Find information on travel assistance for children and young people up age 16 years.
Home to school transport policy
Nottinghamshire County Council has a transport policy for home to school transport for under 16s which gives full information regarding the eligibility criteria and entitlements for special needs travel assistance.
Download Under 16 Home to School Transport Policy 2024 to 2025 Academic Year (Nottinghamshire County Council) [PDF]
Eligibility for travel assistance
Travel assistance may be available for a young person living in Nottinghamshire if they are assessed as being eligible.
Special needs travel assistance eligibility is determined by officers of Nottinghamshire Transport and Travel Services, based upon medical advice and other evidence as required.
Travel assistance will be considered where a child:
- has an education health care (EHCP) plan or does not have an EHCP but their sensory, physical, medical or behavioural difficulties prevent them from getting to school or college, even when accompanied by a parent or carer
- is attending the school or college allocated by the county council that meets their needs, or a nearer qualifying school
- lives beyond the statutory walking distance from the qualifying school or college as detailed in the under 16 home to school transport policy
Travel assistance for young people who live under the statutory walking distance from school or college may also be considered if a student:
- attends a qualifying or designated school
- is unable to walk or travel safely to school when accompanied by a parent or carer
- is unable to use public transport when accompanied by a parent or carer
Applying for special needs travel assistance
Applications are assessed by officers of Nottinghamshire Transport and Travel Services Group. The quickest way to apply is either to:
- apply online go to Travel assistance for children and young people with special transport needs (Nottinghamshire County Council)
- call Nottinghamshire County Council's Customer Service Team to complete an application over the phone with you on 0300 500 80 80
If you need any help making your application, contact the Customer Service Team (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Travel assistance options
If travel assistance is approved, this will normally take the form of one of the following:
- Provision of a Direct Travel Assistance Payment (DTAP)
- Parental mileage allowance
- Provision of special or medical transport
Review of travel assistance and re-applying
All arrangements for children and young people assessed as eligible for travel assistance will be kept under review as over time your child’s needs may change. For example, some children and young people may develop skills which will enable them to travel independently.
You do not need to re-apply for travel assistance if your child is under 16 unless your circumstances change. For example, your child moves to another school.