Travel assistance

Children from low income families

In accordance with the Education and Inspections Act 2006 low income families (defined as those whose children are entitled to free school meals or who are in receipt of their maximum level of Working Tax Credit) who are resident in Trafford will be eligible to receive travel assistance to any secondary school, where the school is more than two or  less than six miles away. Children from low income families will also be eligible to receive travel assistance to any denominational school where the school is more than two or less than fifteen miles away.

Applications must be resubmitted annually. If your circumstances have changed your child may no longer be eligible to receive travel assistance.

Other children

Trafford residents aged 11 or older, but not older than pupils in the Year 11 year group will be eligible to receive travel assistance in the following circumstances:

  1. Children living 3 miles or more from the nearest eligible school;
  2. Where Trafford is unable to offer a place at the nearest eligible school, travel assistance will be provided to the next nearest eligible school with vacancies where that school is more than three miles;

Pupils will not be entitled to a travel pass if:

  • You have chosen to send your child to a school that is not the nearest eligible school to your home.
  • You have moved house within Trafford but your child continues to attend a school that is not the nearest eligible 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.

Applications must be resubmitted annually. If your circumstances have changed your child may no longer be eligible to receive travel assistance.

Journey variance vouchers

A free travel pass entitles a child to make a single journey to and from school each day. However, 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 than the usual times. This is to enable the child to take part in after-school activities.

Car mileage allowance

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

Walking distance

In all cases the measurement used will be the shortest walking distance from home to school calculated using various GIS systems as appropriate.

Applications must be resubmitted annually. If your circumstances have changed, your child may no longer be eligible to receive travel assistance.

Appeals against eligibility for free transport decisions

Find out how to appeal about a decision about travel assistance.

This section informs applicants how to appeal a decision made by Trafford Council where the applicant is not happy with the refusal of their application or where the application has been approved, they are not satisfied with the type of travel assistance offered.

Please note that once an application has been through the appeals process a new application will not be considered unless there has been a significant and material change in circumstances.

Concessionary fares

If your child does not qualify for free travel within the terms of Trafford’s policy, you may benefit from the range of travel concessions for young people funded by Trafford, as part of Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). For more information you should contact the TfGM Passes and Permits Department - telephone number 0161 244 1050. Details of all bus services operated by TfGM can be viewed on www.tfgm.com

Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy

As required by the Education and Inspections Act (2006) Trafford’s Sustainable Mode of Travel Strategy promotes sustainable travel and includes walking, cycling and public transport initiatives. It recognises the benefits of such schemes, which include less pollution, reduced school gate congestion, healthier children and increased awareness of road safety issues. Trafford Council therefore encourages parents to take their children to school by walking, cycling or public transport whenever possible.