If your child is assessed and doesn’t meet criteria for free transport, we have no statutory duty to provide travel assistance.
Spare Seat Scheme
In some cases the Spare Seat Scheme may be an option for you. The scheme offers the opportunity to purchase a pass to travel on certain school bus services contracted by us, if there are spare seats available.
Spare Seat passes cannot be issued on school routes that have been registered as a Public Service. For these routes it will be necessary to contact the relevant bus operator directly. If you are unsure as to whether a route is registered, contact the Mainstream School Transport Team on 01234 276528.
Cost
The cost of a spare seat is £1,188 for the 2026/27 academic year. There are no reductions in costs for part-time travel.
Your child may be eligible for a reduction in the cost of a spare seat if you are in receipt of Universal Credit (with annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax and not including any benefits you get). The cost for those eligible for the discount is £240 for the 2026/27 academic year. If you live outside of the Bedford Borough area you will not qualify for any discount.
Further information
- Spare seats on our bus services are very limited and cannot be guaranteed. You should not rely on the Spare Seat Scheme as the only way to transport your child to school.
- Additional vehicle stops will not be added to existing school routes to service non-eligible children. Pass holders will be expected to make their way to and from the existing designated stops.
- When allocating spaces on a route, priority is given to the entitled children first and only when the numbers have been finalised can we issue passes for the spare seats available. Passes will, therefore, normally be issued after the start of the academic year. Parent(s)/carer(s) will need to make their own arrangements prior to the pass being issued. In the case of a pass not being issued until after the start of term, you will not be entitled to a reimbursement of any costs that may have been incurred.
- Bedford Borough Council reserves the right to decline any application or withdraw travel where a student’s behaviour is deemed to put themselves or other passengers at risk. All children must adhere to the code of good conduct when travelling on school routes. Please see the code of conduct on our transport operations webpage.
- If your child is issued with a pass, we are still entitled to withdraw it. This may happen if the seat is needed for a child entitled to free transport or if the bus service changes part way through the term. If the pass is withdrawn, you will be informed as soon as possible and given a refund on a pro-rata basis.
Please apply online, using the form below. By applying online you are accepting the Spare Seat Scheme terms and conditions (PDF).
The online form for the Spare Seat Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year will be available from 14 August 2026.
16 to 19 Bursary Fund
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help students overcome specific barriers to participation so they can remain in education.
There are two types of 16 to 19 bursaries:
- A vulnerable bursary of up to £1,200 a year for young people in one of the defined vulnerable groups.
- Discretionary bursaries which institutions award to meet individual needs, for example, help with the cost of transport, meals, books and equipment.
Institutions are responsible for managing both types of bursary.
Concessionary travel scheme
Children and young people with certain disabilities may be entitled to a free bus pass through the Concessionary Travel Scheme. The pass allows free off-peak travel on most local bus services anywhere in England. Bedford Borough pass holders can also travel for a fare of £1 on most peak-time bus services within the Borough.
Visit our bus pass page for further information on how to apply.
SEND advice
The SEND Advice Service (formerly Parent Partnership Service) offers free confidential information, advice and support on special educational needs and disabilities to young people and parent(s)/carer(s).
Bedford Borough SEND Advice Service
Borough Hall
Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK42 9AP
Email: sendadvice@bedford.gov.uk
Web: SEND advice web pages
Visit GOV.UK for further information on free school transport.
Visit our school admissions pages for further information.