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Original poster

Free school transport

136 replies

Sheldonsheher · 17/08/2025 17:48

Curious someone from my daughter’s class gets free school bus to and from school. They live 1.5 miles down a country road so not that far buy not safe to walk. Does this really qualify you for council transport. I mean if you choose to live somewhere unsuitable for a child to walk should you not have to drive them yourself. Everyone else including myself have to do the school run every day and surely this is something the parents should be responsible for when they choose where they are going to live.

OP posts:
Tiredofwhataboutery · 17/08/2025 20:28

If there is no safe walking route, or it’s over statutory maximum distance the council provides transport. I live rurally so my kids get a minibuses. It’s about twenty miles between local primary and highschool in opposite directions from my house with no public transport. Some kids are a good hour and a half - two hours plus each way on school buses as that’s the catchment highschool. Scotland so some big distances to travel. It used to be kids would board Mon-Fri but now they commute. They still have kids boarding on the islands due to ferry timetables not matching up with school hours.

mamagogo1 · 17/08/2025 20:23

In rural areas yes, no safe walking route means you need to be provided with transportation. Of course kids live in such locations eg farmers!

Finteq · 17/08/2025 20:23

I really think it has absolutely nothing to do with you

LeedsZebra90 · 17/08/2025 20:23

Free school transport
Children of compulsory school age qualify for free school transport if they go to their nearest suitable school and any of the following apply:

the school is more than 2 miles away and the child is under 8

The school is more than 3 miles away and the child is 8 or over

There’s no safe walking route between their home and school

they cannot walk there because of their special educational needs or disabilities or a mobility problem

Apply for school transport for a child with special educational needs and disabilities

If your child cannot walk to school because of their special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) your local council must provide transport

https://www.gov.uk/apply-school-transport-for-child-with-special-educational-needs-sen

LadyKenya · 17/08/2025 20:22

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 17/08/2025 20:19

@Sheldonsheher how does this child being provided with a safe journey to school detrimentally affect you?

This. A child that is being supported in getting to school safely is a good thing, not something to be resentful over 😕.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 17/08/2025 20:22

Sheldonsheher · 17/08/2025 17:48

Curious someone from my daughter’s class gets free school bus to and from school. They live 1.5 miles down a country road so not that far buy not safe to walk. Does this really qualify you for council transport. I mean if you choose to live somewhere unsuitable for a child to walk should you not have to drive them yourself. Everyone else including myself have to do the school run every day and surely this is something the parents should be responsible for when they choose where they are going to live.

Why are you curious if you know the reason?

FreyjaOfTheNorth · 17/08/2025 20:21

Do please tell us what makes this your business, OP.

MamaElephantMama · 17/08/2025 20:21

In my area you need to live 3 miles away from the school and receive free school meals.

PamIsAVolleyballChamp · 17/08/2025 20:19

@Sheldonsheher how does this child being provided with a safe journey to school detrimentally affect you?

x2boys · 17/08/2025 20:17

Sheldonsheher · 17/08/2025 17:48

Curious someone from my daughter’s class gets free school bus to and from school. They live 1.5 miles down a country road so not that far buy not safe to walk. Does this really qualify you for council transport. I mean if you choose to live somewhere unsuitable for a child to walk should you not have to drive them yourself. Everyone else including myself have to do the school run every day and surely this is something the parents should be responsible for when they choose where they are going to live.

I don't know ask your LA what the criteria is for getting free school transport?

Ncforthiscms · 17/08/2025 20:15

Yes in my area if there is no safe walking route the council must provide transport. (Or pay for pavements).
Where i live all the kids get on the school mini bus to travel the 1 mile through country lanes....saves 12 parents each driving their child as it is not safe to walk (60mph riD no pavements).