1. Mayor of London's free bus pass scheme

1.1 The Mayor of London has implemented a scheme whereby all school pupils up to the age of 18 years old, will be eligible for a free bus pass. Therefore the Council's travel assistance policy below will not apply unless a pupil falls outside of the Mayor of London's free bus pass scheme. Parents/carers wishing to be considered under the Council's policy must provide evidence to show that their child is ineligible under the Mayor of London's free bus pass scheme, unless they fall under the exceptions mentioned in 1.2 below.

1.2 Pupils that are temporarily re-housed as detailed in paragraphs 2.5 and 2.6, will be considered for a travel pass under this policy if that is assessed as a significantly quicker way to complete a home to school journey.

2. London Borough of Newham - Free LT Travel Pass Policy.

2.1 Provided they are not eligible under the Mayor for London's bus pass scheme, the policy laid out below will apply.

2.2 For all pupils, except those who have a statement of special educational need, for whom a separate policy exists, the policy laid out below will apply. In all instances the cheapest form of travel is expected to be taken.

2.3 Except in the situations described in paragraph 3 below, a free travel pass will only be issued if:

· The distance between home and school is two miles or more for children under 8 or three miles or more for children aged 8 or over, as measured by the shortest available walking route;

and

· No place can be found in a suitable school less than two miles away for children under 8 or less than three miles away for children aged 8 or over.

2.4 The authority will not regard a school as automatically unsuitable because it does not provide the kind of religious education that is preferred by the parents/carers or because it does not comply with their parents/carers philosophical beliefs. So, for example, a school would not automatically be considered unsuitable because it is a mixed school when the parents/carers would prefer a single-gender school, or they prefer a mixed school and the school offered is a single-gender school. However, in considering each application, the authority will consider all relevant factors and have regard to any wish of the parents/carers for their child to be educated at a school where the religious education is that of the religion or denomination to which the parent adheres and/or their philosophical concerns.

2.5 Pupils, whose family is, as a result of the decision of their housing authority, temporarily rehoused in Newham by another local authority, if they are in year 10 or 11 and are within reasonable daily travelling distance of their existing school and over 3 miles away from it. This is designed to facilitate school attendance, and avoid disruption to the education of pupils in their last two years of secondary education who may be unable to gain access to a similar range of curriculum subjects, or similar syllabi, in a local school.

2.6 Pupils whose family is temporarily re- housed in bed and breakfast accommodation in another London borough under the Housing Act 1996, by Newham Housing Department. The only children that will be considered are those who are in years 10 or 11; have been attending a Newham school for at least one term; and who have a school attendance record of at least 90%. If the pupil's school attendance drops below 90% and / or the school reports problems with lateness, the offer of travel assistance will be removed.

3. Additional support for families on low income.

3.1 Under the Education and Inspections Act 2006, provided the pupil does not fall under the Mayor for London's Free Bus Pass Scheme, the LA will also take into account the following factors for families that are defined as on low income. Low income families for this purpose is defined by the government's Department for Children, Schools and Families, (DCSF) as when the pupil is entitled to free school meals or their parents/carers are in receipt of the maximum level of Working Tax Credit.

3.2 Primary aged children. The two mile limit for providing transport costs mentioned paragraph 2.3 above, is extended to include children up to the age of 11 attending their nearest suitable school.

3.3 Secondary aged children. Support with transport costs will be provided to any one of the nearest three suitable schools, where the home to school distance traveled is between two and six miles:

· Where the nearest suitable school is preferred on the grounds of religion or belief, support with transport costs will be provided if the school is between 2 and 15 miles from the family home.

· In this context, based on case law, the DCSF suggests that for 'belief' to be considered, it must attain a certain level of cognecy, seriousness, cohesion and importance; be worthy of respect in a democratic society; and not be incompatible with human dignity or the fundamental rights of the child. Below are listed some examples of the types of beliefs it does not include.

• A wish to attend a particular category of school e.g. foundation, grammar etc.
• Preference for a particular type of management or governance which does not effect the curricula or teaching at the school.
• A belief that a child should be educated privately.
• A wish that a child must taught a particular language.
• Objection to having to wear a school uniform.
• A wish for single sex or co-educational education, where this is not based on the parent/carer's religious views.

4. Appeals.

4.1 Apeals will be considered if the parent/carer feels that the above policy has not been applied correctly. Officers will consider each pupil's particular circumstances on their merits and take account of any representations made to them.