Travel to school and transport

Transport for London (TfL) offers free travel on London buses to all children under the age of 18 who are in full time education.

It offers other free or discounted travel including:

• Children aged 5-10 - free travel on all TfL services with a Zip Oyster photocard.
• Children aged 11-15 - free London bus travel and discounted tube fares with a Zip Oyster photocard.
• Children aged 16-17 (18 on 31 Aug and in full time education) - free London bus travel and discounted tube fares with a Zip Oyster photocard.

The TfL website has free and discounted travel information and details of how to apply.

Other assistance

We must make free-of-charge travel arrangements to facilitate the attendance at school of eligible children who live in Brent.

Most children will be able to travel to school by walking or making use of free public transport options.

In some cases the local authority will provide travel assistance where it is necessary to support a child to attend their nearest suitable school. Further details are available in the next section 'Home to school travel assistance'.

Home to school travel assistance may be available to support with travel to school.

We will not usually provide additional travel assistance where children live near their school or where pupils can use free travel offered by Transport for London.

Each application is given careful consideration based on the needs of the pupil.

Applications for children with or without special needs are now considered using the same application form. 

How to apply

Applicants must be living in the London Borough of Brent.

To apply, please complete the application form. Ensure you have taken the time to read our School Transport Policy.

Our Safer Routes to School (SRtS) programme raises travel awareness in children and encourages them to travel to school safely by sustainable means such as cycling or walking. It includes a network of school crossing patrols.

Cycle training for school children

As part of this programme we have a couple of cycle training options for schools.

Find out more about the safer routes to school programme

School safer roads campaign

Our School Safer Roads Campaign highlights the illegal and dangerous driving practices that put Brent school children's lives at risk every day.

Get more information about this safer roads campaign

School Streets

Schools Streets aim to reduce congestion and pollution, as well as making it easier to implement social distancing measures. In discouraging car use, we hope to encourage more people to walk and cycle as part of their daily routine.

The scheme works by closing the road outside of a school to vehicles at pick up and drop off times. This makes the route safer for pupils, promotes walking and cycling, and cuts the number of polluting cars contributing to local air pollution. It also helps the school community with social distancing as more pupils return to school.

Find out more about School Streets

School travel plans

A School Travel Plan is a document produced by a school that promotes sustainable and safe ways of travelling to and from school.

Find out more about school travel plans

How to reduce your contribution to pollution

1. Reduce your car use where possible – cycle, walk and take public transport instead
2. Turn off your engine when parked, don’t idle your engine
3. Use an electric car. Find a charge point near you: Map of electric charging points for electric cars UK with ZapMap.
4. Car share
5. Use click and collect or companies that deliver with zero emissions vehicles such as cargo bikes.
6. If you’re a business owner, follow our guidance on becoming greener.
7. Try to reduce burning and make sure you follow the Smoke Control Area rules

How to reduce your exposure while in your home

We spend 90% of our time indoors so it’s important for our health that we try to make the air in our homes as clean as possible. Indoor air pollution comes from many sources and you can’t see it, so you may not realise you’re at risk. Follow these steps to improve the air you’re breathing while at home.

This is of particular importance if you have any respiratory conditions, find more information from Asthma + Lung UK.

Where indoor air pollution comes from

• Heating and cooking
• Mould on walls and windows
• Chemicals in paints, varnishes, chipboard, furniture, carpets and sofas
• Fumes from cleaning products and toiletries
• Wood burning stoves and BBQs.
• Cigarette smoke
• Candles and incense

What you can do

• Open windows and use an extractor fan when cooking and cleaning to ventilate the room
• Use mild, fragrance free cleaning products and toiletries
• Take steps to reduce damp and mould – find out more here
• Decorate with low VOC paints
• Keep dust levels low
• Get your boiler checked annually
• Avoid using chimneys and wood burning stoves. Follow the Smoke Control Area rules.
• Don’t smoke indoors