Spare seat scheme

Service update

The application window is open

Application window opened 9am Tuesday 28 October 2025

Applications will be processed on a first come first served basis.

Any applications received before this date will not be accepted.

During the first window before the start of the academic year, applications were allocated on a randomised basis.

Who is this Spare Seat application window for?

If you would like your child to travel on a contracted school bus, spare seats may be available for you to buy.

Your child must not be eligible for local authority funded transport help.

If you already have a spare seat for this academic year or are already on the waiting list, you do not need to reapply.

If your child is in receipt of Local Authority funded (‘free’) home to school transport, you do not need to apply for a spare seat.

The application window is for those who have not applied.

When to apply

Please apply online using the form available by selecting the green button.

Service information is available from this webpage: School bus routes

Making a spare seat application does not guarantee a seat.

Post-16 students

We are now welcoming applications from sixth form students. Apply if you want to be considered.

What happens after applying?

Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We aim to process applications within five working days.

If your child is offered a seat, you will be sent an email with details of how you can pay. You will have two weeks to pay for your child’s seat. If you require transport before the payment deadline date you will need to pay as soon as possible and before travel is required.

If your child has not been successful in securing a seat, they will be placed on a waiting list for the service(s) applied for. You will be notified that your child is on the waiting list(s) and you will then be contacted as and when seats become available.

Ticket costs and payment

The cost of a ticket is:

These can be paid in half term payments, full term payments or a one-off payment for the whole year. You will need to make payment by the deadline which is 2 weeks from the date of the offer email. Spare seat ticket costs are fixed and if a pass offered mid-term the whole half term will need to be paid.

Failure to pay by the deadline will result in your spare seat offer being removed. Your seat will then be offered to a child that may be on the waiting list. You would then need to reapply during a new application window should you want to take up a seat again.

Should you have difficulty in making payment by the deadline please click ‘Contact School Transport’ on this webpage to send us a message. Please let us know when you think you’ll be able to pay.

Please remember that if you have not made payment your child will not be permitted to travel. This will be strictly enforced.

Below is a list of spare seat services you can apply for: seat availability is correct as of 15 October 2025. If the service isn’t listed, we’re unable to offer any seats and it’s unlikely a seat could be offered if even if added to a waiting list.