Travel assistance
Find out about travel assistance for children and young people to get to and from school.
In most cases, children and young people living in Southwark are expected to walk to their school or college, or travel there by public transport.
They can travel free on all buses and Tramlink services in London using an Oyster photocard.
You are entitled to one of these if you are:
- under 16 years old
- 19 years old or younger and in full-time education
You can get an Oyster photocard from:
- Post Offices
- online from TfL
- any Tube station or ticket retailer
Some children and young people will not be able to travel for free on public transport because of the distance they live from their school or college.
Some children and young people will not be able to walk or travel by public transport to their school or college because they have Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
In these circumstances, they may be able to get travel assistance from the Council.
Check our travel assistance policy to see if your child is eligible.
Find out more about free school transport online.
Applying for travel assistance
Use the link below if you wish to apply online to the Council for travel assistance.
If you're applying because your child or young person is medically unable to walk, you must provide recent medical evidence from their consultant.
Appealing a decision
To appeal a travel assistance decision:
- complete a stage 1 appeal request form
- submit the form within 20 working days of the decision you want to appeal
To appeal a stage 1 decision:
- complete the Stage 2 appeal request form
- within 20 working days of the stage 1 decision
If you're appealing because of medical issues, we usually only consider those issues supported by a recent letter from a medical consultant.
We do not usually consider letters from GPs.
Contact us
You can get in touch with our travel assistance team by:
- calling 020 7525 5121
- emailing travelassistance@southwark.gov.uk