Buy a vacant seat

Buy a vacant seat on a school coach

If your child cannot get free school transport, you might be able to pay for a seat on the school coach.

You can do this if:

  • there is space on one of our current routes
  • your child does not already get free school transport on another route
  • there is no public bus they could use

Check if you already qualify for free school transport

How much does it cost?

The prices will stay the same from September 2025.

  • primary school children: £94.35 each term (there are 6 terms in a year)
  • extra children from the same family: £70.76 per term
  • secondary school and sixth-form children: £188.70 per term (6 terms per year)
  • extra children from the same family: £141.53 per term

Should you try the Vacant Seat Scheme?

Children and young people who get free transport are always given seats first. This means:

  • your child might have to get on the bus at a different stop, not always close to your home
  • we may take their seat away if someone who gets free transport needs it
  • we may take their seat away if the bus gets changed to a smaller one
  • we may not know for sure if there are seats to sell until November
  • the following services do not have vacant seats available:
    • BE03 Coleman's Hatch - Groombridge - Beacon Academy
    • CC01 Westfield - Sedlescombe - Claverham Community College
    • CC06 Westfield - Claverham Community College
    • CS06 Barcombe Mills - Barcombe - Newick - Chailey School
    • CS12 World's End - Wivelsfield - Chailey School 
    • CS14 Slugwash Lane - Streat - Plumpton - Chailey School
    • CS15 Barcombe - Town Littleworth - Cooksbridge - Chailey School
    • HE04 Twelve Oaks - Dallington - Rushlake Green - Beestons Triangle - Heathfield Community College
    • UP01 Burwash - Pashley Road - Uplands Academy

How do you buy a vacant seat?

  1. Fill in the request form.
  2. Once we have given places to all students who get free transport, we will tell you if there are seats left to buy.
  3. If you are applying for the start of the new school year, you will find out by November if you can buy a seat.
  4. If you apply after November, we will try to let you know within 10 working days.
Request a vacant seat

Which schools are included?

Check if we provide transport to your child’s school:

Primary schools 

  • Alfriston School 
  • Burwash C E Primary School 
  • Dallington CE School 
  • Firle Primary School 
  • Laughton Community Primary School 
  • Little Horsted C of E Primary 
  • Ninfield C of E Primary School 
  • Rye Community Primary School 
  • St Peter’s C of E Primary School (Chailey) 

See:  Primary school coach timetables 

Secondary schools 

Read the terms and conditions of the vacant seat scheme

Availability of seats

  • We cannot always promise there will be empty seats on the bus or train.
  • By law, only 20% of seats can be given as spare seats. If too many people ask, your request might not be accepted.
  • You need to ask for a spare seat every school year.

New school year allocation

  • Wait until the old school year finishes before you apply for the next one in September.
  • Seats for the new school year are usually given out at the end of October, so children who get free school transport have first choice.
  • You should plan another way to get to school for the first half of the school term, just in case.

Priority for seats

  • Children who get free transport are first in line.
  • Spare seats can be taken away if children who qualify need them, or if the size of the bus or train changes. If this happens, you will need to find your own way to school. The County Council will not help with this.
  • If there are more requests than seats, seats are given in this order:
  • Students going to their local or chosen school or sixth form – those living farthest away get priority.
  • Students not going to their local school or sixth form – those living closest get priority.
  • Date of application – applications made after the term starts get the lowest priority.
  • Your local school is the nearest one that takes students from your area and has places.

Conditions of travel

  • The bus or train will only pick up students at planned stops, and these might change during the year.
  • Students must get to their stop on time. The bus or train cannot wait.
  • You must have a valid permit to travel. If your permit is damaged or used incorrectly, it may be taken away.
  • Sometimes the bus or train might be late because of traffic. Students should wait up to 20 minutes and be ready for the weather.
  • Students are expected to behave well while travelling.
  • Council staff may check buses and trains at any time.
  • Even with a permit, parents are still responsible for getting their child to school.

Payment for travel

  • You must pay for at least one term in advance. We will send your permit once we get your payment.
  • We will ask for the next payment when needed.
  • We cannot send new permits until you pay for the next term and any owed money. If you pay late, your permit will be late, and your child cannot travel.

Reductions and refunds

If more than one child from your family pays the full rate, you may get a discount for the others. If we have to take away your permit, we will refund you.

There is no discount or refund for:

  • students who only travel for part of the term, unless they join or leave for good
  • bad weather or if the bus or train breaks down
  • temporary absence from school

Withdrawal from the scheme

  • If your child doesn’t need the bus or train anymore, tell us right away and send the permit back. This stops you from being charged for the rest of the term and lets another child use the seat.
  • Sometimes, a student may lose their right to travel. This can be at short notice. If this happens, you will get money back for the rest of the term.
  • If your child cannot travel anymore, you must arrange a new way for them to get to school. The County Council will not arrange or pay for this.

Lost or damaged permits

  • It costs £10 to get a new permit if you lose or damage one.
  • You can pay with a credit or debit card. We do not accept cash or cheques.