Before you apply
If your child is between reception and year 11, they may be eligible for free school transport if they:
- live in Lincolnshire
- attend a school within the designated transport area* (DTA) for their home address
- attend a school nearer to their home address than the DTA school
- attend a school we allocate because there were no places in nearer schools
- and, live:
- more than two miles away (primary school)
- more than three miles away (secondary school)
*An area around a school or college from which resident pupils/students can get transport support subject to meeting the criteria for entitlement.
If you live in a town, transport will only be provided to the nearest school, subject to the distance criteria above.
Distances to schools are calculated using the shortest, safest route.
Designated transport areas can be viewed in our school and college transport policy, or you can email schooltransportapplications@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
Transport only includes your child's journey to school in the morning and home from school at the end of the school day.
If your child is not eligible for free school transport, you must ensure they can get to school safely. You may be able to apply for concessionary school transport.
For more advice, read the schools and college transport policy.
Changing address or school during the school year
If your child's address or school changes, you must reapply for school transport.
Cancellation of transport
To cancel your transport, please send your details to TSG@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
Unsuitable routes
If you think your child’s route to school or pick-up point is unsuitable to walk, you can ask us to assess it. Email schooltransportapplications@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
How to apply
Please be aware that the school transport application form will be offline for essential maintenance from 29 April 12 noon until 30 April 12 noon.
Once you have been offered a school place, you may then apply for free school transport.
The deadline for applications for the 2024/25 school year is 31 May 2024.
If you miss this deadline, you may still apply, but it may not be processed for the start of the new school year, and you should make other arrangements for your child to travel to school.
If you apply mid-year then it is your responsibility to make other arrangements for your child until your application has been processed.
Apply for free school transport
What happens next
Once you have applied online, you will get an email to confirm we have received your application. We will then assess your eligibility and contact you as soon as possible with our decision.
If your application is approved, we will send you details and, where appropriate, a bus pass as soon as possible.
Your child will be allocated a Transport number – please keep hold of this as you will need it if you wish to contact us about your transport provision in future.
Your transport will then be in place until the end of year 6, or the end of year 11, whichever is applicable.
If you are worried that your application has exceeded 20 days then you can email TSG@lincolnshire.gov.uk to check its status.
Appeals
You can appeal a free school transport decision if:
- the decision to refuse transport is wrong according to our policy or the law
- there are personal circumstances that have not been taken into account
- a walking route has been assessed incorrectly
The school and college transport policy contains information on how to appeal.
Free school transport for low-income families
If your child is between years 7 to 11, they may be entitled to free school transport for low-income families if:
- your child attends one of the three nearest schools
- and, the school is between two and six miles from their home address
On the grounds of religion, it must be your nearest faith school and be between 2 and 15 miles from your child’s home address. You must provide evidence of religious belief.
Your child may get free school transport if:
- they receive free school meals based upon low income
- or, you receive the highest level of working tax credit
If you receive any of the following benefits, you may also be eligible:
- Universal Credit
- Transitional Protection
- Income support
- Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
- The Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, with an annual income of less than £16,190
- Working Tax Credit run-on
- Free school meals
Apply for free school transport
If you come off any qualifying benefit at the time of review, your child’s free school transport will end unless they qualify under the school and college policy.
If your child is not eligible for free school transport, you must ensure they can get to school safely.
When transport is granted on the grounds of low income, we will review offer at the start of each school year. We will contact you before the school year starts.
Changing address or school during the school year
If your child's address or school changes, you must reapply for school transport from your new address.
Cancellation of transport
To cancel your transport please send your details to TSG@lincolnshire.gov.uk.