Travel assistance for secondary school children

We provide a free bus pass to eligible children for use on public bus services. You must be a resident of Walsall Borough, and we will only provide travel assistance to your nearest suitable school. 

If you want your child to go to a school further away, it will usually be up to you to get them to school without help from the council.

Full details are in the home to school transport policy.

Eligibility for all children

You can get transport assistance to your nearest suitable school if your child is between 11 and 16 years old and the school is more than three miles away.

We assess each child individually. Your child will not necessarily receive assistance just because their sibling does.

Children in low income families

'Low income' means you’re on the maximum Universal Credit, or your child qualifies for free school meals.

You can get transport assistance if your child is:

• aged between 11 and 16, attends any one of their three nearest suitable schools, and the school is between two and six miles away
• aged between 11 and 16, you’ve chosen a school because of religion, and the school is between two and 15 miles away

How to apply

1. Download our application form and complete it

2. Send it by email to the home to school transport team.

3. We will assess your application.

4. If you are eligible for a free bus pass, we'll send you your claim code. 

5. Once you have your claim code, complete your application with NX Travel Assist online portal.

When to apply

We need to receive your application before 16 August 2024. If you're successful, you will receive your bus pass in time for the new academic year in September.

You need to apply each year for bus passes, post-16 and 19 transport.  

You’ll also need to apply if you change school or educational environment, or move home.