School Transport Policy

Discretionary provision

The Local Authority provides several forms of discretionary home to school transport, including assistance for post-16 learners, transport to faith-based education, and access to spare seats on contracted transport services, as described in this policy and in Appendix 3 These arrangements are not statutory entitlements and fall outside the Local Authority’s legal duties. The Authority may therefore amend or restrict any element of discretionary transport following appropriate consultation where required.

 

Provision for Welsh medium education

The Local Authority recognises its statutory duties and strategic commitments to promote access to Welsh-medium education, as set out in the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) and the Welsh Language and Education Act 2025.

In support of these commitments, free home to school transport will be provided where the learner meets the relevant statutory eligibility criteria set out in Section 1 of this policy.

 

Provision for Faith schools

The Local Authority provides discretionary transport assistance for learners on religious grounds, provided the learner meets the relevant age and statutory distance criteria.

Voluntary Aided Schools (Within the County)

Transport assistance under this section applies ONLY to the following Voluntary Aided schools within Carmarthenshire:

• Model Church in Wales School
• Penboyr Church in Wales School
• Pentip Church in Wales School
• St Mary’s Catholic School, Llanelli
• St Mary’s Catholic School, Carmarthen

Transport assistance may be provided for learners attending any of the above schools where the learner:

• Meets the applicable age and minimum distance criteria; and
• Resides no more than 8 miles from the school - Measured as the shortest available driving route from the learner’s home address to the nearest available entrance to the school.

St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive School, Llanelli

Transport assistance may be provided where the learner:

• Meets the standard age and minimum distance criteria; and
• Resides within the designated catchment area of the school.

Transport may also be provided for learners residing outside the school’s catchment area, provided that:

• The learner meets the standard eligibility criteria; and
• The learner can make their own way to the nearest available pick-up point located within the designated catchment area.

Voluntary Controlled Schools (Within the County)

Transport assistance under this section applies ONLY to the following Voluntary Controlled schools within Carmarthenshire:

• Abergwili School
• Laugharne Church in Wales School
• Llanddarog Church in Wales School
• Llanllwni School

Transport assistance may be provided where the learner:

• Meets the standard age and minimum distance criteria; and
• Resides within the designated catchment area of the school.

These provisions are not statutory requirements and represent discretionary concessions offered by the Local Authority. As such, the Local Authority reserves the right to withdraw any or all elements of this concessionary provision at any time, following an appropriate period of consultation.

Where Local Authority transport is not provided, families may consider:

• Active travel – Walking, cycling, or scooting where routes are safe.
• Public transport – Using local bus and train services
• Private arrangements – Travelling by car, car-sharing with other families, or using private hire transport.

 

Provision for Nursery schools

The Local Authority has no statutory duty to provide transport for learners who are below Statutory School Age, whether part-time or full-time and therefore no entitlement to free home to school transport exists for this age group.

Parents and guardians are responsible for arranging and funding travel. Where Local Authority transport is not provided, families may consider:

• Active travel – Walking, cycling, or scooting where routes are safe.
• Public transport – Using local bus and train services
• Private arrangements – Travelling by car, car-sharing with other families, or using private hire transport.

 

Provision for Post-16 learners

The Local Authority may provide discretionary transport assistance for learners aged 16–18 (and those aged 19 who began their course before turning 19 and continue to attend the same course). Assistance may be considered in the following circumstances:

Sixth Form Provision - Where a learner attends the sixth form of their designated catchment school, subject to:

• Meeting the minimum distance criteria; and
• Being under 19, or aged 19 but continuing a course that began prior to their 19th birthday.

Further Education Colleges - where a learner attends their nearest further education college campus within the County, subject to:

• Meeting the minimum distance criteria;
• Being under 19, or aged 19 but continuing a course that began before turning 19; and
• Being enrolled on a full-time course.

These post-16 transport arrangements are not statutory requirements, and the Local Authority may withdraw or amend any concessionary element of this policy at any time, subject to appropriate consultation. Transport assistance for post-16 learners is arranged on the basis that learners are responsible for travelling independently to the nearest suitable point on the core transport network. Further information is provided in Appendix 1.

Learners in post-16 education may be eligible for financial assistance from the Welsh Government to help with transport costs. Available schemes include:

• Education Maintenance Allowance - Financial support for eligible learners from low-income households who remain in full-time education or training beyond compulsory schooling.
• Assembly Learning Grant - Support for learners aged 19 or over who are enrolled in Further Education.
• Financial Contingency Fund - Funding provided to FE and HE institutions in Wales to support learners experiencing financial hardship.
• Young Person’s Travel Scheme - Discounted travel for young people using public transport, subject to eligibility and operator participation.

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