Parents must opt in by May 31 for Suffolk County Council-funded school travel for academic year 2023/2024

Parents can now opt in for county council-funded school travel to continue to receive it for the coming academic year.

If parents have a child who is already receiving school travel funded by Suffolk County Council (SCC), they must opt in by May 31, 2023, to get it for the 2023/24 school year.

Families of children starting secondary school this September will receive an email by the end of March if they are eligible for SCC-funded school travel.

If parents have a child starting primary school this September, they should not opt in until they receive the offer of a school place. If they are eligible for SCC-funded school travel they will be contacted by May 15, after primary school offer day.

Cllr Rachel Hood, cabinet member for education, SEND and skills, said: "It is important that parents opt in for SCC-funded school travel by 31 May 2023 to ensure that transport is in place for the start of the new school year.

“If your child is starting secondary school in September, we will be in contact by the end of March to let you know if your child is eligible. If your child already receives SCC-funded school travel, you must opt in every year to continue to receive SCC-funded school travel.”

If a child is not eligible for SCC-funded school travel, but their parents wish to purchase a spare seat, they may do so from July 1, 2023.

Visit the website to opt in or for more information on the SCC school travel policy.

The opt-in system began in 2019 with the new school travel policy.