Responsibility for organising transport is dependent on:
- the distance you live from the school
- whether there are other schools nearer to you
- whether you are a low-income family
- your religious beliefs
- whether your child has any additional needs
When you are responsible
If you’re a parent or a carer of a child that is aged 5 to 16 years old then you are responsible for making sure your child attends school and their transport arrangements.
If you choose a school that is neither your catchment or nearest qualifying school you will be responsible for transport for your child. This would be a long term commitment for you as a parent/carer and it needs very careful consideration
All application forms must be returned by the 31 May to guarantee your application will be assessed by the beginning of the academic year. If you apply later, transport may not be in place at the start of term and there may be a considerable delay. In the meantime, you are responsible for your child’s transport and any expenses you incur will not be refunded.
When we are responsible
We are responsible for transport arrangements if you:
- live further away than the statutory walking distance from your catchment or nearest qualifying school
- live under the statutory walking distance from your catchment or nearest qualifying school but there are route safety concerns
- fall within the “low income group” transport arrangements
Transport will be provided by the most appropriate means available. Usually it is a pass to travel free by public service or a vehicle which the Local Authority has under contract from an approved transport operator.
In certain circumstances, the Council may be able to meet their statutory duty to make suitable transport arrangements using a Parental Grant or Personal Travel Budget.
Taxis, mini-buses and coaches are currently hired as part of the private hire school transport network.
Transport may also be provided by the Council’s in-house provider, CTOT.
Children who are issued a travel pass on a vehicle privately contracted to Westmorland and Furness Council will be restricted to travelling in the morning and afternoon at the standard times. Children who are issued with a Stagecoach travel pass may be able to travel flexibly for one journey to and one journey from the school daily.
Contact the Integrated Home to School Transport Team who can advise you of restrictions on your route by calling 0300 303 1591 (choose option 2)
If your child is entitled to free transport
You will be expected to take and collect them to and from the nearest pick up point. This may be up to half a mile for primary aged children and a mile for secondary pupils.
You must also bear in mind that their journey to and from school may not be by the most direct route and that the arrangements are likely to change from time to time.
If you believe that the use of pick up points are unsuitable - for example, due to safety concerns, you can request for us to consider the suitability of the travel arrangements and whether a route safety assessment to the pick up point is needed.
The home to school transport route will involve a number of pick up and drop off points on the way to and from school. As a result your child will take longer to get to school than a non- stop journey or the most direct route from the pick-up point. We aim for home to school journey time each side of the school day to take no more than 45 minutes for primary schools and 75 minutes for secondary schools.
Replacement Passes
If your child loses their travel pass, a replacement may be ordered from the Integrated Home to School Transport Team at a cost of £14.80.
Please telephone 0300 303 1591 (option 2) or email school.transport@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk to order a replacement pass. Please include your child’s name, date of birth, name of school and your telephone number so that we can call you back.
More information
You can find out more about the Council’s statutory obligations on GOV.UK: Home-to-school travel - GOV.UK
The Department for Education have also written a blogspot about free school transport Free school transport explained: From who’s eligible to how it works – The Education Hub (blog.gov.uk) which provides further detail.
Behaviour when using School Transport
Please be aware that all pupils, parents and carers and transport operators need to adhere to our behaviour and safeguarding policies.
- Behaviour on home to school and college transport policy (PDF, 451.33KB)
- Travel safely guidance (PDF, 182.53KB)
- Safeguarding passengers on council transport (PDF, 413.5KB)