Department for Education Guidance
Free School Transport Explained - Who is eligible to how it works
Who is eligible?
You can apply for a school place for your child at any school, but your child may not necessarily be eligible for free travel assistance.
The eligibility criteria for travel assistance is set out within Cornwall's Home to School Travel Assistance Policy - link below. Please read this document before applying for a school place and travel assistance.
Home to School Travel Assistance Policy 2023/24
Home to School Travel Assistance Policy 2024/25
If you are unsure if your child is eligible for travel assistance, please contact us using the 'Contact Us' form below.
If your child is not eligible for travel assistance, other travel schemes may be available. For further information, please visit other transport schemes.
How to apply?
You can apply for travel assistance using the link below.
Apply for Home to School Travel Assistance
Who will consider the application?
Applications are considered by the Transport Coordination Service.
How quickly are applications considered?
Applications will be considered within 10 working days. We kindly ask that you do not contact the Transport Coordination Service for an update on your application unless this timescale has been exceeded. Unfortunately, no travel assistance can be provided for your child whilst your application is being considered.
If your child is eligible, it may take a further 10 working days for travel arrangements to be issued.
What travel arrangements will be provided?
If eligible, travel assistance will be provided via the most cost-effective suitable method – see below.
- Children of primary school age will travel via taxi/minibus.
- Children of secondary school age, who attend a secondary school, ARB or APA, will travel on a school bus or via public transport.
- Children of secondary school age, who attend a special school in Cornwall, will travel via taxi/minibus.
Where the standard method of travel above is evidenced to be unsuitable, alternative travel arrangements will be provided.
Who can apply?
All parents/carers can apply for travel assistance themselves using the link above.
Alternatively, anyone else can apply on your behalf, as long as they have your consent to do so.
Already receiving travel assistance but your circumstances have changed?
If your child is already receiving travel assistance, but moves address or changes school, please notify the Transport Coordination Service using the 'Contact Us' form below.
Should travel assistance be required from your new address, or to your child’s new school, please reapply using the link above.
Young People With Education, Health and Care Plans
The Transport Coordination Service and Statutory SEN Service have jointly produced the guidance documents below. We hope that this will help support young people with Education, Health and Care Plans, and their families.
