Eligibility for council funded school transport
Your child can get council funded school transport if they attend their nearest appropriate school.
Appropriate in this instance means:
- age appropriate - attendance at a primary and secondary school
- ability appropriate - attendance at a mainstream or special school.
They also need to be:
- over 8 years old and live more than 3 miles from the school using the shortest available walking route.
- under 8 years old and live more than 2 miles from the school using the shortest available walking route.
A walking route can include public footpaths, bridleways, other footpaths as well as recognised roads where they are available.
Your nearest suitable school may not always be the school of your choice, and won't take into account your preferences for types of school, for example a single-sex school, sports college or grammar school. In some parts of the county it may be a school in another educational authority, outside of Kent.
If the local council decides a route is hazardous, council funded school transport assistance will be granted, even if it is under the statutory distance, provided your child is attending their nearest appropriate school. Once your nearest school has been established, we will not consider the route your child may take to any other school, as they will not be eligible to receive council funded school transport to that school.
The same rules will apply to all families, including those who have recently moved to Kent from Ukraine.
Read the guidance
Read the transport policy for children and young people aged 4 to 16 (PDF, 468.8 KB).
If your child has an educational, health and care (EHC) plan
If your child meets the criteria above you may also be able to apply for a personal transport budget.
If your child doesn't meet the criteria above you may still be able to get help if their needs make their journey to school difficult. We will take into account whether your child can safely travel to school with a parent or carer, either on foot or in a vehicle.
As a starting point, normally you won’t be entitled to council funded school transport if the school your child goes to is not the closest one that meets their needs. There are, however, some exceptions to this principle and you should read the SEN transport guidance (PDF, 468.8 KB) to see if these are applicable to you.
For advice about your child's journey to school speak to your SEN officer.
If you have low income
Find out about the criteria for applying for council funded school transport if you have low income.
Apply for council funded school transport
If you have read the above and meet the criteria, apply for council funded school transport.