Who can get free school transport
Who is eligible
Some 5-16 year olds in Norfolk will qualify for free travel. This depends on how old your child is, which school they go to and where they live, and whether they have any special educational needs or mobility issues.
All applications are assessed against the criteria set in our School and College Transport Policy (PDF, 601 KB).
Your child will be entitled to free school transport, if they:
- Are of compulsory school age (five to 16 years old) on 1 September or
- Will be five before 1 September 2025 when applying for school year 2024-25 or
- Will be five before 1 September 2026 when applying for school year 2025-26 and
- Attend the nearest catchment school or the nearest appropriate school with a place as designated by Children's Services and
- Live more than two miles, measured by the nearest walking route to school, when under the age of eight
- Live more than three miles walking distance from school, when aged eight or over
We will also provide transport for children who are unable to walk to school due to mobility problems or a severe medical condition. This is unless they live close enough to school to be able to make their own way, using a wheelchair or suitable alternative.
We do not provide midday journeys for children attending school part-time.
Families receiving a qualifying low income benefit
Children of primary school age from low income families
For most children, who attend the nearest catchment or nearest appropriate school, the qualifying distance increases from two miles to three miles when they turn eight. The distance will remain two miles if either:
- They are entitled to free school meals due to their family receiving a qualifying low income benefit
- Their parents are receiving the maximum level of Working Tax Credit (when reduction due to income is £0.00)
Children of secondary school age from low income families
Children of secondary school age will be entitled to free transport if they:
- Go to one of three appropriate schools closest to home, between two and six miles away or
- Go to a school, preferred on grounds of religion or belief that is the nearest of its kind to their home, between two and 15 miles away and
- Are entitled to free school meals or
- Have parents who are receiving the maximum level of Working Tax Credit (when reduction due to income is £0.00)
Evidence to submit with your application
When you apply, you must include a scan, photocopy or screenshot of a recent letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showing that you are entitled to one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Universal Credit (where earnings element is less than £7,400 annually)
- The maximum level of Working Tax Credit (when reduction due to income is £0.00)
- Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and your annual income, assessed by HM Revenue and Customs, (does not exceed £16,190)
Download an example of a qualifying/non qualifying Working Tax Credit (PDF, 1 MB)
If you only have a Tax Credit Annual Review Notice for the current financial year, because you notified the DWP that your circumstances haven't changed since your last full Tax Credit Award, you must send a photocopy or scan of all the following information:
- Your original Tax Credit Award
- Your Annual Review notice
- Your written or emailed confirmation that you have informed the DWP that your circumstances have not changed since your last full Tax Credit Award
We cannot return original documents. Anything you send us is scanned and/or securely destroyed.
Raising the participation age to 18
In 2015, the Government increased the age at which young people must continue in education or training to 18.
Although young people must now remain in education or training until they are 18, the government has not increased the age range of free transport available to eligible young people in line with this. Free transport is still only available to eligible children and young people up to age 16.
For further information on raising the participation age please see the Department for Education website.
Transport to free schools for pupils aged 5 to 16
The standard School and College Transport Policy (PDF, 601 KB) applies to free schools.
Travel assistance to free schools can only be considered if a pupil is attending their nearest school or a qualifying school under the low income legislation, provided other criteria such as the minimum distance to be entitled are met.
If travel to school will be solely dependent on one means of transport, eg by car, it is very unlikely that we could help in an emergency, even in exceptionally difficult circumstances.
If your child does not qualify for free transport
Visit What to do if your child does not qualify for free transport for more information.
Fuel allowances
In some cases parents will provide their own transport to and from school instead of relying on us to make transport arrangements. These arrangements are only agreed for eligible pupils if contracted or public transport is not available and it is the most cost-effective option.
The level of allowance is based on the mileage for two return journeys each day and on the condition that the driver is acting as a volunteer.
The current fuel allowance is 50p per mile.
Payments are calculated on mileage for two return journeys a day.
Example:
- School is five miles from home
- A return journey is 10 miles
- Drop-off and pickup journeys total 20 miles
- 20 x 50p = £10.00 per day fuel allowance
Allowances are paid monthly in arrears on receipt of a claim form authorised by the establishment to confirm attendance.
Submit your claims to:
Travel and Transport
Norfolk County Council
County Hall
Norwich
NR1 2DH
If you do not live in Norfolk but your child goes to a Norfolk school
Contact the County Council where you live for help.
If your County Council cannot help, you can apply to Norfolk County Council under the discretionary travel scheme. You'll need to pay fees for any assistance we provide.
Transport we do not cover
We do not provide transport or assistance for:
- Work experience placements - contact whoever arranged the placement to discuss your transport needs
- Activities outside of normal school hours - contact the activity organiser to discuss your transport needs
- Induction/taster days - contact your school to find out if there is any help available with transport
- Part time pupils - this includes anyone who arrives or leaves school part way through the day
- Early closure - eg school closing early on the last day before the Christmas holidays
- Any address that is not the child's main address - eg other parent, childminder, or grandparents' address
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