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Eligibility criteria

Means-tested applications

Means-tested applications need to be made every school year.

You will meet the school travel assistance criteria if you are in receipt of the maximum level of Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit (with an earned income of no more than £7,400).

You may meet the criteria for free school meals or School Travel Service if you receive any of the following:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under part six (VI) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
  • Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after your employment finishes or after you start to work less than 16 hours per week

If there is a change in your family's financial circumstances and your child can no longer get free school travel, a reassessment of places at closer schools will be made.

Primary schools

Eligibility criteria for free school travel to primary schools in Southampton.

A child must meet all of the relevant criteria to qualify for free school travel:

  • If they are in years R-3, the home to school distance must be more than two miles
  • If they are in years 4-6, the home to school distance must be more than three miles, or more than two miles if the child meets the means-testing criteria, above
  • They must also attend the nearest appropriate school to their home

Special primary schools

For children attending special primary schools:

  • The home to school distance must be more than two miles
  • They must attend the nearest appropriate school to their home, as determined by the council

Secondary schools

Eligibility criteria for free school travel to secondary schools in Southampton.

If your child attends the Cedar School or Rosewood Free School, they automatically qualify for free school travel.

Otherwise a child must meet all of the relevant criteria to qualify for free school travel:

For secondary non-faith schools

Either:

  • The home to school distance must be more than three miles
  • The child must attend the nearest appropriate school to their home

Or:

  • The home to school distance is between two-six miles
  • The child must attend one of the three nearest appropriate schools to their home
  • They must meet the means-testing criteria, above

For secondary faith schools

  • The home to school distance must be between two-fifteen miles
  • The child must attend the nearest appropriate faith school to their home
  • They must meet the means-testing criteria, above
  • They are baptised or otherwise accepted into the faith of the school, or have a letter from their religious leader stating that because of their faith, their preference is to attend a faith-based school

For special secondary schools

  • The home to school distance is between two-six miles. The upper distance limit will not apply if they are attending the nearest appropriate school to their home
  • The child must attend one of the three nearest appropriate schools to their home, as determined by the council

Other eligibility information

To find out more about school travel service eligibility for post-16 students or those with Special Educational Needs (SEN) see: