Devon County Council (DCC) provides transport for children in certain circumstances. Read the information below and if you think your child is eligible for school transport and you have not heard from the School Transport Team, please complete our online transport application form.
Whose responsibility is it to get a child to school?
It is a parent or carer responsibility to get their child to school throughout the whole time they are there, regardless of any change in circumstances.
Parents or carers should consider the practicalities of sending their child to a school that is not in walking distance unless it is the designated or nearest school.
Will my child get free school transport?
You can express a preference for a place at any school but choosing the school you would like for your child may mean that you will not be entitled to free school transport.
How do I check if my child is eligible?
If your child attends the school designated to serve your home address and you live more than three miles away by the shortest walking route, your child will be entitled to free transport.
You can use our website to check which is the designated school to serve your home address or by telephoning 0345 155 1019.
Your child will be entitled to free transport to the nearest school if it is closer than the designated school, providing it is still over three miles from your home by the shortest walking route.
If your child has been placed at a special school by DCC, it will become their designated school and the normal eligibility criteria will apply.
If your child’s Statement or Education Health and Care Plan indicate your choice of school is parental preference, you may not be entitled to transport assistance. Transport is not provided for foreign exchange students, work experience, or induction days.
How are distances measured?
Distances are measured using a geographical electronic system (GIS) and the shortest available walking route. This may include roads, footpaths and bridleways.
The measurement is made between the nearest entrance to your house and the nearest entrance to the school grounds. Private driveways to homes and in schools are not included.
What if I live under the distance?
If you live within three miles of your child’s school, your child will not be entitled to transport assistance. It will be your responsibility to make sure that your child gets to and from school safely.
What if my child lives at two addresses?
We only provide transport from one address, and this should be your child’s permanent address. If your child lives at two addresses, you must nominate one of them as the permanent address for transport.
What if I live under distance but have exceptional circumstances?
Transport assistance may be granted if you can provide evidence of exceptional circumstances. This can include evidence from, for example, medical professionals, social workers or educational psychologists.
You must give us full details of your child’s needs and attach any supporting evidence to be taken into consideration.
What if I am on a low income?
The statutory right to free home-to-school transport for secondary pupils covers all children aged 11–16 years from low-income families to a choice of one of the three nearest schools, and for the school to be between 2 and 6 miles from the home address.
Alternatively, transport will be provided to the nearest school preferred because of religion or belief, where the school lies between 2 and 15 miles from the home address.
Distances up to 3 miles are measured using the shortest walking route. Distances over 3 miles are measured by road.
To qualify for free transport on low-income grounds, your child must receive free school meals or you must provide evidence that you receive one of the following benefits:
- Income Support.
- Job Seeker’s Allowance (income-based).
- Guarantee Pension Credit.
- Employment Support Allowance (income-related).
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
- The maximum level of Working Tax Credit* (in Section 2 check to see ‘Reduction due to your income’ if it shows £00.00 it is the maximum level).
- Child Tax Credit (provided you do not also receive Working Tax Credit and you have an annual income, as assessed by the Inland Revenue, which does not exceed £16,190).
- Certain levels of Universal Credit (this amount is subject to change).
If you are on a low income but your child does not claim free school meals, you will be asked to submit all pages of your benefit evidence.
Income-assessed entitlement has to be reapplied for every year. If your circumstances change, you should not assume that your child will continue to have free transport.
If you feel you may be eligible on low-income grounds, we advise you to consider whether you would be able to get your child to the school of your choice if transport was withdrawn.
What if I would like to transport my child myself but I need assistance with fuel costs?
If you are entitled to transport and would like to transport your child yourself but would like some assistance with fuel costs, you still need to complete the application form before your request can be considered.
There is no automatic entitlement to receive reimbursement of fuel costs and no guarantees that assistance with fuel costs can be reimbursed even if your child is entitled to transport from DCC.
If free transport is withdrawn, can I appeal?
Withdrawal of free transport because there is no longer eligibility on low-income criteria is not considered grounds for appeal, as you are
advised in advance that this could happen if you cease to be eligible.
What if my child travels in a wheelchair or buggy?
If your child needs to travel in a wheelchair or buggy, we must arrange for it to be checked to make sure it is suitable for transport. Your child will not be able to travel until we have completed this check and approved the wheelchair or buggy.
Independent travel training
We will refer your child for one-to-one training to teach your child to travel independently on public or other transport if we consider this is appropriate.
Whose responsibility is it to ensure the medication and instructions are up-to-date?
It is a parent or carer’s responsibility to keep DCC informed of any changes to the child’s condition and medication and to ensure that the medication is carried with the child at all times.
It is also a parent or carer’s responsibility to keep a copy of the most recent medical or intervention protocol with the medicine or intervention
equipment at all times and to ensure medication is in date – please check expiry dates.
Please call us on 0345 155 1019 to request a medication form and return the form completed as a matter of urgency because until we have all the required information, the escort will not administer any emergency medication or procedure.
If your child were to have a medical emergency before we receive this information, the escort would call 999 emergency services and any medication carried would be handed over to the paramedic.
Code of conduct
Agreement to the code of conduct must be selected on the transport application form to agree that children will behave appropriately on school transport and abide by the code of conduct.
When dealing with issues of inappropriate behaviour on the vehicle, a child’s special needs will be taken into consideration but we must protect the safety of the other passengers and transport crew.
Using your personal information
Devon County Council will use the information you provide to process your transport application. Should it be found to be fraudulent the transport may be withdrawn in accordance with the Education Transport Policy.
More information about how we process personal data can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/schools-transport-notice
For all queries please call 0345 155 1019.