Leicestershire and Leicester School and College Transport

Please read the information and print off the farepaying leaflet and application form.

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If you cannot open these documents please phone the Passenger Transport Helpline: Phone: 0116 305 8777to request a copy by post.

The leaflet text is repeated here:

Most places on school buses are taken by students entitled to free or assisted transport from their Local Education Authority. Any spare seats can be made available to non-entitled students in return for a payment.  This leaflet explains how the scheme works and how to apply for “farepaying” transport.

Yes - please be aware of the following before you decide whether to apply:

We cannot provide extra or larger buses for farepayers and farepaying places are not available on school taxi services. We cannot divert existing buses or put in extra stops just for farepayers. We must also retain some spare seats for new entitled students who may join the school during the year. At schools with sixth forms we may need to hold extra seats until after the autumn term has started to allow for some late returning students.  The result of these factors is that we can normally only grant less than 50% of farepaying applications.  We suggest therefore, that you consider now what other options you have.

Farepaying transport is charged at 18 pence per mile between the bus pick-up point and school and return.

The charge is calculated over 180 days out of the standard 190 days in the school year (to allow for occasional absences). We propose to introduce a minimum charge of £180 per year. As an example, if you travel 5 miles to school, the current yearly charge would be 10 miles x 18 pence x 180 days = £324.

Leicestershire is the worst funded education authority in England. Despite this we have a generous mainstream home to school/college transport policy which is currently costing £9 million per yeat. The charge continues to offer extremely good value for money. We have consulted a wide range of people who may have an interest in school and college transport. The consultation period on the proposed charges closed on 4th May. The information gathered from this consultation will enable the County Council to make a decision in time to introduce any new arrangements from August 2007.

To apply for a place for the 2007/08 academic year, complete the form and return it as soon as possible. We allocate farepaying places on a “first come first served” basis. You should therefore apply as early as possible.

Farepayers who had a place in the 2006/2007 academic year will be given priority over new applicants if the application is received by 8th June 2007. However, farepaying places cannot be guaranteed.

If you wish us to confirm the receipt of your application form please enclose a stamped addressed envelope.

Applications for the 2008/09 academic year may be made from 1st October 2007.  Applications should be made in writing to the Passenger Transport Unit giving details of your child's name, date of birth and school attended.  An application form for 2008/09 will be sent to you when it is available.

Once we have your form we will check to see if a place is available: we cannot do this until we have planned the transport for children eligible for free or assisted transport, so do not be surprised if there is a delay.

If we can offer you a place, we will send you transport details and a travel pass (when appropriate), if possible before the end of July. You will need to seal a recent passport-sized photograph into the pass before it is valid.

In September we will send you (under separate cover) an invoice for the annual charge, with payment due by 31st October 2007. We would prefer immediate settlement, but payment in instalments by direct debit can be arranged. However all money due must be paid by the end of April 2008.

Farepaying places are issued on the understanding that sums due will be paid promptly. We will seek to recover bad debts and exclude students from transport where debts remain unpaid.

If the place offered is no longer required, you must inform us in writing and return any travel pass that has been issued. A refund will only be possible if you return the pass. You will be charged for the period from the date of issue until the date the pass is returned.  If you do not return the bus pass you will have to pay the full year's charge whether or not the seat on the bus has been used.  A refund will not normally be possible if the bus pass is returned after Christmas.

For general advice, phone the Passenger Transport Helpline on (0116) 305 8777 (Office hours: Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm)

For advice on entitlement to free or assisted transport phone the County Council Childrens and Young People's Service Allocations Section on (0116) 305 6630.

Detach the application form and send it to:

Farepaying Application

Passenger Transport Unit  

P.O Box 1151   

LEICESTER  

LE3 8ZQ

Do NOT send any money or photographs with the form.

The following leaflets may be obtained by telephoning or writing to the Passnger Transport Unit at the phone number and address shown above or by visiting the County Councils website www.leics.gov.uk

The data collected is in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Students' names, may be disclosed to approved bus operators for the purpose of monitoring appropriate use of transport. Addresses will not be disclosed unless a reasonable request to do so is received in order to allow an operator to seek to recover the cost of damage to a vehicle.