Help with transport to school
Your child will qualify for free transport or a free travel pass on public transport from near your home to and from primary school, or free transport or travel expenses on public transport from near your home to and from secondary school, if:
he attends the catchment school or one that is nearer to your home, and
the distance (measured by the shortest available walking route) is: more than two miles for children up to and including Year 3
more than three miles for children from Year 4 to Year 11, or
your catchment school was your first preference and it was over-subscribed. In this case, we will provide transport to the next closest school, using the distances in the previous paragraph.
Privilege seats
If your child does not qualify for travelling expenses, you may apply for him to be a 'privilege' passenger on school transport. This will depend on whether there are spare seats and only applies if the vehicle is contracted by Hampshire County Council to transport children. The privilege place can be withdrawn at short notice if it is needed for a child who qualifies for free transport.
There is a flat-rate charge for privilege seats which is the same for all children whatever their age or the distance travelled. If you receive income support, or income-based job seeker's allowance, you do not have to pay.
How parents can apply for assistance with transport
Pupils without a statement of special educational needs
Application forms are available from school or from the Passenger Transport Group (PTG), Environment Grouping, Ashburton Court, Winchester SO23 8UD or visit http://www3.hants.gov.uk/environment-passengertransport-help_with_school_transport.htm
It is the PTG that makes the decision on whether a pupil is entitled to transport.
Pupils with a statement of special educational needs
Parents need to contact the relevant special educational needs (SEN) team for the area the school is in. The SEN service assesses the entitlement for pupils with a statement of SEN.
In both cases the PTG makes the transport arrangements for entitled children. There are two sections, one for mainstream schools and one for special schools and units. The mainstream manager is Andy Berncastle. The SEN section is managed by Tricia Knight.
School transport
The Passenger Transport Group, Environment Department, Ashburton Court West, Winchester SO23 8UD
Mainstream - entitlements/arrangements
Tel: 01962 846924, 01962 845391, 01962 845332
Special educational needs - arrangements
Tel: 01962 846993, 01962 845787, 01962 845970
What if I move out of the area?
You will have to arrange and pay for the travel, if you want your child to remain at the same school. However, we aim to help pupils who have already started their GCSE courses in Years 10 and 11 at the same school by offering help with transport costs (normally, this is a season ticket on public transport). If the journey from your new address is unreasonably long, you should apply for a place at a nearer school.
Transport to church schools
The County Council will pay for travelling expenses to the nearest church school with a place if:
she has been baptised or otherwise received into the faith of the foundation of the school, and
for primary pupils, the distance between home and school is more than two miles (Year R to Year 3) or three miles (Year 4 to Year 6) and less than six miles or
for secondary pupils, the distance between home and school is more than three miles and less than 10 miles.
School reorganisation or change of catchment area
The normal entitlement policy will apply to the children of families affected by the closure or reorganisation of schools, or redesignation of catchment areas by the County Council. This means that:
new pupils will have their entitlement decided with reference to the new school location/catchment area
existing pupils will have their entitlement re-assessed only if they have to move to a new school location. If they remain at the same school location, the existing entitlement decision will remain in force until they leave the school.