- Introduction
- Ways we help
- Apply for help with travel
- Travel help timeline
- After you apply
- If your child doesn't qualify
Important - applications received after 30 June 2026
We assess applications received before 30 June 2026 within the 20 working day assessment timescale.
Applications received after 30 June will still be considered, but we cannot guarantee that transport will be in place for the start of the September term.
If a taxi cannot be arranged in time, we will provide a Personal Travel Budget (PTB) until suitable transport is available.
When to apply
Apply as soon as your child’s place is confirmed.
You can apply at any time during the year if your child needs travel help.
If your child has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, check the EHC deadlines below.
How to apply
To find out who may qualify for travel help, please see Who may get help with school travel.
If your child is under 16
Apply online for under 16 travel help
If your child is aged 16 to 25
Apply online for 16 to 25 travel help
If your child isn’t eligible for travel help, please visit our If your child doesn’t qualify page for other travel options.
If your child attends alternative provision
Alternative provision is education provided in a different place to a standard type of school (known as a mainstream school).
How to ask for travel help to alternative provision
Moving house or changing school
To find out how to change your child's address or school on the travel plan, please see Change your details page.
If your child’s school is not located in Surrey
Travel help can be offered to pupils attending a school outside their county, but only if that out-of-county school is legally recognised to be their nearest suitable school.
Applying for twins
You can apply for travel help to school for twins, but each child must meet the criteria to qualify on an individual basis. This means you must fill in 2 application forms. If they both qualify with the same travel needs, we will try to arrange travel together but this may not always be possible. If their travel needs are not the same, then their travel arrangements are likely to be different.
What to include in your application
Depending on how you qualify for travel help, you may need to upload:
- If you are applying for travel assistance from September 2026: Universal Credit statements only, showing a household income below £7,400 per year
- medical evidence (for example, an Individual Health Care Plan (IHP) such as for epilepsy, asthma, diabetes or other conditions).
- proof of address (for example, council tax or rental agreement)
- Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan documents
What happens after you apply
We aim to assess and arrange travel within 30 working days. Please see Travel help timeline.
Applying before the autumn term
If you apply before 30 June and your child qualifies
We aim to arrange travel at least 14 days before the autumn term starts.
If you apply after 30 June
We’ll do our best to help, but we might not be able to arrange travel in time for the start of term.
You might need to make your own travel plans while we work on a solution. We’ll contact you to look at other options, such as a temporary travel allowance, if you qualify.
Please note: If we arrange transport, we might send confirmation less than 14 days before term starts.
Applying during the school year
If you apply during the school year, we aim to assess and arrange travel within 30 working days.
If your child has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
You must state the school named in your child’s EHC plan in your travel help application. If you don’t add the name of the school, your application will be delayed.
We check if the school named in the EHC plan:
- is the nearest one that can meet your child’s needs
- is within the distance limits for travel help.
The deadlines below for applying for travel help are based on when the EHC plan was issued.
Apply by 1 March (soft deadline).
We aim to assess your application within 20 working days. It may take longer if the school place isn’t confirmed or if specialist transport is needed.
If your child qualifies, we’ll confirm travel up to 14 days before term starts.
Apply as soon as the EHC plan names the school or college.
We aim to assess your application within 20 working days. It may take longer if the school place isn’t confirmed or if specialist transport is needed.
If you apply after 30 June, we can’t guarantee travel for the start of term. We’ll offer a temporary travel allowance and contact you.
Apply by 13 April (soft deadline).
We aim to assess your application within 20 working days. It may take longer if the school place isn’t confirmed or if specialist transport is needed.
If your young person is eligible for travel help, we’ll offer you the post-16 travel allowance. In the rare circumstances that this isn’t appropriate, we’ll contact you to confirm travel up to 14 days before term starts.
Apply as soon as the EHC plan names the school or college.
We aim to assess your application within 20 working days.
If you apply after 30 June, we can’t guarantee travel for the start of term. We’ll offer a temporary travel allowance and arrange transport after term starts in September.
If your young person is eligible for travel help, we’ll offer you the post-16 travel allowance. In the rare circumstances that this isn’t appropriate, we’ll contact you to confirm travel up to 14 days before term starts.