Non-entitled (paid for) school travel assistance

We will guarantee a seat on one of our existing contracted transport services for a student where an application is received on or before the 3rd Friday in May before September of that academic year.

Guaranteed seats will not be available for applications received after that time, and will then be subject to availability, which will be considered once all statutory students have been allocated. Please note that this may not be processed until the October half term and parents will be responsible for taking their child alongside any associated costs.

In submitting an application form by the aforementioned date, parents or legal guardians will be committing to purchasing a seat for the full academic year for £760. Regrettably, discounts, of any kind, will not be available if transport is used for only part of the year (i.e. passed their driving test etc.). Only in circumstances where a family moves home and transport is no longer required will consideration be given to refunding the remaining full school terms of transport costs, if the yearly payment option has been chosen.

If you opt to pay monthly, the refund will be based on the amount paid to date as well as the term in which transport ceases.

Applications that are not required before the commencement of the academic year to which it refers must be cancelled by contacting the School Travel team as soon as possible. However, if we have already dispatched a bus pass, you will be liable for any costs until it is returned and received in the Non-Entitled Travel Scheme office along with a covering letter.

Where transport is no longer required after the academic year has commenced, you must notify us in writing, specifying the reason for the cancellation and the last date of travel; where a bus pass has been issued, this must accompany the letter.

Read more about cancelling your application.

It is important to remember that until we receive the letter of cancellation, and where applicable, the bus pass, you will still be liable for any costs incurred. If the school issues their own bus passes, please state this on the cancellation letter so that we can notify the school’s administration department accordingly.

Consideration should be given to returning the bus pass by recorded or signed for.

We reserve the right to withhold an application where there is an outstanding debt concerning the pupil, or their siblings, until the account is cleared in full.

Please also be aware that non-payment of an invoice will result in a debt collection agency being notified to recover any monies which remain outstanding.

If your application is successful, you will receive an invoice for £760. Payments should be made within 28 days as specified on the invoice. Payment by instalments may be available depending on circumstances.

The Council reserves the right to withdraw the travel arrangements where invoices are not paid on time and or if there is misuse of the travel facilities or bus pass. In these circumstances, we have the right to recover any costs we have incurred as a result.

Parents and students are required to read and adhere to the “Code of Conduct” and “conditions of use”. Any abuse of the “Code of Conduct” and / or “conditions” e.g. misbehaviour etc. could render the transport invalid and no refund will be given.

This scheme is only available on existing contracted home-to-school transport vehicles and routes. Students will be expected to make their own way (accompanied where necessary) to the nearest scheduled boarding point along which the existing vehicle operates. Transport will not be diverted to accommodate non-entitled students even where the vehicle passes through or near to your village.

Non-entitled places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

If your child is allocated a place under the scheme and, subsequently, a new application by a statutory entitled pupil is received, it may be necessary to withdraw the offer of your child’s seat, giving you up to 14 days notice in writing. A pro-rata refund of any fees paid would then be given and you would be required to make alternative transport arrangements.

There are occasions when North Northamptonshire Council and / or it’s contracted operators need to cancel transport e.g. adverse weather conditions, vehicle failure or issues beyond their control. Every effort is made to ensure this does not happen, but should it be unavoidable it is the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to transport the student to and from education. Every effort is made to restore the transport arrangements as soon as possible.

Please be aware that should transport no longer be required for entitled statutory-age students, current routes may be cancelled as a consequence. Under these circumstances, the processing of your application may be delayed until the statutory transport requirements are confirmed or re-instated.

If you have a query about the bus pass issued or you have a concern about the service being provided, please contact the School Travel team.