School transport

Mainstream secondary

Children aged 11 to 16 (school years 7 to 11) can get free home to school transport if:

• they attend their nearest school
• they live more than 3 miles away

Children from low income families can get free home to school transport if:

• they attend one of their 3 nearest qualifying schools
• the school is between 2 and 6 miles from their home address

Mainstream primary

Children in year 0 (Reception) to year 3 can get free home to school transport if they attend their nearest school and live more than 2 miles away.

Children in year 4 to year 6 can get free home to school transport if they attend their nearest school and live more than 3 miles away.

Children from low income families in year 4 to year 6 can get free home to school transport if they attend their nearest school and live more than 2 miles away.

Faith secondary school

Children from low income families qualify for school transport if they:

• live between 2 and 15 miles from a designated faith school
• are baptised into the faith of the school or a member of the school's faith

You need to submit the following with your application:

• a baptism certificate, or written confirmation from your priest, Rabbi or faith leader
• a statement to support the reasons for choosing a faith school, on grounds of religion or belief

Faith primary school

Children from low income families qualify for school transport if they:

• live between 2 miles or more from their designated faith school
• are baptised into the faith of the school or a member of the school's faith

You need to submit the following with your application:

• a baptism certificate, or written confirmation from your priest, Rabbi or faith leader
• a statement to support the reasons for choosing a faith school, on grounds of religion or belief

Families not on low-income

Families not on low income are eligible if the designated faith secondary school is closer than nearest non-faith secondary school and live more than 3 miles from the school.

School transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

We will provide home to school transport where children:

• are attending their nearest suitable school (that we've identified)
• live 2 miles or more for children below 8 from their nearest suitable school
• live 3 miles or more for children aged 8 or over from their nearest suitable school
• where the mainstream low-income policy (above) is met

School transport could also be provided if a child has SEN or mobility difficulties and cannot reasonably be expected to walk to their nearest suitable school, even when accompanied by a parent.

For more information and advice go to the Essex Local Offer website.

Grammar (selective) school

Children from low income families qualify for school transport if they live 2 or more miles from the selective school.

School transport will also be provided if the selective school is closer than the nearest maintained school or academy and 3 miles or more away.