Transport: Schools
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of alternative transport when free home-to-school travel assistance is withdrawn in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Department for Transport
The department’s home-to-school travel policy aims to make sure no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. Local authorities (LAs) must arrange free home-to-school travel for children of compulsory school age who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of their special educational needs and disability (SEND) or mobility problem. There are extended rights to free travel for children from low-income households intended to support school choice.
LAs have a discretionary power to arrange travel for other children.
The government is improving access to local transport through the Bus Services Act 2025, which gives local leaders greater control over bus services to better meet community needs, including access to education. The Department for Transport’s integrated transport strategy highlights the importance of transport networks supporting access to education. The Act also strengthens consideration of socially necessary bus services by requiring local authorities to consider alternatives where changes could affect access to essential services, including education.
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