The basic rule
A council must arrange free travel for a child of compulsory school age who attends their nearest suitable school and meets one of these tests:
| Test | Free travel if |
|---|---|
| Distance, child under 8 | the school is more than 2 miles from home |
| Distance, child 8 or over | the school is more than 3 miles from home |
| Special educational needs, disability or mobility | the child cannot reasonably be expected to walk, even with a parent |
| Safety | there is no route the child could walk in reasonable safety, even with a parent |
The distance is the shortest route along which a child, accompanied as necessary, could walk in reasonable safety. It is not always the shortest road distance, and it can include footpaths. Within the walking distance, you arrange the journey, and there is no expectation that your child must walk.
Source: GOV.UK, Free school transport; DfE, Home-to-school travel statutory guidance (26 May 2026), paragraphs 1 to 12.
What "nearest suitable school" means
A suitable school is one that fits the child's age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs. It does not have to be the most suitable school. For a child of secondary age, the nearest secondary school will almost always be the nearest suitable school, if it could admit them. If your child has an EHC plan, the school named in the plan will normally count.
If you choose a school that is not the nearest suitable one, the council does not have to pay for travel, even if it is beyond the walking distance. Councils must have regard to a parent's wish for a school based on their religion or belief, but that does not mean they must pay for travel to a faith school, unless the child is eligible under the rules here or the extended rights below.
Extra help for low-income families
These "extended rights" go to children whose families are eligible for targeted free school meals (Universal Credit with household earnings of £7,400 a year or less, and some other groups). They do not extend to the new expanded free school meals. Working Tax Credit no longer appears in the rules.
- Aged 8 and under 11: free travel if the nearest suitable school is more than 2 miles away.
- Aged 11 to 16: free travel to one of the three nearest suitable schools if it is more than 2 and not more than 6 miles away.
- Aged 11 to 16 at a school chosen because of religion or belief: free travel if it is more than 2 and not more than 15 miles away and there is no suitable school nearer.
A child who was getting extended rights travel on 31 March 2025 and still meets the other criteria should keep it until the end of their current phase of education or until they leave the school, whichever is sooner. That is what DfE expects of councils; they may offer more.
Special educational needs and disability
Councils assess these cases one child at a time. They look at whether the child can walk to school, with a parent if necessary, taking account of information from you, professionals, the school and any EHC plan or healthcare plan. The school must still be the nearest suitable one.
Help can take several forms: a place on a bus or taxi, expenses so you can make your own arrangements (some councils call this a personal travel budget or mileage allowance), a cycling allowance, independent travel training, or an escort. If you are offered a budget, check that it covers the real costs.
If your application is refused
Each council sets its own appeals process, and DfE recommends two stages. The timings below are recommended, not mandatory, so check your council's policy.
- Stage one: review by a senior officer. You have 20 working days from getting the decision to appeal in writing. The council should reply within 20 working days of your appeal, explaining its reasons.
- Stage two: independent panel. You have 20 working days from the stage one outcome to ask for this. The panel should meet within 40 working days, you can attend in person or online, and the panel should write to you with its decision within 5 working days of finishing its consideration.
If you think the council made a mistake in how it handled your case, you can complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. If you think the panel's decision was flawed on public law grounds, you may be able to apply for judicial review.
When you appeal, keep to the legal tests above. If you say the distance is wrong, measure the route and show your evidence. If you say it is unsafe, describe the specific hazards on the route and why they matter for a child of your child's age.