How far is walking distance?
For a child under eight years of age the walking distance is two miles from home to the school. For a child aged eight or over the walking distance is three miles. Walking distance is measured by the shortest available route, from the nearest entrance to the home (eg front gate), to the nearest school entrance. The Courts have defined an available route as one ‘along which a child accompanied as necessary can walk and walk with reasonable safety to school. It does not fail to qualify as ‘available’ because of dangers which would arise if the child is unaccompanied’.