Written question asked by Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour) on Thursday, 25 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 June 2026. It was answered by Paul Waugh (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 August 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Pupils: Bus Services

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she plans to offer children who are eligible for free school meals with free bus travel.

Answer

Children aged 5 to 16 are eligible for free travel if they attend their nearest suitable school and cannot walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or route safety. Statutory walking distances are set at 2 miles for children under 8 and 3 miles for those aged 8 and over.

There are extended rights to free travel for children currently eligible for free school meals, to support low-income families to exercise school choice. More detail can be found in the statutory guidance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a10649929bb11891b1cf096/Travel_to_school_for_children_of_compulsory_school_age.pdf.

For these pupils, 11 to 16 year-olds may receive free travel to one of their three nearest schools between 2 to 6 miles from home, or to a school 2 to 15 miles away chosen on grounds of religion or belief; and the statutory walking distance is set at 2 miles for those aged 8 and over but under 11.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 13435
Session: 2026-27
Subjects: Disadvantaged Bus services Concessions Pupils
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Pupils: Bus Services

Secondary information

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