Cash grants

Cash grants are available to support travel assistance for eligible children without an EHCP or disability.

A mainstream home to school travel assistance cash grant is an offer for mileage reimbursement paid at 23p per mile for the four trips a day that would be involved in you taking your child to and from school if they are eligible for travel assistance under the mainstream home to school transport policy.

A cash grant is not to be mistaken with the personal transport budget which is provided for eligible students with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

The grant can be spent however you choose, as long as your child travels in a way that ensures their safety and encourages their attendance, and they arrive at school on time and in a positive manner ready to learn. This could include covering the cost of driving a child, supporting the purchase of a bike, or arranging with other parents for shared travel, such as shared driving responsibilities, walking buses or joint taxi bookings.

The cash grant is paid after a full term once attendance has been verified by the school. Payment months are January, May, and August.

Current travel arrangements

Take up of this scheme is not mandatory, if you do not wish to accept the cash grant, your child’s current travel assistance arrangements will remain in place.

Newly eligible children will be offered a cash grant in the first instance, if this not accepted, a suitable alternative arrangement will be put in place.

Environmental considerations

Offering a cash grant opens up opportunities for travelling to and from school. As a Council we are committed to encouraging sustainable travel where possible, in line with our ambitions to reach NetZero by 2045.

We would encourage greener alternatives for travel which also encourage confidence and independence, such as walking, cycling, using public transport, and it can be used to share transport with others.