Home to school transport

We provide free home to school transport for East Lothian pupils who live more than two miles away from their catchment primary or secondary school.

The child or young person's home address is defined as the main contact's address registered with their school.  This address is where the child lives permanently or for the majority of their time; this is usually the address in receipt of Child Benefit. It is not within the council's remit to determine which address is the child's main address but there must be a clearly established main address in all cases.

Transport, if eligible, will be granted to and from one address only.  Transport will not be granted to more than one address whether this is the address of a parent, childminder or other relative.

Free school transport is not available if the child or young person is attending a non-catchment school (including a specialist provision) as a result of a Placing Request made by a parent, or the child or young person. 

 

How to apply

Parents must apply for home to school transport through their school office. Applications will be reviewed by Transport Services based on the eligibility criteria.

During school holidays, contact the Home To School Transport team at hometoschool@eastlothian.gov.uk for advice.

Eligibility for transport assistance will be reviewed annually. Parents must report any changes in circumstances that might affect eligibility.

 

Conduct and behaviour

All children and young people using home to school transport are expected to demonstrate their school values and behave as they would were they in school. 

This includes:

• behave respectfully to drivers, fellow passengers and staff
• wear a seatbelt if there is one
• have consideration for the vehicle - don't litter or vandalise it
• stay in your seat when the vehicle is moving
• do what the driver and staff ask you to do

Unacceptable conduct on school transport will be reported to Transport Services who will liaise with schools. Schools will involve parents in the process at an early stage and warnings and/or sanctions will be based on the severity of the incident.

 

Smartcards

Since August 2024 secondary school pupils use their Young Person's Under 22 free bus travel pass, either via their Young Scot card or their National Entitlement Card, for home to school transport on public buses. It's important each pupil has a valid card with an up-to-date photo.

To order a new/replacement card or to update your photo

Visit https://getyournec.scot/nec or contact your school office or local library for support.

 

Some families may feel their young person is not ready to have the freedoms of national free travel.

If this is the case, contact our home to school transport team on hometoschool@eastlothian.gov.uk before school returns, or your school office in term time, and ask for the card to be programmed with only the Council home to school transport programme. This means your child will still have access to their funded home to school transport, but not the wider national bus network.

 

It is essential you make sure your young person's travel card is valid and active before August 2025.

It is a parent/carer responsibility to ensure their young person can access free home to school travel on public transport.

Please note: this only applies if your child travels to school using public transport. If they are on a contracted home to school bus service, they will continue to receive a pass for travel.

 

Smartcards are in use on the following routes:

Musselburgh Grammar School

 

 

Wallyford Pupils travelling to Musselburgh Grammar 

 

Preston Lodge High School

Longniddry and Seton Mains pupils travelling to Preston Lodge - All Seton Mains pupils must use bus service 128.

 

Port Seton and Cockenzie S6 pupils travelling to Preston Lodge

 

Blindwells pupils travelling to Preston Lodge

 

Ross High School

Elphinstone pupils travelling to Ross High School

 

Macmerry pupils travelling to Ross High School 

Pencaitland and Ormiston pupils travelling to Ross High School

 

North Berwick High School

Gullane pupils travelling to North Berwick High School only 

Ballencrief, Drem, West Fenton and Dirleton pupils travelling to North Berwick High School 

 

Kilduff and Athelstaneford pupils travelling to North Berwick High School

 

Aberlady pupils travelling to North Berwick High School only

** due to capacity on service 126, S5-S6 pupils are asked to use service X5 for return journey

 

Home to School Transport Policy

Read the Home to School Transport Policy

 

Mainstream transport between home and school

• Eve Coaches Routes www.eveinfo.co.uk/school-services 01368 865 500
• AC's Taxis and minibus routes www.acstaxis.co.uk/school-routes 01875 613 200
• Prentice Coaches routes www.prentice.info/schools 01620 822 620
• Alba Taxis routes 01875 815000
• Torrance Taxis routes 01368 862 612

To use a home to school contracted route you need a valid pass for travel issued by East Lothian Council (show and go card).

 

Transport services

East Lothian Council, Penston House, Macmerry Industrial Estate, EH33 1EX

Email: hometoschool@eastlothian.gov.uk