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 (previously called Privilege Pass 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.
The Spare Seat Scheme is operated where the Council has 'spare' seats on contracted routes that accommodate eligible students. Spare seats are usually very limited and issued on a first come, first served, termly basis, once eligible students have been allocated and the route is operating effectively.
Cost
If you are successful with your application for a spare seat, there is a cost of £353 per term. Payment must be made in full, in advance for the term.
There are no reductions for occasional travel / part days / part of a term.
Your child may be eligible for a reduction in the cost of a spare seat if you are in receipt of Income Support or maximum rate of Working Tax Credit or you receive or qualify for free school meals. If you live outside Bedford Borough you will not qualify for any discount.
Criteria
- Spare seats on our bus services are very limited and cannot be guaranteed. You should not rely on the Spare Seats Scheme as the only way to transport your child to school.
- Additional transport will not be provided to accommodate non-eligible children, neither will existing transport be diverted to service a non-eligible area.
- Additional vehicle stops will not be added to existing school routes to service non-eligible children. Spare Seats pass holders will be expected to make their way to and from the existing boarding/departing designated stops.
- The Spare Seats passes cannot be used on public transport routes or train services.
- We are not able to offer Spare Seat passes for part time attendance. There will be no reduction in cost to accommodate travel on occasional days.
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.
Concessionary travel scheme
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).
Web: SEND advice web pages
Visit GOV.UK for further information on free school transport.
Visit our school admissions pages for further information.