School Transport

The Education Authority currently has a policy of providing free transport to primary school pupils who live more than 1.5 miles from their local school by the recognised shortest safe walking route.

Free transport

East Ayrshire Council will provide free transport for all primary pupils who live 1.5 miles or more from their local primary school (by the recognised shortest suitable walking distance) and to secondary pupils who live 3 miles or more from their local secondary school (by the recognised shortest suitable walking distance).

This policy remains more generous than that prescribed by statute and may be reviewed at any time.

Free transport may also be available on the grounds of a medical condition or in cases where a family has moved house at a critical stage of education. Download the Free School Transport leaflet (PDF 331Kb) for details.

If you feel your child qualifies for free school travel and you wish to take advantage of this option, please fill in the school transport online application form.

To apply for school transport, you will need to fill in an online application.  You only need to do this once throughout your child’s primary education.  Mainstream School Transport – Our East Ayrshire (east-ayrshire.gov.uk)

 

Pick-up Points

Where free transport is provided it may be necessary for pupils to walk a certain distance to the vehicle pick-up point.  Walking distance in total, including the distance from home to the pick-up point and from the drop-off point to the school in any one direction will not exceed the authority’s limits (see above paragraph).  It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that their child arrives at the pick-up point in time.  It is also the parent’s responsibility to ensure the child behaves in a safe and acceptable manner while boarding, travelling in and alighting from the vehicle.  Misbehaviour could result in your child losing the right to free transport.