School Transport

East Ayrshire Council provide free transport for all primary pupils who reside within East Ayrshire who live 1.5 miles or more from their local primary school (by the recognised shortest suitable walking distance) and to secondary pupils who reside within East Ayrshire who live 3 miles or more from their local secondary school (by the recognised shortest suitable walking distance).

This policy remains more generous than that prescribed by statute and may be reviewed at any time.

Free transport may also be available on the grounds of a medical condition or in cases where a family has moved house at a critical stage of education. Download the Free School Transport leaflet (PDF 331Kb) for details.

If you feel your child qualifies for free school travel and you wish to take advantage of this option, please fill in the school transport online application form.

If you reside within South Ayrshire and would like to find out more about free school transport please visit the South Ayrshire Council website 

Subsidised transport service

This service is available to secondary school pupils who reside within East Ayrshire and live between 1.5 and 3 miles from their catchment area school. Pupils can be registered for this service on an annual basis and there are various methods available for payment over the year.

Download further information about the subsidised transport scheme (PDF 172Kb)

If you feel your child qualifies for subsidised transport and you wish to take advantage of this option, please fill in the school transport online application form.

Please note that the dedicated school transport service provided by East Ayrshire Council is not a registered public transport service and as such National Entitlement Cards will not be accepted for travel.

Subsidised school transport service charges apply, providing parents peace of mind of direct home to school transport for their child.

For further information please email School-Transport@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Privileged seat availability

Subsidised privileged seats may be available to pupils who reside within East Ayrshire if there is spare capacity on existing school transport contracts.

Download further information about the privileged seat scheme (PDF 257Kb)

If you feel your child qualifies for a privileged seat and you wish to take advantage of this option, please fill in the  school transport online application form.

It may be possible to arrange a temporary priviledged seat should your child suffer an injury* that results in a short-term requirement for transport to and from school. In the first instance, please contact your child's school.

*Please note that a letter from their doctor may be required. 

Additional Needs Assessment

School transport can be provided for a child who is resides in East Ayrshire and has learning, behavioural or physical difficulties.

Medical transport can also be provided on a short term basis for a child who has an injury that causes mobility difficulties. The childs school can submit a request by email for short term transport to Transport Services.

Email School-Transport@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Contact Information 

Phone: 01563 503 160

E-mail: enquiries@ayrshireroadsalliance.org

Address:  Ayrshire Roads Alliance, Opera House, 8 John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 1DD