School and college travel information for families
Latest update – 9 June 2025
From 9 June 2025, our phone lines will be closed from 10am-12noon on a trial basis, until the end of the summer term. During this time, please contact us via our online form. We will monitor messages closely and respond to urgent queries promptly. We appreciate your understanding and support as we trial this new approach to improve our service delivery.
Post-16 policy changes: in September 2025, we will be changing how we support eligible young people to get to college or their education setting. Find out how these changes might affect you.
We are pleased to announce that applications for both mainstream and exceptional mainstream travel can now be submitted via Citizen Portal. This will streamline the application process, making it quicker and more user-friendly. You can find out more at mainstream school travel support.
How will your child get to school?
When choosing a school place, it is important to think about how your child, student or adult learner will travel to and from school each day. Most families organise their own home to school journey, like walking, cycling, using public transport or lift-sharing with other families.
However, we have a duty to support children, students or adult learners with their school journey, providing they meet specific criteria for this support.
School Travel Applications for September 2025
Please ensure that your school travel application is on time and submit it by these dates.
Applications received after these dates will be treated as late applications. This means that travel may not be in place for the start of the school year.
| Type | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Mainstream Primary and Secondary schools | 31 May 2025 |
| Students with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), including Exceptional Circumstances Applications for September 2025 | 31 May 2025 |
| Post 16 (only Students with SEND) | 31 May 2025 |
Guidance and helpful reminders
View our guide to the School Travel Service for parent carers, co-produced with the Parent Carer Forum.
Remember: Assessment for travel assistance will be determined once a school place has been allocated by Southampton City Council at a suitable school. Means tested applicants and those applying under exceptional circumstances need to apply before the start of each new school year.
Further information about the School Travel Service
Who is eligible for the School Travel Service? SHOW
Children attending a mainstream school SHOW
Students and adult learners between 16–25 years old SHOW
Children or students with an Education, Health and Care Plan SHOW
Claiming travel costs SHOW
If you do not qualify or meet the requirements you may wish to view the alternative options.
Policy and eligibility criteria
For more information you can read our School Travel Service Policy and Eligibility Criteria:
| Document | Type | Size |
|---|---|---|
| School Travel Service eligibility criteria | 120.5 KB | |
| School Travel Service and Post-16 Travel Service Policy 2024-2025 | 640.3 KB | |
| Post 16 Travel Service Policy Statement 2025-26 | 381.5 KB | |
| School Travel Policy for Children of Compulsory School Age 2025-26 | 407.5 KB |
Contact us
View our contact details.
Help with other issues
Suppliers wishing to work with us can find out more on Information for School Travel Service suppliers.
Further information
- Personal Travel Budgets (PTB)
- Passenger Assistants (PA)
- Independent Travel Training (ITT)
