Transport

How long can a child be in a taxi for?

Best practice suggests that the maximum individual journey length for a child of Primary school age should be no longer than 45 minutes each way. For Secondary school children, the length of a journey should be no more than 75 minutes each way.

Do I qualify for home to school transport?

Your child can get free travel if they attend their nearest appropriate school.

This means:

age appropriate - attendance at a primary and secondary school
ability appropriate - attendance at a mainstream or special school

your child also needs to be:

over 8 years old and live more than 3 miles from the school using the shortest available walking route.

under 8 years old and live more than 2 miles from the school using the shortest available walking route.

Please use links below for further information:

Eligibility for council funded school transport - Kent County Council

Transport Policy for Children and Young People aged 4 to 16

School transport for children and young people with special educational needs - Kent County Council

Can my child get transport when they have finished compulsory schooling (age 16-19)?

For post 16 transport to school, college or learning establishment (with or without an Education, Health, and Care plan) you can apply for a subsidised 16+ travel saver bus pass which you can purchase from Kent County Council. You may also be able to get a bursary.

If there are special circumstances, for example mobility problems or disabilities that mean you have difficulty accessing public transport, Kent County Council will asses whether you are eligible to receive transport assistance, which may include travel training or a personal budget to fund your own transport.

Please see links below for further information:

Post 16 transport options for SEND young people - Kent County Council

Apply for post 16 transport assistance - Kent County Council

Post 16 Transport Policy Statement including Post 19 for September 2026 - 2027

What is independent travel training?

Independent Travel Training helps young people (up to 24 years old) with special educational needs learn how to travel to school or college by public transport.

The training will help build the young person’s confidence in other aspects of their life such as:

future job opportunities
accessing new hobbies
social skills.

Please see link below for further information:

Independent travel training

Is Transport automatically given with EHCP?

There is no guarantee that a child with special educational needs, an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP), a disability or mobility problems will receive free home to school transport provided by Kent County Council.

All children are assessed in accordance with KCC’s Transport guidance. Parents of children with special educational needs, an EHCP, a disability or mobility problems must therefore apply for free school transport in the same way as other parents.

Do I have to apply for transport?

Yes, there are on-line forms on KCC website, but you can request a paper version. For either method please see links below:

Apply or renew your council funded school transport - Kent County Council

Apply for post 16 transport assistance - Kent County Council

Do I have to apply for transport every year?

Primary school transport

If your child is at primary school and already receives free school transport, you do not need to reapply until your child moves to secondary school.

Secondary school transport

If your child is at secondary school and already receives free school transport, you do not need to apply to renew it. A new pass will automatically be sent to the school for the first day of each academic year until the end of year 11.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Schools

If your child has SEN and attends a mainstream or special school, and already receives free school transport, you do not usually need to reapply unless your child moves to a new school or when they move from Year 6 to Year 7.

Transport for low income families

If your child has been granted free school transport under the low income criteria, you will need to be reapply each year and KCC will send you a form to complete and return with the most up to date Inland Revenue TC 602 letter.