Travel Assistance Application Form for Children aged 5 to 16

Please follow the guidance throughout the form carefully to ensure you complete all information as accurately and completely as possible. 

Decisions regarding assistance will be made based on information provided. Incomplete or unclear information may result in a decision not to provide assistance, or your application form being returned to you for full completion, which will delay any decision regarding provision of assistance with travel. Applications are usually processed and travel assistance in place within 20 working days. 

For applications received by the Community Transport Team after 31 May there may be delays in processing applications or providing travel assistance. This is due to a number of factors, including the time required for route scheduling and the reduced availability of schools to confirm information during the summer months. 

Regular attendance at school, and being on time, is important. Therefore, parents are typically expected to make their own arrangements to take their children to and from school. Travel assistance is available to those families who are the most vulnerable and need extra help and support to get to school or college. 

Before completing an application, you should refer to the Transport web pages for information about the Eligibility criteria and travel assistance policies. Any application for home to school travel assistance will be assessed against these policies.

Type of travel assistance that may be offered: 

If your child is eligible, the type of travel assistance offered will be for the Council to decide, taking into account the needs of the young person and the nature of the journey to be undertaken. 

The assistance offered might include: 

➢ A Personal Travel Budget to enable you to make your own arrangements independently (offered automatically if this is the most cost-effective travel assistance option) 

➢ Passes for children on public transport

➢ Provision of a seat on a dedicated school bus or minibus, or 

➢ A seat in a taxi, usually shared with one or more other pupils, where a pupil’s needs require more personalised arrangements. This will be in exceptional circumstances only 

Note: Personal Travel Budgets 

A Personal Travel Budget is a sum of money given to parents or carers to enable them to arrange their child’s travel in a way that suits their circumstances best. The budget allows families complete freedom to choose the best possible travel option for their child, with flexibility to change over time. Please read our guide to Personal Travel Budgets page for more information.