School travel grants

Parents can apply to Lambeth Council for financial help with their child's travel costs if the child must be resident in Lambeth.

The walking distance between home and school must be:

• 2 miles or more if the child is under 8 or
• 3 miles or more if the child is 8 years or over.

If the family is in receipt of Income Support or income-based Job Seeker's Allowance the distances are reduced to:

• 1 mile or more if the child is under 8 or
• 2 miles or more if the child is 8 or over.

In all cases the distance is measured by the shortest safe walking route, i.e. avoiding the use of unlit or unmade footpaths.

Assistance will normally be made available only where the pupil is attending the nearest available school at which a place could be offered.

Pupils who qualify for help with travel costs will be given a bus pass, which they collect from their school. Travel Cards will be issued only on special medical grounds or if using buses is not possible for the journey.

You can learn more about free travel for under 16s on the Transport for London free travel information page.

To apply for travel assistance, please read the guidance notes and download the assistance application form.