Adapted school transport and school residences for rural or disabled pupils

Terms used

• Dictamen de escolarización — The dictamen de escolarización is an educational psychologist's report on a pupil's needs, used to decide the right school and support.
• Residencia escolar — A residencia escolar is a publicly run boarding house where pupils from remote areas stay during the school week.
• Ayuda individualizada — The ayuda individualizada is a travel aid paid to a family that has no school route near home.
• Consejería — The consejería is the regional government department that runs education in your autonomous community.

Key rules

• Where rules are set: Each region sets its own distances, stages, deadlines and forms, so ask your regional education department.
• Cost: Transport for qualifying pupils in compulsory education is generally free, but later and infant stages often carry a fee or no right.
• Disability: A disabled pupil needs the official disability certificate or a psychologist's report with the application.
• No route nearby: If no route exists, the resolution may give you an individual travel aid instead.
• Residencias: Boarding places are not available everywhere and go first to pupils from remote areas.

Who can get adapted transport

Free school transport is for pupils who have no school in their own locality and must travel to the school they are assigned. It mainly covers compulsory education. Some regions also include infant or special education stages.

Most regions set a minimum distance between home and school, often around 3 km. Each region's education department sets the exact distance and stages.

Pupils with a disability or special educational needs can also qualify if they cannot use ordinary transport. This depends on an assessment of the disability or needs. Pupils in special education centres, or in special units inside ordinary schools, are normally covered.

The school must be public or publicly funded.

How to ask for it

Apply to the school, or to the regional education department, within a set period. This is usually at enrolment, or in spring and summer. Ask the school early for the dates and the form, because they differ by region.

You usually file the form at the school or online through the regional education portal. Expect to give:

• the application form
• proof of address
• for a disabled pupil, the official disability certificate or an educational psychologist's report (dictamen de escolarización)

The documents and checklist below give the full list and the order to follow.

Who decides and what you get

The regional education delegation or consejería decides. It often does so after a school transport committee reviews the requests.

You receive a resolution. It grants one of three things: a place on a route, a seat, or an individual travel aid (ayuda individualizada). The aid applies when no route exists near your home. Read the resolution carefully to see which one you were given.

School residences

A residencia escolar is a boarding facility run by the regional education department. Pupils who live far from school, mostly in rural areas with no transport or nearby school, stay there during the week. Most users are in compulsory and post-compulsory education. Some places go to pupils with special needs.

Places are given first to pupils from remote areas, then by family income and other criteria. You apply to the regional department, often when you enrol, using the regional form with proof of address and income.

Residencias do not exist in every region or town. Ask your regional education department whether one serves your area, and for which ages.

What it costs

Where your child qualifies, transport in compulsory education is generally free, because the regional education department pays. Transport for disabled pupils in special education is free in most regions.

Residencia places in compulsory education are usually free or heavily subsidised. Some regions charge for meals or extras, with income-based aid available. An individual travel aid may repay part of your costs when no route exists.

Post-compulsory and infant stages often carry a fee, or give no right to transport. Check this for your child's stage.

If your child has a disability, the other pages on support for pupils with special needs may also help.

Timeline and deadlines

• Hand in the application and documents at the school or on the regional education portal: within the set period, usually with enrolment or in spring and summer

• The regional education delegation or consejería reviews the request, often after a school transport committee: after the application period closes

• You receive a resolution granting a route, a seat or an individual travel aid: after the review

Documents you need

• The application form for school transport, filed at the school or online through the regional education portal.

• Proof of address, such as a padrón certificate (a town hall record of where you live).

• For a disabled pupil, the official disability certificate or an educational psychologist's report (dictamen de escolarización).

• For a residencia escolar place, the specified regional application form and proof of family income, filed with the regional education department.

Checklist

• Ask the school or regional education department for the application period and form.

• Gather proof of address.

• Get the official disability certificate or the educational psychologist's report (dictamen de escolarización) if your child has a disability.

• File the application at the school or on the regional education portal within the set period.

• Check the resolution to see whether it grants a route, a seat or an individual travel aid.

• Apply to the regional education department for a residencia escolar place, with proof of income, if your home is remote.

Frequently asked questions

Is school transport free for a pupil with a disability?

Yes, transport for disabled pupils in special education is free in most regions, because the regional education department pays. Pupils in ordinary schools who cannot use ordinary transport are assessed on their disability or needs.

What if there is no school route near my home?

If no route exists, the resolution can grant an individual travel aid (ayuda individualizada) instead of a seat. It may reimburse part of your travel costs, so ask the school how to apply for it.

Is a residencia escolar available in every region?

No, residencias are not available in all regions or towns, and the age range and criteria differ. Priority goes to pupils in remote areas, then by family income and other criteria.