Grounds for School Transport

A school bus card is granted in the following cases:

• The distance between the home of a student in years 1–9 and the nearest local school is over 5km.
• The distance between the home of a 10th year student resident in Turku and the nearest local school is over 5km.

The distance between home and school is measured from the yard of the student’s home to the yard of the school via the shortest road that is suitable for pedestrians and is in public use.

The school bus card can be granted for a shorter distance in the following cases:

The way to school is strenuous or difficult

The way to school is too strenuous or difficult for the student when taking into account the student’s age and other circumstances. The decision will be made based on a doctor’s or psychologist’s report. It will evaluate the child’s health and/or development, as well as his/her ability to travel independently on foot.

The report must be requested by the guardian of the child. Only reports by public specialist/hospital/health centre doctors or school or welfare clinic doctors as well as psychologists that work for the City of Turku (or the student’s municipality of residence) are taken into account. Reports by private doctors or psychologists are not accepted.

The way to school is dangerous

The way to school is considered dangerous. The decision will be made based on a police report which is requested by the Education Division. The danger of predators is evaluated by the Southwest Finland Wildlife Agency, from which the Education Division requests a report.

Charter transport will be arranged in the following cases:

• The everyday way to school takes over two and a half hours including waiting time. For over 13-year-olds the time limit is over three hours.
• For 1st and 2nd year students: if the distance between home and the nearest bus stop is at least 3 km. For students in years 3–9: if the distance is at least over 5 km.

The way to school is strenuous or difficult

The way to school may be too difficult compared to the child’s personal level of development or too strenuous due to health reasons so that the student cannot travel the distance on foot or by bus. The decision will be made based on a doctor’s or psychologist’s report. It will evaluate the child’s health and/or development, as well as his/her ability to travel independently on foot. The report must be requested by the guardian of the child.

Only reports by public specialist/hospital/health centre doctors or school or welfare clinic doctors as well as psychologists that work for the City of Turku (or the student’s municipality of residence) are taken into account. Reports by private doctors or psychologists are not accepted.

The way to school is dangerous

In this case the way to school is dangerous in respect of the part from home to bus stop or from bus stop to school or when the child is waiting for the bus. The decision will be made based on a police report which is requested by the Education Division. The danger of predators is evaluated by the Southwest Finland Wildlife Agency, from which the Education Division requests a report.