Home to School Transport Policy for children aged 5 to 16

Under Section 508 (B) of the Education Act 1996 the Council must provide free transport to and from school for a child if they are aged 5 to 16 between home and their nearest suitable school under certain conditions. 

A ‘suitable’ school for transport purposes is the nearest school to the child’s home. There is no general legislative requirement for the Council to transport pupils to the nearest school of a particular type e.g. faith school, ability, academy or free school. 

Assistance with public transport costs will be provided for pupils who qualify under the following circumstances: 

1. Pupils are Wirral residents between age 5 and 16 and go to their nearest suitable school and live at least:
   a.  2 miles from the school if they’re under 8
   b.  3 miles from the school if they’re 8 or older
    
2. Pupils are registered at their nearest suitable school and are unable to walk to school, even if they were accompanied by their parent, due to a route which the council has assessed as hazardous.
    
3. Pupils are from a low income family who are entitled to targeted free school meals* or Universal Credit with an income below £7,400, if they are:
   a.  aged 8 or over but under 11, attend their nearest suitable school and it is more than 2 miles away from their home; or
   b.  aged 11 to 16 years, and attend one of their three nearest suitable schools provided it is more than 2 miles but not more than 6 miles from their home; or
   c.  aged 11 to 16 years, attend a school that is more than 2 but not more than 15 miles from their home that their parents have chosen on the grounds of their religion or belief if, having regard to that religion or belief, there is no suitable school nearer to their home.
    

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are entitled to free transport however far they live from the school if:

• they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) that says the local council will pay transport costs.
• they can’t walk because of their SEN, a disability or mobility problem.

The distance from home and the school gate nearest to home by the shortest available walking route will be measured using a computerised mapping system.

As a general guide, we will treat routes without pavements and street lighting as unsafe for children and young people. When assessing the safety of routes, the Council will assume that the child is accompanied, as necessary, by a parent or other responsible person.

Initial assessment of route safety is made by the team responsible for assessing eligibility for home to school transport. Where the safety of a route is questioned by an applicant, the Council’s Road Safety team will carry out an assessment.

To be considered “low income”, you must meet one of the following:

• You are entitled to Targeted Free School Meals*, or
• You receive Universal Credit with an income below £7,400.

*From September 2026, all families receiving Universal Credit can get free school meals. However, “targeted free school meals” are for families on the lowest incomes (with a household income below £7,400) and only those on targeted free school meals will be considered as low-income under the home to school travel policy.