Applying for transport assistance

The county council provides transport to mainstream schools, special schools and colleges for over 8,500 pupils, between 4 and 19 years of age. This figure is around 22% of the county’s total school population.

By law, the county council must provide free transport to eligible pupils up to the age of 16 and to those attending special schools. If your child is over 16 and attending their designated post 16 college you are expected to contribute to transport costs. There is also a scheme to provide free or assisted transport for parents on low income.
Please see guidance notes on this page for further details.

The answers to many of your education transport questions may be found by following the 'School transport - frequently asked questions' link on this page. Also attached to this page are downloadable publications that you can complete if you wish to apply for education transport assistance.

You can also apply online for free school transport, denominational grounds transport and post 16 transport, follow the online forms link on this page and select the relevant form.

If you require information on special education needs transport, please follow the 'inclusion services' link on this page.

Publications available to download are:

• Free school transport guidance notes and form April 2008 - Is your child attending the nearest primary school and living two miles or more from school? Is your child attending the nearest secondary school and living three miles or more away from school? If so you may be entitled to free school transport. For income assessed home to school transport please refer to the guidance notes. To find out more and to download the application form open the publication on this page. You can also apply online; follow the online forms link on this page.
• Denominational school transport guidance notes and form June 2006 - If your child is attending the nearest appropriate denominational school but still has to travel, they may be eligible for assistance. To find out more and to download the application form open the publication on this page. You can also apply online; follow the online forms link on this page.
• Post-16 transport guidance notes and form 2008-9 - In some cases, students attending college are eligible for transport assistance. To find out more and to download the application form open the publication on this page. You can also apply online; follow the online forms link on this page.
• Extremely hazardous routes - information sheet - To find out more about the criteria for hazardous routes and how to apply for assistance open the relevant publication on this page.
• Temporary seat payment scheme - guidance notes and form 2008-9 - This scheme makes use of spare seats that may be available from time to time after all entitled pupils have been accommodated on transport services provided by the local authority. To find out more and to download the application form open the publication on this page.

Also available for download is the Your Child's Safety - guidance and leaflet Nov 2007 - This gives the code of conduct for your child when using school transport.

Data protection statement
Shropshire County Council will use the information you provide, for the purpose of processing your child's transport entitlement request. It will be retained for a maximum of 6 years from receipt of an application.