Travelling to high school

[Heartshapedfairylights]

Hello all.
Not sure if this is the right place to ask but here goes...
My son is starting high school in September. We live in Greater London. I have just got him a zip Oyster card but I’m not sure whether he should use it like an adult Oyster card. Do I have to put money on it and then he swipes it at railway stations/on the bus?
Thanks!!

tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/travel-for-under-18s/zip-oyster-photocards

We are not in London, but my understandings that if your DS is going to use services other than the bus, you need to pre-load the card

"How to use a Zip Oyster photocard

Once youget your Zip Oyster photocard, you can start using it immediately. But if your Oyster photocard does not give free travel, you'll need to add pay as you go credit or buy a season ticket.

To pay the right fare, make sure you touch in on the yellow card readers on buses and trams and in and out on Tube and rail services.

If you don't touch in and out correctly you could be charged a maximum fare. If you don't have any pay as you go credit on your Zip Oyster photocard, this means your card will go into a negative balance. If this happens you won't be able to use your photocard on buses and trams, even if you are eligible for free bus and tram travel, until you have cleared (paid) the negative balance."

Thank you Marching. I was looking around the tfl website but missed this bit!

He needs to have a zip card to show on buses even though bus travel is free.

We have DDs on auto top on my credit card for when she needs to use it in trains and tubes (half price)