Introduction
Parents have a duty to ensure that their children attend school and to make any necessary transport arrangements, including accompanying their children when necessary on their journeys to and from school.
To find the schools nearest to where you live, please check the catchment area list.
Who can receive assistance with school transport
If you're seeking assistance with school transport, then please read the below criteria before applying.
Further guidance and eligibility criteria is detailed on the Peterborough Education Network website.
Primary school pupils
We will provide free transport for:
- primary age children in Reception to Year 3 who attend their nearest suitable or designated school and live at least 2 miles from the school.
- primary age children in Year 4 to Year 6 who attend their nearest suitable or designated school and live at least 3 miles from the school; or
- who attend their nearest suitable or designated school, where the parents are in receipt of the appropriate benefits, and live at least 2 miles from the school.
Secondary school pupils
We will provide free transport for secondary age children in Year 7 to Year 11 who:
- attend their nearest suitable or designated school and live at least 3 miles from the school; or
- attend any one of the three nearest suitable schools, where that school is more than two miles and less than six miles from their home, where the parents are in receipt of the appropriate benefits, and they live at least 2 miles from the school; or
- attend their nearest suitable school chosen on grounds of religion or belief, where that school is more than two miles and less than fifteen miles from their home, where the parents are in receipt of the appropriate benefits.
Post-16 students
Please note: If you meet the criteria below, then please submit an application as well as the payment.
We provide assistance with the cost of transport to approved courses for post-16 students who meet all the requirements below:
- the student must be enrolled on a full-time course i.e. a minimum 15 taught hours per week at sixth form centres either in school or college; or 12 hours if the course is in the school or college full time prospectus
- the student must be under the age of 19 at the beginning of the educational year, i.e. by 31 August of the relevant year, or continuing a course (progression levels are regarded as a new course) started whilst aged under 19
- the student must not be receiving an award under the terms of the Student Support (Loans & Fees) awards, and
- the distance between the family home and the 'nearest appropriate centre' must be 5 miles or over (for students paying the subsidy) or 3 miles or over (for students in receipt of accepted benefits measured by the shortest unimpeded walking route, and must not exceed 30 miles, measured by road route.
Pay for
Apply for school transport assistance
If you believe your child is eligible, you can apply for school transport assistance by clicking on the green button below.
Pupils in Year 10 or 11 who have moved
For children in Year 10 or 11 who have moved and require transport to their existing school, free transport or assistance with costs can be provided. This is for the continuity of education at their existing school as they are in their examination years.
The following criteria apply;
- the pupil is undertaking public examination courses in Years 10 and 11
- the pupil or the family have not elected or chosen to move, but have been moved by another agency (e.g. housing association), because of circumstances beyond their control
- the new home is within the city council boundary
- the pupil and their family have moved to their new home after the first term where the pupil is in Year 10
- the new home to school distance is greater than three miles, and the journey on existing transport does not exceed 75 minutes each way.
Provision will be made only until the end of the course. If a pupil is taking public examination courses in other school years, provision of transport will be at the discretion of the Director of Children’s Services.
To enquire, please contact customer services or email childrenstransport@peterborough.gov.uk.
Pupils with special educational needs
All schools make provision to support pupils with a wide range of special educational needs, some of whom will have a statement of special educational needs; Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) or Learning and Development Agreement (LDA).
Students of compulsory school age (5-16) who have a statement of special educational needs or Education, Health and Care Plan may be entitled to receive transport if it is appropriate to their needs and if, without it, they would be unable to receive the education provision specified in their statement.
If the assessment and review team do not agree with the school placement, on the basis that the most local mainstream provision would meet the child's needs rather than the parent's more distant choice, transport will not be provided.
Post-16 students may be eligible for assistance with transport, subject to an assessment of the student’s needs. Assistance with travel for students above school leaving age is discretionary and is subject to regular review and possible change.
For older students, the Local Education Authority believes that the ability to travel independently, either by foot or by public transport, is an important part of the young person's development and social education.
For children placed at an out-of-city residential special school, the Local Education Authority will provide home to school transport either on a weekly basis, at the start and end of term, half termly or school closure times as required by the details of the individual placement.
If you are applying for free transport for a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities, you should contact the children's services department by contacting customer services or email childrenstransport@peterborough.gov.uk.
Discretionary seats
Students who do not qualify under other criteria may be able to purchase a discretionary seat on an existing transport service. Discretionary seats are only available on existing contracted services (i.e. not public transport services) and the existing route will not be changed to accommodate discretionary students.
Discretionary seats are sold on a half-termly basis only and the purchase of a seat for one half-term does not guarantee the purchase of subsequent half terms. Payment for discretionary transport is due in advance and the parent/carer are responsible for remembering to pay on time.
The sale of such seats is entirely at the discretion of the Passenger Transport Operations Team.
The council may alter, withdraw or amalgamate a transport service at short notice without any reference to the discretionary pupils using transport. Advance warning will not be given if the seat is no longer available on a route.
Pay for
Lost, stolen or damaged travel pass
If you have lost your travel pass, or it has been damaged, be advised there is a charge. Stolen travel pass will be replaced free of charge, when you supply a valid Police Incident Number (if train ticket lost could incur a further payment).
