and it is between 2 and 6 miles from home.
- Aged 11–16, school chosen on grounds of religion or belief: free transport to the nearest such school between 2 and 15 miles from home (this includes a wish for a non-faith school).
It's the nearest suitable school, not always your preferred one
Free transport is to the nearest school with a place, not necessarily the school you chose. If you pick a school further away than your nearest suitable one, the council usually doesn't have to pay for transport — though the low-income bands above widen your choice. Always check your own council's published home-to-school transport policy for the exact rules where you live.
SEND, disability and post-16 transport
Where a child cannot reasonably walk to school because of their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, the council must provide transport regardless of distance. For a child with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), transport is arranged where it is needed to get them to the named school.
Honest note — post-16 transport is discretionary
The legal duty above is for children of compulsory school age (5–16). Transport for young people aged 16 to 19 (and some up to 25 with SEND) is discretionary — there is no automatic right. Each council must publish a post-16 transport policy statement setting out what help, if any, it offers and any charges. If your child is over 16, check that statement rather than assuming free transport continues.
How to apply — and appeal a refusal
Do this now — free
Have ready: your child's name, date of birth, school and home address — plus any free-school-meals or SEND/EHCP details.
- Find your council. Transport is run locally — search "[your council] home to school transport", or use Sorted's find local help to get the right council.
- Complete the application. Give your child's school, your home address, and any benefit or SEND details. The council checks the walking distance and your child's eligibility.
- If you're refused, appeal. Councils must run a two-stage appeals process — a first review by a senior officer, then a second-stage review by an independent panel. Put your grounds in writing (distance, safety of the route, your child's needs, your income) with evidence, and keep copies.
- Tell the council if anything changes. Moving home or changing school can change eligibility, so update them.
If the form is hard to find, call your council and ask for the home-to-school transport or SEND transport team. Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848) can help you apply or appeal for free.
Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland
Transport is run by your local council and the rules are devolved — the distances and detail differ across the UK:
| Nation | Statutory walking distance |
|---|
| England | 2 miles (under 8) · 3 miles (aged 8+) |
| Scotland | 2 miles (under 8) · 3 miles (aged 8+) — councils must also consider route safety |
| Wales | 2 miles (primary) · 3 miles (secondary) |
| Northern Ireland | 2 miles (primary) · 3 miles (post-primary) — via the Education Authority |
Councils in every nation can choose to be more generous than the statutory minimum, and route safety and a child's needs are always considered. In Northern Ireland, transport assistance is arranged by the Education Authority. Always check your own nation's official guidance (GOV.UK, mygov.scot, gov.wales or nidirect) and your council's policy for the current rules.
Other money to check for families
- Free school meals — worth ~£500/yr per child, and being eligible is what unlocks the low-income transport extended rights. SortedUK guide.
- Healthy Start — £4.25–£8.50/week food vouchers + free vitamins if pregnant or with under-4s on a low income. SortedUK guide.
- Child Benefit — £26.05/week first child, £17.25 each other child.
- School uniform grants — many councils offer these to free-school-meals families. Ask your council.
- Check everything in one go — run Sorted's benefits check. SortedUK tool.
Free UK support
- Your local council — runs school transport and decides applications and appeals.
- Citizens Advice — 0800 144 8848. Free help applying, appealing, and a full benefits check.
- Your child's school office — can usually point you to the council's transport team.
- GOV.UK "school transport" — the official starting point for England (mygov.scot, gov.wales, nidirect for the other nations).