If your child has SEND, or mobility problems which means they would struggle to walk to school, they are an “eligible child”.

It may not be reasonable to expect a child to walk to school because of a physical disability, but it may also not be reasonable to expect them to walk because of an educational need, if for example, they lack a sense of danger

Local authorities should assess the route at the times your child would be taking it.

Local authorities should consider the whole of the route and should take into account factors including the age of your child, whether risks might be less if accompanied by an adult, the width of the road and whether there are any pavements, the volume and speed of traffic, the street lighting and the different conditions at different times of year

The statutory walking distances are two miles for children under eight years old and three miles for those aged eight and over (Section 444(5) of the Education Act 1996)

The local authority must consider the shortest route along which the child, accompanied as necessary, may walk in reasonable safety. This is not always the shortest distance by road.

Your child is eligible for free travel to school if:

• They are eligible for free school meals, or

• they live with a parent who received maximum working tax credit

and your child

• is aged at least 8 but under 11 and attends their nearest suitable school and it is more than 2 miles from their home

• is aged 11 to 16 years and attends one of their three nearest suitable schools provided it is more than 2 miles but not more than 6 miles from their home, or

• is aged 11-16 years and attends a school that is more than 2 but no more than 15 miles from their home that parents have chosen on the grounds of religion or belief, if there is not suitable school nearer to their home on the basis of that religion or belief.