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Primary School Home to School Transport

Free Home to School Transport

County Durham covers a wide geographical area and consequently many pupils live quite a distance from their nearest school. Free home to school transport is available for pupils of compulsory school age to:
  • The nearest appropriate and/or suitable Community and Voluntary Controlled School, if that school is more than two miles from the parental home using the shortest available walking route.
  • The nearest appropriate Voluntary Aided (church) school for pupils whose parents adhere to that particular faith and who obtain a place at such a school and where that school is more than two miles from the parental home using the shortest available walking route.

Notes

1. The nearest suitable school is the nearest available school which offers an efficient full-time programme of education appropriate to the individual child's needs in the view of the Authority.
2. Free transport to Voluntary Aided (church) schools will be granted only to those pupils whose parents adhere to that particular faith. Parental adherence is defined: to the Roman Catholic faith, where at least one parent and the pupil are baptised Roman Catholics; and, to the Anglican faith, where at least one parent is a confirmed Anglican and the pupil is baptised Anglican. In all other circumstances a 'suitable' school will be the nearest Community or Voluntary Controlled School.

We reserve the right to consult with parents and the diocesan authorities in arriving at decisions on individual cases.

Travel Assistance

  • Concessionary Arrangements
Pupils who are not entitled to free transport may, however, be offered a 'concessionary' seat on a bus on contract hire to us if a spare seat is available. Where such facilities are made available they will be at our discretion and will be subject to strict conditions and may be withdrawn at any time during the academic year.
  • Following a Change of Address
Where parents move house, we will not assist with travel costs to the existing school if it is no longer the nearest appropriate school.
  • Pre-school Age Pupils
Travel assistance for pre-school age pupils may be made available in exceptional circumstances and in accordance with our agreed dates of admission. We will not provide travel assistance for 4 year olds who are admitted to reception classes earlier than the normal admission date to meet the requirements of our Early Years Development Plan.

This information represents our school transport policy at the time of publication. However, we reserve the right to amend the policy, if necessary, in respect of the 2006/07 school year.

For further information, please contact the Transport Team at County Hall on Tel: 0191 3834165 or email us at School Transport