Armed Forces Covenant – School Transport

Hampshire County Council, in its delivery of school transport services, recognises its commitment under the Armed Forces Covenant and the value that the Armed Forces Community contributes to Hampshire.

School Transport endeavours to ensure that no member of the Armed Forces Community is placed at a disadvantage compared to someone in a similar position who is not a member of the Armed Forces Community.

This commitment does not remove or override statutory eligibility criteria, nor does it create an automatic entitlement to transport assistance.

The Armed Forces Community includes serving members of the Armed Forces, reservists, veterans and their families.  Applicants will be expected to provide evidence of their connection to the Armed Forces Community.

We recognise that service-related circumstances may result in significant changes during a school year, and we will consider additional applications where there has been a material change in circumstances.

We will:

• Aim to process all applications in a timely manner and prioritise decision-making for applications from the Armed Forces Community.
• Consider the individual circumstances of children from Armed Forces families, recognising that factors such as service‑related mobility, postings, relocation, or changes in family circumstances may affect access to services.
• Make decisions on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all information provided, the child’s needs, the circumstances of the family and the efficient use of public resources.

Eligibility for free school transport will continue to be determined in accordance with the statutory framework set out in the Education Act 1996 and the eligibility criteria defined in the School Transport Policy.