Home to School Travel Assistance
About Home to School Travel
The Derby City Council Home to School Travel service reviews its policy annually.
This year, the Department for Education (DfE) has drafted statutory guidance for local authorities. Derby City Council has reviewed its policy in line with this DfE guidance.
There are no changes to the eligibility criteria for home to school travel assistance. An amendment has been made at section 7.3. Examples are provided throughout the policy to demonstrate how the policy is applied and how decisions are made about what type of travel assistance will be offered to an eligible child or young person.
Travel assistance for 5-16 year olds
Parents and carers are advised to consider all the information provided within the Home to School Travel Assistance Policy before submitting an online application.
The purpose of this policy is to help parents and carers to understand whether their child is eligible for home to school travel assistance and ensure:
- The Council meets its statutory duty to provide home to school travel assistance for all eligible children of compulsory school age.
- The Council exercises its statutory duty to promote sustainable and active travel to school and be compatible with the efficient use of Council resources.
New applications for home to school travel assistance must be submitted by 31 May each year, for the start of the new academic year. Parents are responsible for submitting applications by this deadline. Applications received after this date will be assessed and processed, but the Council cannot guarantee that travel assistance arrangements will be in place for the start of the academic year.
How to apply for a free bus pass
If you have considered all of the information within the Home to School Travel Assistance Policy, you will need to apply online.
For free bus passes, a new application must be submitted each year. Applications must be submitted with supporting evidence of free school meals or maximum Working Tax Credit or equivalent under Universal Credit; for Saint Benedict CVA, proof of baptism will also be required.
How to apply for travel assistance for 5-16 year olds
If you have considered all of the information within the Home to School Travel Assistance Policy, you will need to apply online.
If you are unable to apply online
Parents who do not have access to the internet using a smartphone, PC, or tablet device, should use the free computer and internet access, which is available at the Council House and at all Derby City Council library sites, to submit an online application.
If you have any queries or require support with your online application, please contact the Home to School Travel Service either by telephone or email:
Telephone: 01332 642716
Email: schooltravel@derby.gov.uk
Travel assistance for sixth form learners and adult learners
Parents, carers young people are advised to consider all the information provided within the Post-16 Policy Statement 2025/26 before submitting an online application.
The Policy Statement has been updated to add clarification to the sixth form age duty and the adult duty.
Sixth form learner: The sixth form age duty applies to young people of sixth form age (16-18) and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (up to age 25) where they are continuing on a full-time course started before their 19th birthday.
Adult learner: The adult duty only applies to young people attending a full-time course which started after their 19th birthday, including those with Education, Health and Care Plans.
Full time course: Minimum of 16 hours per week.
This policy statement is intended to:
- inform learners of sixth form age and adult learners living in Derby city about the range of sustainable and active travel assistance options available in the area to support their attendance at a post-16 education setting
- inform learners of sixth form age, adult learners and their families about the options available to support development of independence skills to prepare for transition into adulthood.
Find out about more travel options.
How to apply
If you have considered all of the information within the Post-16 Policy Statement 2025/26, you will need to apply online.
Applicants who do not have access to the internet using a smartphone, PC, or tablet device, should use the free computer and internet access, which is available at the Council House and at all Derby City Council library sites, to submit an online application.
If you have any queries or require support with your online application, please contact the Home to School Travel Service either by telephone or email:
Telephone: 01332 642716
Email: schooltravel@derby.gov.uk
Statutory travel guidance
The Pre-16 home to school travel and transport statutory guidance for local authorities explains how local authorities must have regard when carrying out their duties in relation to arrangements for travel to school for children of compulsory school age and the promotion of sustainable travel.
The Post-16 transport and travel support to education and training guidance explains how local authorities must have regard when carrying out their duties in developing and publishing their transport policy statement for learners of sixth form age.