Home to school travel

As a parent or carer, you have a duty to make arrangements for your child to travel to and from school, and to make sure they attend school. 

We have a duty to provide travel assistance to eligible children of compulsory school age, such as those: 

• with a disability or mobility issue who could not reasonably be expected to walk to school
• who are eligible for free school meals 

We have discretionary powers to arrange travel for other children who are not ordinarily eligible on a case by case basis.  

We also have a duty to: 

• have school travel policies that are easy for parents to find and understand
• include information about travel to school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in our SEND local offer
• promote sustainable travel to school
• have a fair and transparent process so that parents can appeal a decision about travel to school for their child   

Find out more about children of compulsory school age travelling to school.

Using Transport for London (TfL) services

Children under 11 can travel for free on London transport services with a Zip Oyster photocard. Children aged 11 to 16+ can get discounted travel with a Zip Oyster photocard. 

Apply for the relevant Zip Oyster Photocard:  

• 5 to 10 Zip Oyster photocards 
• 11 to 15 Zip Oyster photocards 
• 16+ Zip Oyster photocard  

Active travel, such as walking or cycling, is good for physical health and can reduce childhood obesity. We will enable more children, teachers and parents to walk or cycle to school by: 

• developing safer and more convenient routes to school 
• improving facilities within schools, such as cycle parking 

 Find out more about our: 

• school travel plans
• sustainable travel plans

Contact schooltravelplans@walthamforest if you want to know more about road safety, sustainable travel or what we are doing to promote alternatives to car travel in the borough.