The general policy of the county council is that free transport is provided only for children of compulsory school age (5 years up to 16 years) who:

• are under 8 years of age and live two miles or more from the school; or
• are 8 years of age and over and live three miles or more from the school.

The ages are taken at 1 September in each school year.

Transport will normally be made available to the catchment area school or, if applicable, to a suitable school which is nearest to the pupils home. Free travel may also be offered if the catchment area school is full and a place has been offered by the County Council at another school which is over the distances mentioned above.

Transport assistance is only available to students who live in Suffolk and whose parents or guardians pay their council tax to a district or borough council in Suffolk.

Education and Inspections Act 2006

Under the Education and Inspections Act 2006, free home-to school transport will be provided to children aged between 8 and 11 years from low income families, who live more than 2 but under 3 miles from their catchment or nearest school.

Free home-to-school transport will also be provided to children aged 11 to 16, from low income families, who live more than 2 miles but less than 6 miles from their three nearest schools.

Where parents have expressed a preference for a school based on religion or belief, free home-to-school transport may also be provided to children aged 11-16, from low income families, who live more than 2 miles but no more than 15 miles from their school.

Contact

For more information on Suffolk County Council home-to-school transport policies and the services provided telephone: 0845 606 6173.