FAQ's
Q. How do I apply for a place on the bus for my child?
Transport for Greater Manchester will send you an application pack if you live within the catchment area of the bus route. Read the information booklet, then fill in the application form and travel survey at the back and send the form back to us. Or you can download the forms from this website and send them completed to:
Yellow School Bus
Transport for Greater Manchester
2 Piccadilly Place
Manchester M1 3BG
We will then send you a bus pass to show to the driver when getting on the bus. This bus pass will be required to be renewed each year.
We accept applications on a strictly first-come, first-served basis and with limited seats on each bus and a 'no standees' policy, not all applicants can be guaranteed a place. If the bus your child is eligible to use is full we will try to accommodate them by moving other students to another bus where possible. If there is still no space then your child will be added to our waiting list until a place becomes available.
You must have an 'igo pass' to buy tickets to use Yellow School Buses. Application forms for an 'igo pass' are available at www.tfgm.com/igo or from Travelshops, at main bus stations in Greater Manchester. Please allow time for your 'igo pass' to be processed.
Q. What if I don't receive an application pack for my child?
Your child's school may not be part of the Yellow School Bus scheme (see the YSB routes section on this site to find out) or you don't live within the catchment area of the route of a Yellow School Bus serving the school.
Q. How do I renew my child's place on the bus for the next school year?
We will send a letter to all registered users of the Yellow School Buses in June asking if you would like to renew your child's place on the bus for the following school year. Just fill in the form and send it back to us in the freepost envelope provided.
If you have other children starting at the school the following year then we'll send a separate application pack for them. If you'd like them to travel on the same bus then please make a note on the applicaton form stating which bus your children currently use and we'll do our best to make sure that they all get a place on the same bus.
Q. Who should I contact if my child has left something on the bus?
The first point of contact would be the operator of your child's Yellow School Bus. You will have received a letter with your child's bus pass with the contact details of which company operates your bus. Visit the YSB routes page on this site to find out who operates your bus and how to contact them.
Q. What should I do if my child loses their bus pass?
Contact Transport for Greater Manchester as soon as possible. Your child won't be able to use the bus without the pass unless we contact the driver to tell them to allow your child to travel without it until they get a replacement. (We keep the second passport photo supplied with the application so that we can make the replacement pass and send it out the same day.)
Q. Do I still need to apply for a Free School Travel pass for my child?
Yes. Your child could be eligible for free bus travel if they:
- are registered blind;
- are profoundly deaf and without speech or with speech that is difficult to understand; or
- have learning disabilities.
Please contact your local Social Services Department. You will need to provide two passport photographs and a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
If you think your child is eligible for Free School Travel because they live more than three miles from their school then you should contact your council's Education Department.