School transport and school trips
Your child will normally get free transport (or payment to cover the cost of public transport) if they're:
- under eight and live more than two miles from school or
- over eight and live more than three miles from school.
It’s down to each education authority to make plans for school transport, and decide what rules apply.
Placing requests and free transport
If your child is in their school because of a placing request, there is not normally free transport or help with the costs of transport.
A healthy and safe journey to school
Walking or cycling to school isn't just healthy – it's good for the environment too. That's why the Scottish Government is paying for school travel co-ordinators in every local authority. The co-ordinators will:
- encourage safe, healthy and environmental-friendly ways of getting to school and
- help local authorities decide how they should spend money set aside for cycling, walking, and safer street schemes.
Of course, every school and every child is different. The Safe Routes to Schools website encourage children to walk, cycle or take public transport to and from school.
Health and safety on school trips
Young people can benefit greatly from taking part in excursions organised by the local authority, especially through schools. In particular, they have the opportunity to gain experiences not available in the classroom. Visits help to develop investigative skills and longer visits in particular encourage greater independence.
'Health and Safety on Educational Excursions' is designed to give all those involved in organising educational excursions the confidence to take young people out of the classroom environment and ensure that those taking part stay safe and healthy.