Free school transport checker
In England, the council must arrange free transport for a child of compulsory school age who goes to their nearest suitable school and lives more than 2 miles from it (under 8) or more than 3 miles (8 and over), measured along the shortest route they could walk in reasonable safety. Children who can't walk there because of special educational needs, a disability or a mobility problem, or because the route is unsafe, also qualify, and families eligible for Targeted free school meals have wider rights. In Wales the limits are 2 miles for primary and 3 miles for secondary. Enter your postcode to check a school, then use your council's policy to apply.
Check a school from your postcode
The rules in England
Quoted from the Department for Education's statutory guidance for councils, Travel to school for children of compulsory school age (May 2026), with paragraph numbers.
- Under 8
- "A child under the age of 8 is eligible for free travel to their nearest suitable school if it is more than 2 miles from their home." (paragraph 10)
- 8 and over
- "A child aged 8 years or over is eligible for free travel to their nearest suitable school if it is more than 3 miles from their home." (paragraph 11)
- How the distance is measured
- "the route they measure must be the shortest route along which a child, accompanied as necessary, may walk in reasonable safety. This is not necessarily the shortest distance by road." (paragraph 12)
- Special educational needs, disability or mobility
- "could not reasonably be expected to walk to that school because of their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, even if they were accompanied by their parent" (paragraph 2)
- Unsafe route
- "would not be able to walk to that school in reasonable safety, even if they were accompanied by their parent" (paragraph 2)
- Nearest suitable school
- "'Suitable school' does not mean the most suitable school for a child." (paragraph 5)
- If the nearest school is full
- "Where a child's nearest school is oversubscribed and unable to offer them a place, the nearest school with places available is their nearest suitable school for school travel purposes. A child's nearest school may be in a neighbouring local authority area." (paragraph 41)
- Low income: who counts
- "for pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of no more than £7,400" (paragraph 33)
- Low income, 8 to 10
- "aged 8 or over but under 11, attend their nearest suitable school and it is more than 2 miles from their home" (paragraph 35)
- Low income, 11 to 16
- "aged 11 to 16 years, and attend one of their three nearest suitable schools provided it is more than 2 miles but not more than 6 miles from their home" (paragraph 35)
- Low income, religion or belief
- "aged 11 to 16 years, attend a school that is more than 2 but not more than 15 miles from their home that their parents have chosen on the grounds of their religion or belief if, having regard to that religion or belief, there is no suitable school nearer to their home" (paragraph 35)
- Listing your nearest school
- "reasonable for a local authority to expect parents to list their nearest school on their application form if they intend to apply for free travel to school" (paragraph 43)
- Reception-age children
- "Most use it to provide free travel to school for 4-year-olds attending reception classes if they will be eligible for free travel when they reach compulsory school age." (paragraph 79)
- Appeals
- "The process should allow a parent 20 working days from the day they received the local authority's school travel decision to submit a written appeal." (paragraph 134)
The guidance was updated in May 2026: low-income rights now follow Targeted free school meals, and Working Tax Credit, which has been phased out, is no longer mentioned.
The rules in Wales
From the Welsh Government's Learner Travel: Statutory Provision and Operational Guidance (June 2014), under the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008.
- "Learners receiving primary education will be entitled to free transport if they live two miles or more from their nearest suitable maintained school" (paragraph 1.22)
- "A similar entitlement is provided for learners receiving secondary education, but in this case if they live three miles or more from their nearest suitable maintained school" (paragraph 1.24)
- "Under section 3(7) of the Measure the walking distance should be measured by the 'shortest available route'." (paragraph 1.61)
Every council's school travel policy
Apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area. Links are to each council's own pages, read by us; 48 of 174 councils so far. A council with no link here still has a policy: it is on its website.
England
Wales
| Council | Travel policy | How to apply | Post-16 charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blaenau Gwent | - | - | - |
| Bridgend | - | - | - |
| Caerphilly | - | - | - |
| Cardiff | - | - | - |
| Carmarthenshire | - | - | - |
| Ceredigion | - | - | - |
| Conwy | - | - | - |
| Denbighshire | - | - | - |
| Flintshire | - | - | - |
| Gwynedd | - | - | - |
| Isle of Anglesey | - | - | - |
| Merthyr Tydfil | - | - | - |
| Monmouthshire | - | - | - |
| Neath Port Talbot | - | Apply for free school travel | - |
| Newport | - | - | - |
| Pembrokeshire | School transport policy and application form | Apply for School Transport | - |
| Powys | - | - | - |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | - | - | - |
| Swansea | - | - | - |
| Torfaen | - | - | - |
| Vale of Glamorgan | - | - | - |
| Wrexham | Wrexham County Borough Council School Transport Policy PDF Format 124.15 KB | - | - |
Questions about free school transport
Who gets free school transport in England?
