Home to School transport

Transport, or help with it, may be provided for eligible children who live beyond the maximum statutory walking distance from their designated (catchment) or nearest school. Or, if a place is not available there, to the nearest alternative school with a place available. The maximum walking distance is two miles for primary age children and three miles for secondary age children.

If you express a preference for a school other than the designated or nearest school to your home address, the transport arrangements and associated costs will normally be the family's responsibility.

New provisions for secondary age pupils

With effect from September 2008 new provisions have been brought in by the Government for pupils from low income families.

Children from low income groups are defined in the Education Act as those who are entitled to free school meals or whose families are in receipt of the maximum level of Working Tax Credit. They will be entitled to help with transport to their three nearest Local Authority schools, where they live more than two miles, but not more than six miles, from the school.

Transport, or help with it, may be considered on faith grounds.
Children from low income groups may be entitled to help with transport, on faith grounds, to a school which is more than two miles but not more than 15 miles from their home address.

Please contact the Admissions Team to find out which is your designated (catchment) school on 01952 380901/380903/380904.

Forms to apply for transport assistance are available from the Council's Transport Contracts Unit. To request an application form or for guidance on any transport matter please contact the Transport Contracts Unit -on 01952 384620.

You can view the Education Home to School Transport Policy under our related downloads section.

The Education & Inspection Act 2006 places a duty on the Council to publish a Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy, which the Council considers may improve:

• the physical well-being of those who use them
• the environmental well-being of the whole or part of the area.

When deciding on which school you prefer, you need to think about your child's journey to school. Currently 48% of children in Telford and Wrekin walk or cycle to school, 13% of pupils travel by school or public transport and the remainder travel by car.

When children are able to walk or cycle to school, this can be an enjoyable and healthy way to travel. All schools in the borough now have a School Travel Plan which sets out initiatives to encourage walking, cycling, bus travel and car sharing. Many schools have recently improved their facilities by providing safer footpaths and entrances, parent waiting shelters and new cycle parking.

Some schools have also benefited from Safer Routes to School projects. These have improved safety by introducing pedestrian crossing and traffic calming on routes to the school. Other schools are making it easier to walk by supporting walking buses, Park and Stride and pupil incentive schemes such as Walk on Wednesday. Many schools have been able to provide cycle and pedestrian training for their pupils with the help of road safety officers.

When your preferred school is beyond walking distance you should consider how your child would get to and from school.

For more information contact the Road Safety Team on 01952 384631.