School Travel Service – information for parent carers
The following information is for parent carers of children requiring home to school travel support.
Latest update – 17 June 2024
This page shows the latest School Travel Application deadlines.
School Travel Applications for September 2024
You do not need to apply for school travel support for September 2024 if your child:
- Receives school travel support as part of their EHCP
- Receives mainstream school travel support based on the distance criteria
You will need to apply for school travel support by the dates shown in the table below for September 2024 if your child:
- Receives school travel support due to exceptional circumstances
- Receives mainstream school travel support based on the grounds of religion or belief where extended rights apply
If your child receives a Personal Travel Budget, the School Travel Service team will contact you to confirm the arrangements for September 2024.
If you are applying for a mainstream school travel bus pass, please complete the application form.
Please ensure that your school travel application is submitted by the dates below. The School Travel Service team are aiming to provide details about the September 2024 travel arrangements to you by mid to late August 2024. This page will be updated with progress as we put travel arrangements in place.
Applications received after these dates will be treated as late applications.
| Type | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Mainstream Primary and Secondary schools | 21 June 2024 |
| Students with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), including Exceptional Circumstances Applications for September 2024 | 21 June 2024 |
| Post 16 (only Students with SEND) | 21 June 2024 |
Mainstream applications
The mainstream school travel application forms are now submitted via a digital form. Your application will receive an automatic acknowledgement following the submission. This will remove the need for you to print off and hand complete a paper-based application form.
Please note that we are no longer accepting applications for the current academic year 2023/2024. For applications that will start in September 2024 please visit apply for mainstream school travel support.
Designated pick-up and drop-off points
We are currently looking to pilot one or two vehicles to transport students from designated group pick-up and drop-off locations which are not the student’s home address. These designated pick-up and drop-off locations will take into consideration:
- Students’ needs
- Distance from students’ homes
- Being a safe and accessible location
- Travel time from designated pick-up and drop-off location to school
Designated pick-up and drop-off locations can also be bus stops.
It is anticipated that the pilot will take place in 2024. It will impact a small number of students. Following the pilot, we will assess whether designated pick-up and drop-off locations would also be suitable for other routes.
Special Schools and SEND Units
All in-year travel support applications will be processed and we aim to notify parent carers about travel support arrangements within 10 working days once the School Travel Service has received the required information.
Applications for SEND travel support
We aim to assess and make arrangements for travel support within 10 working days once the School Travel Service has received the required information.
If you are not sure if you have made an application for free school travel but would like to, please contact your case officer urgently.
Personal Travel Budgets
Payments will be made as follows:
| Month | Payment run | To be in bank accounts |
|---|---|---|
| April | 28 March | 2 April |
| May | 2 May | 7 May |
| June | 30 May | 4 June |
| July | 4 July | 9 July |
| September | 29 August | 3 September |
| October | 26 September | 1 October |
| November | 31 October | 5 November |
| December | 28 November | 3 December |
School travel applications for mainstream schools
All in-year travel support applications for mainstream school travel received should be processed within 10 working days. If your application is approved, you will receive a letter to confirm this. A bus pass will be sent directly to the school, and your child can collect it from the school office.
Contact us
You can contact our office by:
- Phone: 023 8083 2419
- Email: travel.coordination@southampton.gov.uk
