Who’s eligible
Firstly, seats are given to:
- statutory school-aged pupils who are eligible for free transport
- students aged 16-19 who are eligible for travel assistance due to their disabilities and / or learning difficulties.
If seats remain available once all eligible pupils have been allocated, spare seats will be offered in the following order:
- statutory school-aged pupils
- students aged 16-19.
If demand exceeds availability, we will prioritise spare seat applications using the following criteria:
- Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- Children Looked After, or pupils with SEN or disabilities who aren’t entitled to free transport but may benefit from a spare seat due to a specific medical or social need.
In these cases, you must include supporting evidence from a relevant professional with your application. A panel of senior officers will review the evidence to decide if it meets the criteria.
- Children from low-income families who are not eligible for free home-to-school transport.
For details on what qualifies as a low-income household, please refer to the home-to-school transport policy.
Please note families meeting the low-income criteria are not entitled to a discount on the published spare seat charges.
- Siblings of pupils entitled to free transport.
- Distance from school, giving priority to those living furthest away.
We cannot guarantee seat availability each term, and there is no ongoing entitlement to purchase a spare seat. We determine availability by the number of pupils with a statutory right to transport, which may vary throughout the academic year.
How to apply
Spare seat applications for the current 2025/26 academic year are now closed.
Parents and carers can apply for spare seats for September 2026 via the online application form, which will be available here from 1 July 2026.
To ensure your application is assessed under the spare seat criteria, please submit your form and any supporting evidence by 15 August 2026. Late applications will only be considered after all on-time submissions have been processed. If no seats are available, your application will be added to a waiting list and prioritised accordingly.
Spare seat allocations cannot be considered until all eligible free home-to-school transport applications are processed. This means tickets will not be issued before the autumn term begins. We strongly recommend arranging alternative travel for the start of the school year in September.
Applications received during the academic year will be reviewed individually. If a seat is available, it will be offered - otherwise, the application will be added to the waiting list in line with the prioritisation criteria.
Costs for 2026/27 academic year
| Miles (home to school) | Charge per pupil |
|---|
|
0 – 2.99
|
£930
|
|
3 – 4.99
|
£1,236
|
|
5 – 6.99
|
£1,422
|
|
7 and over
|
£1,632
|
You can pay for a spare seat annually, termly, or half-termly. Charges are fixed regardless of when the ticket is issued, and no discounts are available.
Once a spare seat is confirmed, you’ll receive a letter or email from us.
To pay by credit or debit card, call 0300 123 4050 and ask for the Passenger Transport spare seat payment team.
Tickets are issued termly and may be withdrawn if:
- payment is not received for the upcoming half term.
- a seat is needed for an eligible pupil (in which case, seats will be withdrawn in reverse priority order with 2 weeks’ notice).