The maximum travelling time to or from schools that is considered reasonable by the council is 45 minutes for children of primary school age and 75 minutes by young people attending secondary school.

There are two grounds on which children would usually qualify for home to school transport.  Please read our School Travel Support Policy for full details.  

Read the frequently asked questions for Direct Payment Cards for School Travel Support

Read more about Family Led Travel Budget and mileage 

Statutory Walking Distance   

Children of compulsory school age may qualify for School travel support where they attend their nearest suitable school and live beyond the statutory walking distance. These distances are set out in national legislation and statutory guidance:

• More than 2 miles for children aged 5 to 7.
• More than 3 miles for children aged 8 to 16.

A “suitable school” is defined in national guidance as the nearest qualifying school with places available that provides education appropriate to the child’s age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have. 

The Council measures the statutory walking distance using a computerised Geographic Information System (GIS). This system maps all recognised pedestrian routes, including redways, footpaths, underpasses and public rights of way, each of which carries a unique coded reference. The Council therefore considers whether the shortest available route is reasonably passable not only on foot but also by wheelchair, where relevant to the child’s needs, accompanied if required.

The distance is measured from the child’s home address to the school gate via the shortest safe walking route, not by road or driving distance.

Extended Rights Eligibility  

The Council will support children with transport where pupils are entitled to free school meals or their parents are in receipt of maximum Working Tax Credit and if: 

• The nearest suitable school is beyond 2 miles (for children over the age of 8 and under 11)
• The school is between 2 and 6 miles away (if aged 11-16 and there are not 3 or more suitable nearer schools)
• The school is between 2 and 15 miles and is the nearest school preferred on the grounds of religion or belief (aged 11-16) 

Should family circumstances and the entitlement come to an end then transport support will be withdrawn as soon as possible.  

Adult Bus Pass

An adult bus pass may be provided for an adult to accompany a child under 8 years old.

Special educational needs, disability or mobility difficulties

If a child’s special educational needs, disability or mobility problems mean that they could not be reasonably expected to walk to school then the council will assess each child on an individual basis to identify the most appropriate transport option.  

Unsafe Route Eligibility  

The Council will make transport arrangements for children who cannot be reasonably expected to walk to their nearest suitable school because the nature of the route is deemed unsafe to walk. The Council uses a computerised geographical information system to assess the safety of routes.   

Suitable School 

The nearest appropriate school is one that the Council considers to be suitable for the specific needs of the pupil. Parents or carers should be aware that if they express a preference for a school other than the nearest appropriate school then there is no automatic entitlement to free home to school transport support. 

Children living in temporary accommodation

For families placed in temporary accommodation, school travel support is only applicable where full duty to re-house is confirmed and it is established that the housing placement is anticipated to be for less than one school term. Families who are anticipated to be placed in temporary accommodation for more than one school term should make an application for a more local school place.

Please be aware that the School Travel Support team are unable to progress an application for School Travel Support until this information has been verified by the housing team. If you wish to check the status of your housing application ahead of making a home to school transport application please email homeless.enquiries@milton-keynes.gov.uk  or call 01908 253481.

Post 16 Students

As a general rule the Council does not provide free transport support for Post 16 students who live in Milton Keynes attending school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and colleges of further education. However, Milton Keynes City Council funds a concessionary fare scheme which enables young people up to 19 to travel on public transport at a reduced rate. For more information on all these services please call the Milton Keynes City Council Bus Card Section on 01908 252558. Please read our post 16 policy for more information.

Code of conduct

We expect all children and young people and their parents or carers to adhere to the relevant code of conduct to ensure that everyone has a pleasant and safe experience: 

• code of conduct for mainstream transport
• code of conduct for SEN transport

If you believe you are eligible for school transport, please complete a school transport application form. If eligible, you will be awarded a bus pass which is for use on public transport. 

If you feel a bus pass is not suitable due to individual needs, please complete an alternative/SEN application to be considered for a different method of transport support. Please apply online for alternative/SEN home to School Transport.

We will aim to process your application and if eligible arrange transport within 15 school working days. Please note that if there is no current transport provision available or if you are in temporary accommodation it will likely exceed this. If transport is agreed for your child please be advised that throughout your child’s eligibility the provider of the transport may change which may also mean that pick up/drop off times may vary if you are on a contracted provision route.

Moving house

Please contact us to advise us of your new address, we will then have to re-check eligibility and a new application may have to be made.

Alternative/SEN Panel

You can apply for School Travel Support on exceptional grounds.  These cases are considered on an individual basis by a council panel and you will need to complete an application form for Alternative/SEN application online via 'Apply for alternative/SEN School Travel Support'. Panels are held every fortnight to view the applications.

If your appeal is unsuccessful, to reapply for the same child and the same school you must prove your circumstances have changed significantly and can provide new information that was not previously omitted. If you are not happy with the decision you can appeal and request a stage two.

Read the panel's terms of reference.

The Alternative/SEN Panel will consider a number of options for transport including:

• Child and adult bus pass
• MK Connect
• Shared transport
• Family led travel budget
• Mileage
• Independent travel training

Mileage

For those children whose entitlement to free home to school transport has been confirmed by the council, there is an option for parents or carers to use their own vehicle to provide home to school transport, IF the council decides that it is a cost effective choice.  The mileage payment for parents or carers that provide school transport is 45p per mile, based on the shortest distance between home to school and on confirmation from your child’s school of their attendance. 

It is also possible to request that another adult (nominated by you) be allowed to provide the transport for your child, but only with your signed agreement. Mileage is only offered for a maximum of two journeys (one journey to school and one journey home).

Family Led Travel Budget

Family Led Travel Budget (FLTB) is a payment provided to parents or carers to facilitate any arrangements for home to school travel in order to ensure attendance and access to education.  It allows families to make flexible arrangements and monitor the quality of transport directly.

In order to access a FLTB, your child must:

• have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
• qualify for home to school travel under the Home to School Travel eligibility criteria

A FLTB may be allocated as a result of a Alternative/SEN application.  To find out more, please read the Family Led Travel Budget guidance.

Independent Travel Training (ITT) is a transport scheme designed to help young people who are entitled to home to school transport with the confidence and life skills required to travel independently, whether that is by foot, bike or public transport.

ITT is facilitated by Independent Travel Trainers who will work closely with school staff, parents, carers and children.  One of the trainers will accompany the applicant throughout their whole journey to school or college, empowering them to manage every aspect of their journey independently, including personal safety, finding their way and paying for fares.

The training will help build the young person’s confidence in other aspects of their life too such as:

• future job opportunities
• accessing new hobbies
• improving social skills
• increasing confidence and helping them to feel safer in their community

To find out more, please contact the School Travel Support Team.