General: The Education Authority has a policy of providing free transport to all primary pupils who live more than one mile by the recognised shortest walking route from their local school. This policy is more generous that the law requires. This means that the provision of transport could be reviewed at any time. Parents and carers who consider they are eligible should obtain an application form from the school or education office. These forms should be completed and returned before the end of February for those pupils beginning school in August to enable the appropriate arrangements to be made.

Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year but may be subject to delay whilst arrangements are made. The appropriate head of service has discretion in special circumstances to grant permission for pupils to travel in transport provided by the authority, where spare places are available and no additional costs are incurred.

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 points 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 also the parents and carers' responsibility to ensure the child behaves in a safe and acceptable manner while boarding, travelling in the alighting from the vehicle. Misbehaviour could result in your child losing the right to free transport.

Placing Requests: The Education Authority does not provide transport for those pupils in receipt of a placing request other than in exceptional circumstances.

In the case of under-age placing requests if the child is offered a place in his/her catchement area, school transport will be provided in accordance with educational policy as stated above.