A child of compulsory school age who attends their nearest suitable school qualifies if that school is more than 2 miles from home (under 8) or more than 3 miles (8 and over), or if they could not reasonably be expected to walk there because of special educational needs, a disability or a mobility problem, or could not walk there in reasonable safety, even with a parent. The council must arrange the transport free of charge (paragraphs 1, 2, 10 and 11 of the DfE guidance).
Source: Department for Education, Travel to school for children of compulsory school age (May 2026)
How is the distance to school measured?
Along the shortest route a child, accompanied as necessary, may walk in reasonable safety, which can include footpaths and bridleways and is not necessarily the shortest distance by road (paragraph 12). Our checker uses a straight line, which is never longer than that route: a straight line over the limit means the route is likely over it too, and a straight line under the limit does not rule anything out.
Source: Department for Education, Travel to school for children of compulsory school age (May 2026)
What counts as the nearest suitable school?
The nearest state school (including academies and free schools) suitable for the child's age, ability, aptitude, any special educational needs and sex. It does not mean the most suitable school for the child. If the nearest school is full and can't offer a place, the nearest school with a place is the nearest suitable school, and it may be in a neighbouring council's area (paragraphs 4, 5, 7 and 41). For a child with an EHC plan, the school named in the plan will normally be their nearest suitable school (paragraph 6).
Source: Department for Education, Travel to school for children of compulsory school age (May 2026)
Is there extra help for families on a low income?
Yes, for children eligible for Targeted free school meals (households on Universal Credit with annual earnings of no more than £7,400). From 8 to 10, free transport to the nearest suitable school if it is more than 2 miles away. From 11 to 16, free transport to any of the three nearest suitable schools between 2 and 6 miles away, or to a school between 2 and 15 miles away chosen on grounds of religion or belief when no suitable school of that religion or belief is nearer. The 6 and 15 miles are measured by road (paragraphs 33 to 38).
Source: Department for Education, Travel to school for children of compulsory school age (May 2026)
Do I need to put our nearest school on the school application?
It can matter. The guidance says it is reasonable for a council to expect parents to list their nearest school on the application form if they intend to apply for free travel, so the council can tell whether the child could have had a place there (paragraphs 43 to 45). Check your council's policy before you apply for a school place.
Source: Department for Education, Travel to school for children of compulsory school age (May 2026)
Is free school transport available for 4-year-olds in Reception?
A child reaches compulsory school age on the first of 31 December, 31 March or 31 August after their fifth birthday (or on the birthday itself if it falls on one of those days), so a child who starts Reception at 4 is not yet covered by the duty (annex 1). Councils have a power to provide travel for other children, and the guidance notes that most use it to give free travel to 4-year-olds in Reception if they will be eligible once they reach compulsory school age (paragraph 79). Check your council's policy.
Source: Department for Education, Travel to school for children of compulsory school age (May 2026)
What about sixth form and college?
The duty in this guidance covers children of compulsory school age; there is separate guidance on travel to post-16 education and training, and each council publishes its own post-16 arrangements. Where a council's policy states a yearly post-16 charge, we show it under that council.
Source: Department for Education, Travel to school for children of compulsory school age (May 2026)
Can I appeal if the council says no?
Yes. The guidance recommends two stages: a review by a senior officer, which you ask for in writing within 20 working days of the decision, then an independent appeal panel, again within 20 working days of the stage one outcome. After that you can complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (paragraphs 133 to 143). Your council's policy says how its own process works.
Source: Department for Education, Travel to school for children of compulsory school age (May 2026)
What are the rules in Wales?
Under the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008, learners of compulsory school age are entitled to free transport to their nearest suitable maintained school if they live two miles or more from it in primary education, or three miles or more in secondary education, measured by the shortest available walking route (Welsh Government guidance, paragraphs 1.22, 1.24 and 1.61).
Source: Welsh Government, Learner Travel: Statutory Provision and Operational Guidance (June 2014)