- Introduction
- Ways we help
- Apply for help with travel
- Travel help timeline
- After you apply
- If your child doesn't qualify
We know this can be frustrating. Not everyone qualifies for funded school transport, particularly children under 5 years old and many students over the age of 16. This is explained in the Understanding the decision section. However, there are other travel and transport options available that may help.
Understanding the decision
If we have rejected your application, it will be because your child or young person does not qualify for travel help. Please select your child's age group below to find out about the reasons that may apply:
Usually, we only provide travel help from the school term after your child's 5th birthday.
We may help earlier but only if there are exceptional reasons.
Travel help is not available if:
- your child lives closer to school than the distance needed to qualify for travel help (2 miles for children under 8 years old and 3 miles for children over 8 years old)
- there’s a safe walking route to the school
- your child does not attend their nearest suitable school
- your household income is above the Universal Credit limit used to decide who qualifies for low-income travel help
- the request was for travel to after school activities.
We look at:
- the student's needs and ability to travel independently
- the journey to school or college, including distance and transport options
- the school or college they attend and whether suitable alternatives are available
- information from professionals who support the student
- any financial support available to the student
- whether a parent, carer or family member can reasonably provide transport
- the cost of providing travel help and the best use of council resources
For full details of how applications are assessed, read the Travel Assistance Policy.
We explain exactly why your child or young person doesn't qualify for travel help in the email we sent you telling you that your application wasn't successful.
Our school transport policies have more information about why we reject applications.
Other ways your child could travel to school
You may be able to:
- apply to buy a spare seat on a school transport route
- travel by public bus to school or college
- apply for a Surrey LINK bus card (for those aged 20 and under)
- ask your college about bursary or hardship funds.
Appeal the decision
You can appeal a travel help decision if:
- you think the decision is wrong
- you have new evidence of exceptional reasons.
You should only appeal the decision if you have new evidence to prove your child qualifies for travel help. If you have nothing further to add, our decision won’t change. However, there are other ways your child could travel to school.