Parent(s) and carer(s) are responsible for ensuring that their children attend school and to make any necessary transport arrangements, this includes accompanying their children on their journeys to and from school.
In certain circumstances, we have a duty to provide free home to school transport. We arrange school transport for children and young people in Bedford Borough who are eligible for transport in line with our transport policies. Please note that once a request for transport is approved, our Client Transport Team will try to ensure transport is arranged within 10 working days.
You will find further information on these pages about who is eligible for transport, our transport policies, how to apply and what other help might be available to you.
Mainstream pupils - without an education, health and care plan (EHCP)
This information applies to children and young people without an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Pre-statutory school age
- Bedford Borough Council does not provide free home to school transport for pre-statutory school age children.
- A child begins to be ‘statutory school age’ on the ‘prescribed day’ which either falls on or follows their fifth birthday. The prescribed days are currently 31st August, 31st December and 31st March. This means transport can be provided for eligible children in the term following their fifth birthday.
If you are not sure if your child is statutory school age yet, please contact us and we can confirm.
Statutory school age - mainstream primary
- Statutory school age 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 or the route is assessed as unsafe to walk.
- 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
Low income families are those who:
- are entitled to free school meals (whether the family is claiming this or not)
- are receiving the maximum rate of Working Tax Credit
Statutory school age - mainstream secondary
Children aged 11 to 16 (school years 7 to 11) can get free home to school transport if:
- they attend their nearest qualifying school
- they live more than 3 miles away or the route is assessed as unsafe to walk.
Children from low income families can get free home to school transport if:
- they attend one of their 3 nearest qualifying schools
- the school is between 2 and 6 miles from their home address
Children from low income families can also get free home to school transport if:
- they are aged 11 to 16 attending their nearest qualifying school in accordance with their parent(s)/carer(s) religion or belief, provided it is more than two miles (by the shortest available walking route), but not more than 15 miles (by motorised route) from their home.
Post statutory school age (Post 16)
Students can apply for travel assistance if they:
- they live in Bedford Borough throughout the duration of the course
- they are enrolled and attend a full-time course up to and including level 3 (This means courses up to and including A Level).
- they are attending the nearest 6th form school to their home address, within Bedford Borough. Those establishments are; Bedford Academy, Kempston Challenger Academy, Wootton Upper School, Biddenham School, Sharnbrook School, Mark Rutherford School and St Thomas More RC School
- the eligibility criteria outlined in the policy is met (Sections 1.3 and 1.4)
Apply for school transport
You can apply for school transport, cancel your school transport and change your address using the forms below. If you are not sure which form to complete, or would like a copy of any of these forms posted to you, please email school.transport@bedford.gov.uk.
SEND pupils with an education health and care plan
For more information visit our SEND pupils with an education health and care plan page.
