How to qualify

Pupils aged 5 to 16 who qualify for free travel
Secondary pupils from low income families who qualify for free travel
Pupils aged 5 to 16 who do NOT qualify for free travel 

Q. What are the general criteria?

For the Council to provide free transport, the journey time from home to school must be achieved within three quarters of an hour for primary aged pupils or one and a quarter hours for secondary aged pupils. Furthermore to be entitled to travel free on school transport your child must meet the following criteria

• live within the area where Cambridgeshire County Council is the local authority 

• be registered at his / her designated school, which is defined as the catchment school; or the nearest accessible school with a place; or the school specified in the student’s statement of special needs; or the school which is the only one that can meet the student’s medical needs

• be at least in the school year in which he / she will reach his / her fifth birthday

• live beyond the specified walking distance from the school: two miles for primary pupils and three miles for secondary pupils, this is measured by the shortest available walking route (to ensure the highest degree of accuracy, the local authority determines the shortest available walking route using a digital mapping system)

If no route is identified as being unavailable to the designated school (for example it is deemed unsafe) arrangements must be made for free transport for pupils aged five to 16. If you are unsure as to whether your child is entitled to free transport please email or telephone the Education Transport Department.

Information on entitlement to school transport for the 2008 / 2009 school year can
be found within the notes on the school application form.  See 'Pre 16 how to apply' section.

Q. If my child is entitled to free transport to school; do I need to re-apply every year?

No. You do not need to complete a new form for each school year. If your child qualifies for free transport under the criteria listed a pass will be sent to you automatically in time for each school year, providing you remain at the same address.
 
Q. My child is attending a school on denominational grounds; will he/she be entitled to transport?

The Local Authority will assist with the transport costs of those children aged 5-16 attending denominational schools who meet the following criteria:

• live within the area where Cambridgeshire County Council is the local authority

• the home to school distances involved are beyond walking distance from the school: two miles for primary pupils and three miles for secondary pupils, this is measured by the shortest available walking route (to ensure the highest degree of accuracy, the local authority determines the shortest available walking route using a digital mapping system)

• the denominational school is the one nearest to the child's home address measured by the shortest available route 

• existing transport can be used

• the child is a practising, appropriately admitted or baptised member of the denomination of the designated religious character of the school and has a written statement to this effect from their Minister of Religion

Families may be required to pay a contribution towards denominational transport costs (dependent on family income).  Further details are provided in the school transport application form notes that can be found under the 'Pre 16 how to apply' section.

Q. If my child is entitled to assistance with denominational transport costs, will I have to apply every year?

Yes.  Most families pay a contribution towards their denominational transport costs, therefore an application form is required each year, with payment enclosed. 

Families who qualify for free denominational transport also have to apply every year as they are required to provide proof of low income status each year.

Q. Is my child entitled to free transport to their work experience placement?

No. Free transport to school does not entitle your child to free transport to any work experience. The council does not assist with transport costs to work experience placements. Parents need to ensure that their child secures a work experience placement to which they have the means to travel.

Q. What are the extended rights criteria?

From September 2008 secondary age pupils from low income families will have extended transport rights. Pupils who meet the low income criteria will be entitled to free transport to:
 
• one of their three nearest secondary schools, if those schools are within two to six miles from their home address.
• the nearest denominational school, if they are attending on faith grounds, and that school is within two and 15 miles from their home address.

Examples:

• Child A is entitled to free school meals. The nearest suitable school is 2.4 miles from their home. The second nearest school is 3 miles away; and the third nearest is 5.2 miles away.  Under the extended transport rights Child A would be entitled to free transport to each of the schools

• Child B’s parents are in receipt of maximum level working tax credit. The nearest suitable school is 1.7 miles from their home. The second nearest school is 3.8 miles away; and the third nearest is 6.4 miles away. Under the extended transport rights Child B would be entitled to free transport to the second school, but not the first and the third

• Child C is entitled to free school meals and will be attending a denominational school on faith grounds. The nearest denominational school is 5.7 miles from their home. There is also a second denominational school 11.4 miles away from their home.  and the third nearest is 6.4 miles away. Under the extended transport rights Child C would be entitled to free transport to the fist school, but not the second

Q. What criteria do I have to meet to qualify as low income under the extended secondary rights?

Secondary school pupils may qualify for this free transport if:

• they are entitled to free school meals*; or
• their parents are in receipt of their maximum level of Working Tax Credit.

* A pupil does not need to be receiving free school meals to qualify, entitlement to free school meals alone means a pupil meets low income family criteria.

The free school meal qualification criteria can be found on the Free School Meals section of the website.

Important note: The NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate on its own is not evidence of either entitlement to free school meals or of maximum level working tax credit.  Therefore families applying under the tax credit criteria must send in their tax credit award document.

Q. If my child is entitled to free transport under the extended secondary rights; do I need to re-apply every year?

Yes. You will need to apply every year if your child qualifies for free transport under the new extended rights for secondary pupils from low income families. This is because you will be required to provide current documentation as proof of your low income status each year.

Q. Can I contact someone if I need further clarification or information?

Yes. Contact Sarah Long on 01223 717998 or email sarah.long@cambridgeshire.gov.uk for further clarification or information on secondary pupils from low income families.

Q. If my child is not entitled to free travel; can I pay for a seat?

Possibly: pupils who do not meet the conditions for free transport may be able to pay to travel on existing buses that are contracted to Cambridgeshire County Council. However, seats are subject to availability and issued on a first come, first served basis.

Q. How do I apply for a fare paying seat?

To apply for a fare paying seat please complete the transport application form, ensuring that you complete the fare paying section and enclose payment. Payment should be made by either a cheque or postal order and made payable to Cambridgeshire County Council. Do not send cash. 

Q. What are the costs?

For the 2008 / 2009 academic year the costs for travel are 

IMPORTANT when applying for a fare paying seat you should note that

• applications must be received after the start of the half term holiday immediately before the term for which the application is being made 

• if you do not enclose payment with your form, the date of receipt of your application will be counted from when the payment is received 

• Cambridgeshire County Council cannot guarantee to give advanced warning of seats that are no longer available, furthermore the issue of a ticket for one term does not guarantee the issue of tickets for subsequent terms 

• the ticket concession is not available for use on public service buses provided by bus companies, in this case you should apply to the bus company for a season ticket

Q. Why do you no longer operate a low income spare seat charge?

Spare seats are usually purchased in cases of parental preference (i.e. where a parent has made a choice to send their child to a school that is not their local school).  Furthermore, the decision to purchase a seat on a bus to a local school that is under statutory walking distances (2 miles for primary or 3 miles for secondary), is parental choice over the pupil walking or cycling to school.  With limited budgets, the Local Authority cannot continue to subsidise the spare seats of pupils from low income families, where parents have either expressed a preference to an alternative school or who choose for their child to travel on the bus when they are within walking/cycling distance.

When purchasing a seat, the daily cost works out at £1.89 per day, which is still excellent value for money for all families.

Q. My child is not entitled to free transport however there are exceptional circumstances and I would like to be considered. Is there a procedure for this?

Yes. There is a procedure if your child is not entitled to free transport but you believe that there are exceptional circumstances and you wish to be considered. Your case will be reviewed by a Senior Officer who will decide whether an exemption can be made. Please telephone 01223 717998 to find out more about the Council’s officer panel.