School Travel

Children and young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, may qualify for free or assisted transport to and from school or college.

Pupils aged 8 and under may qualify if:

  • You live 2 miles or more from the designated school, which is measured by the shortest, safe walking route when accompanied by an adult

Pupils aged 8 to 16 may qualify if:

  • You live 3 miles or more from the designated school, which is measured by the shortest, safe walking route when accompanied by an adult

You may still qualify if any of the following criteria apply:

  • Your child’s special educational needs mean that they would be vulnerable to attack or abduction when travelling from home to school
  • Your child’s special educational needs, such as medical, physical or sensory impairment mean that they would be unable to walk to school unaided
  • Your child’s emotional or behavioural needs require that transport be provided to re-establish attendance at school
  • You have extraordinary family or other social circumstances that require support with school travel (for example, where a child is fostered but it is most appropriate for them to continue to attend their existing school)
  • You fall under the scope of The Education and Inspections Act 2006 regarding low income

Swindon 16-19 Education Transport Policy

The Education Transport Policy applies to all young people aged 16-19 who live within the boundaries of Swindon Borough Council and to young people with special educational needs or learning difficulties/disabilities aged 16-24 who live within the boundaries of Swindon Borough Council.

A subsidised pass is available to all students who live more than three miles from a school or college within the Borough of Swindon. If the student’s parent or carer is in receipt of a qualifying benefit, the pass is provided free of charge.

Social Care Transport

Children with a statement of special educational needs may be eligible for free transport to and from home and school. The Special Education Needs Assessment Team will consider whether your child is eligible and, if so, will authorise Passenger Transport Services to make appropriate arrangements. For further information and advice, please click here.

Local Authority Provided Transport

The Council will provide support for pupils who meet at least one of the aforementioned criteria and will consider different types of support with travel, usually in the order below:

  • Walking accompanied by an escort
  • Payment of car mileage rate to parent (or responsible adult designated by parent)
  • Travel by scheduled public transport supported by bus pass
  • Travel by scheduled public transport with an escort
  • Travel by closed bus or coach under contract to the Council
  • Travel by minibus
  • Travel by minibus with specialist facilities (i.e. ramp or tail lift)
  • Travel by minibus (with or without special facilities) supported by escort
  • Travel in a vehicle provided by a voluntary driver
  • Travel by taxi i.e. hackney carriage/private hire vehicle
  • Travel by accessible taxi i.e. hackney carriage/private hire vehicle
  • Travel by taxi i.e. hackney carriage/private hire vehicle supported by escort

Personal travel budgets

In certain circumstances it may be possible to apply for a personal travel budget under our pilot scheme:

Personal Travel Budgets for children and young people with SEND