Home to school transport consultation 2021-22

Overview

Our All Age Travel Assistance Policy describes the availability of transport and travel assistance for children, young people and vulnerable adults who live in Trafford and we review it every year. There is one proposed change for the 2021-22 policy which relates to home to school transport.

We have to provide travel assistance to eligible children who meet the national criteria and who attend their nearest qualifying school. The national eligibility criteria takes into account the distance travelled to school, family income, how safe the route is and whether a child has special educational needs or mobility issues. 

The nearest qualifying school means the school nearest the child’s home that has places available. It will provide education appropriate to the age of the child, and any special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) that the child may have. If parent/carers choose a more distant school, travel assistance will not be provided unless they are a low income family. The guidance defines a low income family as where the child is eligible for a free school meal or the parent/carer is in receipt of the maximum amount of working tax credit.

In addition to the national eligibility criteria, we have some additional discretionary criteria to support other groups of pupils in our area. This includes children in their reception year at school, pre-school children with special educational needs and children attending a grammar school.

We are proposing to remove the criteria for grammar school children meaning that those who travel further than the nearest qualifying school will not be eligible for travel assistance.

This will not change things for low income families who continue to meet the criteria and who choose to travel to access a grammar school place.

Find out more: School transport policy consultation 2021-22.