Travel assistance

Walking distance

The statutory walking distances are used to decide whether a child is eligible for free travel to school. Where a child lives within statutory walking distance for their age, the parent is responsible for arranging the child's travel to school.

  • A child under the age of 8 is eligible for free travel to their nearest suitable school if it is more than 2 miles from their home.
  • A child age 8 or over is eligible for free travel to their nearest suitable school if it is more than 3 miles from their home.

In all cases, the measurement used will be the shortest walking distance from home to school calculated using a route mapping tool.

You are not eligibile for travel assistance if:

  • You have chosen to send your child to a school that is not the nearest school to your home.
  • You have moved house within Trafford but your child continues to attend a school that is not the nearest school.
  • You have moved to live in Trafford but your child continues to attend a non-Trafford school.
  • Your child attends an independent school as a fee payer.

Children from low income families

Low income families are those where the child is eligibile for a free school meal or a parent they iive with receives the maximum level of working tax credit. 

  • Children age 8 to 11 from low income families are eligible to receive travel assistance to the nearest suitable school if it is more than 2 miles from their home.
  • Children age 11 to 16 from low income families are eligible to receive travel assistance to any school between 2 and 6 miles from their home (or up to 15 miles if chosen on the grounds of religion or belief and there is no suitable school nearer)

Travel arrangements

Travel assistance is usually a free travel pass for use on the bus and tram network. The pass allows a child to make a single journey to and from school each day. Journey variance vouchers are available from the school. If authorised by the Head and endorsed with the school stamp, these vouchers allow travel pass holders to travel between home and school at other times of day so the child can take part in after-school activities.

Car mileage allowance

Parents of pupils eligible for a free travel pass may choose to make their own transport arrangements and can claim a car mileage allowance at a rate of 45p per mile or the equivalent cost of the free travel pass, whichever is less. Costs will be reimbursed termly in arrears based on the pupil’s attendance at school.

How to apply

If you think you may be eligibile for travel assistance, please call us on 0161 912 5007. If we confirm you are eligible, we will then send you a form. Applications must be resubmitted every year. If your circumstances change, your child may no longer be eligible to receive travel assistance.