You are responsible to make sure that your child attends school. There are also circumstances when we have a duty to help you. For more about this, please read:
Below is a summary of the key criteria to check if you are eligible, for guidance only. This is to help you to decide whether to apply or not. You will get an application form from your child's primary school after you get your admissions allocation letter, if:
- you think you are eligible;
- and your child is due to transfer to secondary school next September.
If you are on low income
- Are you entitled to receive free school meals for your child?
- Do you get the maximum level of Working Tax Credit? (Check your latest Tax Credit award form from HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC), look at Part 2 'Working Tax Credits'. If the figure next to 'Reduction due to your income' is £0.00, then you receive the maximum Working Tax Credit)
If you answer no to these questions, see: If are not on a low income.
If you answered yes to both, please carry on reading:
- Are you a resident of Calderdale?
- Do you think the distance to your child's school is between 2 and 6 miles from your home?
- Is the school one of the 3 nearest schools to your home address?
If your answer is also yes to these three questions, you may be eligible and should apply.
If you get Working Tax Credits
You need to look at Part 2 on your Working Tax Credit elements of your most recent award notice from HMRC.
Please see the example below:
Part 2
- Working Tax Credit elements basic from 08/10/yy to 05/04/yy (181 days) £856.13.
- Lone parent from 08/10/yy to 05/04/yy (181 days) £841.65.
- 30-hour element from 08/10/yy to 05/04/yy (181 days) £349.33.
- Total Working Tax Credit elements (other than children) £2047.11.
- Reduction due to your income £0.00*.
- Amount for the period £2047.11.
*If it shows £0.00, like the above, you are eligible, as long as you meet the criteria stated before. If it shows an amount of money, the low income criteria cannot be used in your assessment.
Schools based on religion or belief
If your child is going to this type of school, you may get help if:
- you are a resident of Calderdale;
- and it is your highest ranked preference on your common preference form;
- and it is the nearest school of that faith or belief;
- and it is between 2 and 15 miles;
- and you are on low income. (See: Low income.)
Important note: 'Belief' means 'conviction' and must be more than an opinion or idea and must be genuinely held. The parent bears a heavy burden to show it is the real reason for what they are doing. For more details and beliefs that are not included, see section 4 of the Home to School Transport Policy.
If you think you meet all the above criteria, please apply.
If are not on a low income
If you can you say yes to all these questions you may be eligible and should apply:
- Are you a resident of Calderdale?
- Is your child going to their nearest available school to your home address?
- Do you think the school is over 3 miles from your home address?
How to apply
Apply for a zero fare bus pass
If you have a query, please contact West Yorkshire Combined Authorities:
- Phone: (01133) 481122.
- Email: freetravel@westyorks-ca.gov.uk.