We wanted to inform you of the Surrey County Council Home to School Travel Assistance Consultation
Surrey CC have opened a public consultation on the home to school travel assistance policy. The consultation runs until midnight on the 17th February. Full details of the proposed changes and how to share your views can be found on the link below. Some of the key changes proposed are:
• Under-16 policy clarifications: Nearest school definition and evidence requirements for non-nearest school applications.
• Free School Meals (FSM) change from September 2026: FSM eligibility expands under Universal Credit, but “extended rights” to free travel retain the current low-income threshold and distance criteria.
• Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND)/Education Other than at School (EOTAS)/Alternative Provision (AP): Case-by-case assessment, with AP registration status determining whether standard eligibility applies or EOTAS principles are used.
• Public Services Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) compliance: All contracted coaches must be accessible; spare seats for purchase may be limited.
• Post-16: Updated annual contributions and extended Independent Travel Allowance (ITA) mileage bands (up to 50 miles).
Consultation details:
Dates: Wednesday 21 January 2026 to 23:59 on Tuesday 17 February 2026.
Consultation page: Surrey County Council, UK: Home to School Policy Updates (Under 16 & Post-16)
Accessibility: Easy Read, large print and screen-reader versions will be provided; if any are delayed, they will be added during the consultation.