My eldest daughter started secondary school last week at Dorothy Stringer.

On her return she informed me her Brighton and Hove Buses ID is not valid within school hours so if we want her to catch a bus to school our options are £1.80 daily, an £8 weekly saver or £69 for a three-month saver (from £5.30 to £9 a week).

The statutory requirement is for free provision over a three-mile walking distance along a safe route. The distance by car is 3.4 miles.

Considering secondary schools in Brighton and Hove have wide catchment areas, why is there not at least a subsidy in place for bus travel? It is hardly surprising many parents opt to drive their child to school.

Although my daughter could walk three miles or so daily, I have natural concerns about my 11-year-old doing so, especially in winter.

I doubt if I am the only parent who feels this way.

Although my work is flexible I am not a driver and my partner also works. Even were it possible, I would find it uncomfortable to drive her to school on environmental grounds.

At the very least it would not be too expensive to work with Brighton and Hove Buses to subsidise its child ID scheme to work within school hours, bringing the cost of travel down to £5 a week. Obviously free school buses would be ideal.

Although I am not pleading poverty, this travel cost does have an effect on the economy of a hard-working family. It probably also has an effect on the travel habits of many during the school run.

The school is already asking for a monthly voluntary contribution for extra curricular activities and internal equipment but the travel costs may inhibit my ability to support the school in providing the best education possible for my daughter within the “free” education system.

Luke Jefford
Pankhurst Avenue, Brighton