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 not to apply for home to school travel assistance until they have considered all the information provided within the Home to School Travel Assistance Policy Academic Year 2023-24.
The purpose of this policy is 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 Academic Year 2023-24, the quickest and easiest way is 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 may 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 Academic Year 2023-24, the quickest and easiest way is 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.
Parents who do not have access to the internet and cannot physically access the Council House or their local Council library site, can contact the Home to School Travel Service and request a paper copy of the application to be posted to their address.
Telephone: 01332 642716
Email: schooltravel@derby.gov.uk
Completed paper applications and supporting evidence must be sent or hand delivered to: Home to School Travel Service, Derby City Council, Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS.
Travel assistance for 16-19 year olds
Parents and carers are advised not to apply for home to school travel assistance until they have considered all the information provided within the Post 16-19 Home to School Transport Policy Statement 2023-24.
The Policy Statement has been updated to add clarification to the following sections:
- Section 7 - Paragraph 2 added the word contribution and that this may not cover the cost of a taxi.
- 7.4 the word discretionary to the first sentence and examples of the ways in which a PTB may be used have been added.
This policy statement is intended to:
- inform learners of sixth form age who reside 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 establishment
- explain our commitment to encouraging independent travel to and from the place of learning.
Find out about more travel options.
How to apply
If you have considered all of the information within the Post 16-19 Home to School Transport Policy Statement 2023-24, you can apply online. From 1 April 2023, parents must complete an application online. This is the quickest way for parents to apply and the preferred way for applications to be received.
Parents will need to upload any supporting information for example, evidence of free school meals or medical information, to their online application.
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.
Parents who do not have access to the internet and cannot physically access the Council House or their local Council library site, can contact the Home to School Travel Service and request a paper copy of the application to be posted to their address.
Telephone: 01332 642716
Email: schooltravel@derby.gov.uk
Completed paper applications and supporting evidence must be sent or hand delivered to: Home to School Travel Service, Derby City Council, Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS.
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.