Article: Home to school travel support Article Body The responsibility for transporting children to and from school is that of their parents/carers. However there are a number of situations where the council provides assistance to children with their travel to school. This is normally known as free home to school transport. The groups of children who may benefit from travel assistance are: children who live specified distances from their nearest school which they could not be expected to walk (ie pupils aged five to seven who live above two miles from school and pupils aged eight to 16 who live above three miles from school) those who cannot walk to school because there is no suitable walking route children unable to walk to school because of their special needs, disability or mobility problem children from low income families in order that transport is not a barrier to expressing preferences for a range of schools. Free home to school transport is normally provided to pupils in the form of a free travel pass to use on the commercial bus network. In the event of a pupil losing their free travel pass, South Yorkshire Travel would make a small charge to replace the pass. For some schools, including special schools, the council has contracted services in place to support children travelling to school. The council is not responsible for the bus network in Barnsley and sometimes services can be withdrawn by bus operators leaving some pupils with no public transport to school. Comprehensive information on travel to school or college is contained in the council's booklet : Home to School Transport - Information and Advice for Parents 2011-12. How to apply for a free travel pass If you think you may be eligible for free travel you should contact the councils School Transport Team to request an application form. You can also apply for a Zero Fare Travel Pass Online. When you've completed your application form, you should return it to the School Transport Team, with a passport sized photograph of your child. We will assess your eligibility and let you know about your entitlement. If your application is successful we will send a zero fare travel pass to your home address. The pass will enable your child to use any bus service between your home and the school. The pass needs to be renewed each school year and the School Transport Team will automatically send renewal application forms to your home address. Students who are not eligible for free transport can travel on the public transport network in South Yorkshire by paying the concessionary fare when they show a MegaTravel Pass. Students resident in Barnsley can travel free of charge after 9.00am by using their Mi card. How to apply for a Mi card Mi card is a new scheme giving under 18s living in Barnsley free travel within the borough and it can also be used as a library card. The free travel initiative is the first scheme of its kind outside London. Follow the link for more information and details of how to apply. How to apply for a MegaTravel pass These passes are issued by Travel South Yorkshire and can be obtained from Travel Information Centres in South Yorkshire Interchanges. Information on all concessionary passes is available on the Travel South Yorkshire website. Travel South Yorkshire is the face of public transport in the county and links the network together. For more information on public transport services, including specialist advice for parents/carers and children, visit their website. Post 16 students Full time students aged between 16 and 18 are entitled to a student permit to travel at the concessionary fare. Any student up to the age of 19 can purchase a discounted travel pass. Please visit the Travel South Yorkshire website for further information on how to apply. Students up to the age of 18 are also eligible for the Mi card. Follow the above link for further information. Sustainable school travel All councils have a statutory duty to promote the use of sustainable travel and transport. There are four main elements to the duty which are set out below: an assessment of the travel and transport needs of children, and young people within the authority's area an audit of the sustainable travel and transport infrastructure within the authority that may be used when travelling to and from, or between schools/institutions a strategy to develop the sustainable travel and transport infrastructure within the authority so that the travel and transport needs of children and young people are better catered for the promotion of sustainable travel and transport modes on the journey to, from, and between schools and other institutions. Government guidance to councils on home to school transport and sustainable school travel is also available on Teachernet. Once you're on the site, search for reference 00373-2007BKT-EN. You can find more information about sustainable school travel and ways to give your child the healthiest start to their day by following this link. Legislation Education Act 1996, Sections 444 and 509 Key documents Home to School Transport - Information and Advice for Parents 2011-12 Home to School Transport Policy 2011-2012 Home to School Transport Booklet 2012-2013 Post 16 Transport Partnership Policy Statement for Students aged 16-19 in Further Education 2011/2012 Challenge and Change - Benefits for Families with Children at School Equalities impact assessment Equalities impact assessment of home to school travel Key links Fnd out about transport for 16-19 year olds in your area School Travel Plans School Travel Strategy Special Needs Transport Sustainable School Travel Teachernet Consultation on the revised Home to School Transport Policy 2013-2014 Home to School Transport Policy 2013-2014 (draft) Amendments to Home to School Transport Policy 2013-14 All responses to be emailed to stevebrailsford@barnsley.gov.uk How to contact us School Transport Manager Directorate for Children, Young People and Families Postal address: PO Box 634, Barnsley S70 9GG Telephone: 01226 773584 or 773590 Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5.00pm and Fridays from 8.30am to 4.30pm (there is an answerphone facility in operation out of hours) Email: School Transport