School travel support
Travel Assistance for Children and Young People in School and
Sixth Form/College
Transport for London (TfL) operates a scheme
of free and/or discounted travel for children under the age of 18
in full-time education as shown below:
|
Age
|
Free travel
|
Discounted travel
|
|
Under 11
with a 5-10 Zip Oyster Photocard
if children are travelling without an adult or look older than
10 they will need a 5-10 Zip Oyster Photocard
|
Bus, tube, tram, DLR and London Overground
|
|
|
11-15
|
Bus and tram, (with a valid oyster photocard)
|
Child fares on tube, DLR, London Overground and most
National Rail services
|
|
16-19 years old (in full-time education or on a work-based
learning scheme)
|
Bus & tram (with a valid 16+ oyster photocard)
|
Child rate tickets on tube, DLR, London Overground and most
National Rail services
|
Application forms are available from post
offices. Alternatively visit www.tfl.gov.uk/fares or call the
Oyster helpline on 0845 330 9876.
However if travel assistance is required
outside the scope of free travel arrangements and any other
alternatives, you can make an application to Pupil Admissions and
Exclusions for travel assistance.
Travel assistance for children in primary and secondary
school
Who is eligible?
Tower Hamlets can provide assistance
for eligible children of compulsory school
age who meet the following criteria:
- Children unable to walk safely to school because of the nature
of their Special Educational Needs, disability or mobility problems
(including temporary medical conditions) - find out more about school travel for children
with special education needs
- Children unable to walk in safety to school
because of the nature of the route
- Children living outside ‘statutory
walking distance’ (2 miles for children under 8 and 3
miles for children over 8 years of age).
- Children entitled to Free School Meals, or
whose parents are in receipt of their maximum level of Working Tax
Credit
- Children attending a school where the
education provided is that of the faith to which the parent
adheres.
- Children whose parent/carer’s disability
prevents him/her from accompanying a child along a walking route
which can be considered safe
Children will usually only be eligible for
travel assistance if the council cannot offer a place at a suitable
alternative school. Therefore please ensure that you have
made an application to three of your local schools before
submitting an application. Further information can be downloaded
here: Guidance
Notes on Applying for Travel Assistance (pdf 56kb)
If your application for travel assistance is
refused, then you have a right of appeal against
the decision and you will be advised of this in your letter.
If you would like to request travel
assistance you can download the form here: Application
Form for Travel Assistance (pdf 245kb) and or alternatively
contact Pupil Admissions and Exclusions on 020 7364 5006.
Travel Assistance for students in further education (16-19 year
olds):
Tower Hamlets council also has a travel
support scheme to enable further education students to access and
attend the education and training of their choice.
Who is eligible?
Support can be provided to students who meet
the following criteria: Guidance
Notes on Applying for Travel Assistance (pdf 56kb)
- are aged 16-18 or and a continuing learner who started their
course before their 19th birthday
- live over one and a half miles (straight line) from the school
or college to be attended.
- come from a family whose taxable income was £30,810 or less in
the period April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011,
- do not receive EMA*
- receive EMA, but are taking a specialist course** and have
to pay fares of £10 or more per week to attend it
In line with government guidance, more favourable conditions
apply to students with special educational need (SEN)
* As this policy was implemented before the
demise of the EMA, we will take into account other types of support
including receipt of a 16-19 bursary when assessing an
application.
**Defined as a course which that ends with a
nationally recognised vocational qualification and does not include
GCSE, AS, A2 or A level courses that cannot be taken locally.
If you would like to apply download the
form: Application Form
for Travel Assistance (pdf 245kb) or alternatively
contact Pupil Admissions and Exclusions for a form.
Additional information
- You must be resident in Tower Hamlets to apply for travel
assistance and be able to provide us with proof of your address
i.e. recent Council Tax bill.
- If you have any medical/social reason you would like to be
considered with your application then please provide evidence with
this application that is supported by a professional (such as a
doctor’s report).
- Please also provide the correct proof of parental income as
required.
Please note that if you fail to provide the
necessary supporting documentation, the application form may be
returned to you and this will delay the assessment of your
form.
Making a decision
Pupil Admissions will decide on the form of
travel assistance that is most suitable (i.e. bursary, travel card
for parent or child, place on the school bus etc), taking into
account the age and needs of the child, the distance from home to
school, transport provision currently available and any other
relevant factors.
Advice on travel support for young students in further
education
The following document has been compiled to give advice on
travel issues to students over sixteen taking courses up to AS
level standard, for example Foundation Art, BTEC National
Diploma.
The majority of the information is aimed at people in the
sixteen to nineteen age group, but some support extends beyond the
age of nineteen.
Download the Transport
Partnership Statement (pdf, 38 kb)
How to contact us
For further information, please contact the Pupil Admissions and
Exclusions team:
Pupil Admissions and Exclusions
2nd Floor, Town Hall
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent E14 2BG
Tel: 020 7364 5006
Email: school.admissions@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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