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Travel support for school pupils

If your child attends a Knowsley school and meets the criteria set out in the Transport Policy, we will issue a Merseytravel bus pass which will be paid for by the Directorate of Children's Services. 

The main condition is that Knowsley resident children of compulsory school age who attend their nearest qualifying school and who live beyond the statutory walking distance, are classed as eligible children and will be entitled to free transport.  All Knowsley schools are qualifying schools for school travel purposes.

We will issue the pass before the start of the school year in September, although you can apply at any time throughout the academic year.  For more information about the policy contact 443 5609 or email festudent.support@knowsley.gov.uk.

• Low income families 
• Travel support for post 16 students
• Application forms
• Frequently asked questions

 

 
Low income families
If you don't qualify for free transport under the standard eligibility criteria, you may be entitled to transport if you have a low income under new legislation (i.e. entitled to free school meals or receive the maximum level of Working Tax Credit (WTC). The legislation provides the additional criteria:

• Primary age children from 8 to 11 from low income families are entitled to free transport where they live more than two miles from their nearest qualifying school. The distance is measured in the same way as statutory walking distance.
• Secondary age children from low income families are entitled to free travel to one of their three nearest qualifying schools where they live more than two miles but less than six miles from the school.
• Secondary age children from low income families who attend the nearest suitable school on grounds of religion or belief will be entitled to free transport where they live more than two miles but not more than 15 miles from that school.

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Travel support for post 16 students

If you are attending a full time course at college or sixth form you may be entitled to a payment towards the cost of your travel expenses if:

• you are not entitled to travel assistance from your sixth form or college;
• you are aged between 16 and 18;
• you travel three miles or more from your home address to attend sixth form or college; and
• you live in the borough of Knowsley.

Funding is limited and will be issued on a first come first served basis.  For more information, download the Policy Statement or read the summary document.

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Application forms

• If you are applying for a bus pass for the first time, download the new application form.
• If your child already receives support, you should download the renewal application form.
• If your child has lost their bus pass or it has been confiscated you should download the duplicate application form. There is a £10 charge for duplicate bus passes.

Please note that you should enclose two passport photographs with your application.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. How do I apply for a bus pass?
2. I live in Knowsley but my child attends a school in another local authority area (Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens etc). Who should I apply to?
3. Will I have to submit my income details if my child is entitled to a bus pass?
4. My child attends a secondary school more than three miles from home. Are they entitled to a bus pass?
5. My child's application has been refused. What can I do now?
6. When can my child use the bus pass?
7. My child has lost  their bus pass. What should I do?
8. Who can I contact for more information?

 

1. How do I apply for a bus pass?
If this is your first bus pass, you must download and complete the new application form.  If your child received a bus pass last year and is still eligible for support, a renewal form will be sent to you in May.

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2. I live in Knowsley but my child attends a school in another local authority area (Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens etc). Who should I apply to?
All Knowsley schools are qualifying schools for school travel and as a general rule transport support will not be provided to attend a school outside the borough. Contact this office for more information.

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3. Will I have to submit my income details if my child is entitled to a bus pass?
Entitlement is not  means tested. However, if you are applying on the grounds that you are a low income family you may need to submit a copy of your child tax credit notification, which shows details of your entitlement to working tax credit in part two.

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4. My child attends a secondary school more than three miles from home. Are they entitled to a bus pass?
Not if there is a suitable secondary school within three miles of home and the school has places available. This also applies if you send your child to a Knowsley school which is more than three miles from home when there is a nearer school, or if you send your child to a school outside the borough, when there are nearer schools.

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5. My child's application has been refused. What can I do now?
You can ask for your application to be considered by the Appeals Committee. There is no appeal against a refusal on low income grounds. The decision of the committee is final and there will be no further action within the Directorate of Children's Services. Contact this office for more information on how to appeal.

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6. When can my child use the bus pass?
The bus pass is valid from Monday to Friday up to 8pm during term time. If your child uses the pass outside these hours, the driver may confiscate it. If this happens and the pass is not returned to this office you will need to apply for a duplicate pass and a £10 charge will be payable.

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7. My child has lost their bus pass. What should I do?
You should reapply using the duplicate application form and a £10 charge will be payable. A new pass will be issued within two days of receiving your application. If your child loses two or more passes we may ask for more detailed information to make sure that fraudulent applications are not being made.

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8. Who can I contact for more information?
For further information about transport and the appeals process you can contact us in the following ways:

• by telephone 443 5609 or 443 3267or  443 3268
• by emailing festudent.support@knowsley.gov.uk
• visit us Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm at the Education Office, Huyton Hey Road, L36 5YH. No appointment is necessary.

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