Free travel to school
Bus, Train and Tube travel
All children under the age of 18 in full-time education get free or discounted travel on all London transport services.
Children under 5 years travel free with a fare paying adult.
Children aged 5 - 10 years get free travel on all transport services with a 5-10 Zip Oyster photocard.
Young people aged 16-17 years can get free and discounted travel on all transport services with a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard.
The application forms are available from any local post office and there is further information available from Transport for London.
School travel assistance for eligible children
Most school children living in Barnet will not qualify for help with home-to-school travel. This is because i) school-aged children can travel free on London buses and ii) we can usually offer children a place at a local school, not exceeding a walking distance of 2 miles for children below the age of 8, or 3 miles for children aged 8 to 16 years.
If your child attends a school that is further away, it does not mean that you will receive help with home-to-school travel costs. However, travel support may be provided in limited circumstances.
Extended travel assistance rights for children from low-income families
A child is eligible for free home-to-school travel if they are entitled to free school meals or a parent with whom they live receives maximum Working Tax Credit (or Universal Credit) and they are
- aged between 8 and 11, attend their nearest suitable school and it is more than 2 miles from their home;
- aged 11 to 16 years, and attend one of their three nearest suitable schools provided it is more than 2 miles but not more than 6 miles from their home;
- aged 11 to 16 years, attend a school that is more than 2 but not more than 15 miles from their home that their parents have chosen on the grounds of their religion or belief if, having regard to that religion or belief, there is no suitable school nearer to their home.
In most cases, children will be able to travel to school using free public transport and will not be eligible for travel costs.
Children exceptional medical needs or mobility problems
A child is eligible for free travel if they cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school because of their exceptional needs, disability or mobility problem, even if they were accompanied by their parent.
How to apply
You must submit your request for free travel online. It will take approximately 14 working days to process your application. If your request for travel assistance is rejected, you will receive written notification and details on how to appeal against the decision.
Children with special educational needs or disability, who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
Some children with an EHCP may qualify for free travel either on the basis of their requirements as set out in their statement or on the grounds of distance.
The eligibility criteria and details on how to apply are is set out on the local offer web page
The web page also covers the circumstances in which preschool pupils and students attending further education who have special educational needs may qualify for free travel.