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 and
• they live more than 3 miles away

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

• they attend one of their 3 nearest qualifying schools and
• 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 and
• 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 and
• 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) and
• live 2 miles or more for children below 8 from their nearest suitable school or
• live 3 miles or more for children aged 8 or over from their nearest suitable school or
• 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.

Find out more about help to get children with SEND to school safely on 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.