Changing arrangements for home-to-school transport

Oxfordshire County Council is introducing a new online application process for home-to-school transport. Parents and carers wishing to apply for free home-to-school transport will be able to do so through an online portal.

Parents and carers may not be told automatically whether their child is eligible for free home-to-school transport when secondary school places are offered on 1 March 2027. Instead, information about applying for free home-to-school transport or the spare seat scheme (paid-for transport) will be provided during March 2027.

Most children are not eligible for free home-to-school transport to secondary school. Generally, eligibility is limited to cases where:

• The distance between home and the nearest suitable school exceeds the statutory walking distance.
• The distance is within the statutory walking distance but there is no available walking route.
• There is an assessed need for home-to-school transport due to special educational needs or disability.

Secondary schools hosting open events during September and October are asked to update any guidance provided to prospective parents if information about school transport arrangements is normally shared during these events.

Queries can be directed to SchoolTransportEligibility@Oxfordshire.gov.uk.