The Platform
MoveSmarter
Simplify and streamline the school transport application process
MoveSmarter gives local authorities a smarter way to manage home to school transport. It reduces administrative effort, improves visibility, and supports fair, compliant decision-making across every stage of the transport process, from application to service allocation. Developed with transport teams, it reflects the real way authorities work, while unlocking efficiency gains, safeguarding improvements, and measurable cost savings.
Benefits
What it means for your authority
Less admin
Structured workflows remove manual steps and free up staff time with faster, clearer processes.
Better accuracy
Reduce the risk of errors across application handling and maintain full oversight of decisions and learner data.
Transparency
Portals and APIs give parents and operators the visibility they need without extra work for your team.
Safeguarding
GDPR-compliant data handling with role-based access. Look up any learner to see which services they travelled on and who they travelled with.
SEND and ALN ready
Flexible tools support both mainstream and ALN or SEND learners throughout the full process.
Cost savings
Improve planning and reduce over-provisioning through loading vs capacity reports, reducing contract costs.
How it works
A typical workflow
Application submission
Parents apply online through your existing portal, or transport teams create records directly in the system. Each application includes learner details and ALN or SEND requirements.
Entitlement processing
Transport teams review applications, create or update entitlement records, and log all decisions, notes, and documents. The system helps track eligibility and maintain a full audit history for every learner.
Eligibility support with maps
Visual tools show catchments, walking distances, and campus location. These help staff make informed decisions based on the learner's address and school location, including complex or discretionary cases.
Dashboards
Dashboards give staff a clear overview of progress at every stage. Easily monitor which applications need attention, track entitlement status, and view supporting information in one place.
Route and service allocation
Approved learners are assigned to stops and services using planning tools that show data on capacity, allocations, and loading. Dashboards help ensure no learner is missed and no service is overloaded.
Features
Key features
Application tracking dashboards
Follow the full journey of an application from submission to allocation. Progress indicators show which applications need attention and help staff manage tasks across teams.
Entitlement and service oversight
Quickly identify learners by entitlement status. See which are new, reviewed, require a card printing, need a service allocating or are in an appeals process, and identify which require action from your team.
Mapping and eligibility tools
Use catchment overlays, walking distance bands and SEND or ALN details to support fair, policy-based decisions. Google Maps and Street View are available within the eligibility checking screen, so staff can verify addresses and walking routes without leaving the system.
SEND and ALN support
Capture additional learner needs and track requirements for complex cases. SEND and ALN information is visible at eligibility checking, route allocation and on loading lists.
NaPTAN stops and local stops
Plan routes using the national NaPTAN stop database or create your own local stops where no official stop exists.
Next academic year planning
Build and manage next year's entitlements and service allocations independently of the current network. Changes to your plans have no effect on this year's loading or capacity data.
Operator and PTU access
Each user sees only what is relevant to them. PTU teams and operators all log in to their own view. Operators see their services and loading lists, nothing more.
Crew management
Record driver and passenger assistant details against each operator, including DBS status and expiry dates. Operators can manage their own crew through their portal.
Parent-facing application API
Integrate with your existing portal to allow families to submit transport applications, check service assignments, and view service status.
Safeguarding reports
Look up any learner to see which services they travelled on and who they travelled with.
Welsh and English interface
The platform is available in both Welsh and English, supporting bilingual working across all user roles.
Secure data management
All data is stored and managed securely in compliance with GDPR. Access is role-based, so each user sees only the data relevant to their role.
Roadmap
What's coming next
CO2 Emissions Reporting
Track and report emissions across your transport network, supporting environmental targets and more sustainable travel decisions.
Future Service Planning
Plan and test service changes for the next academic year without affecting your currently active network. Create, refine, and apply proposals with confidence.
Vehicle Management
Operators manage their vehicle fleet within the system. For authorities using the MoveSmarter mobile app, vehicle registration and walkaround confirmation will be captured at the start of each journey.
Operator Invoicing Reports
Reports covering capacity, loading and actual usage data, giving you the evidence to verify and challenge operator invoices based on journeys actually run.
TfW Card Printing Integration
Wales only. One card for both 16+ travel and home to school transport, with direct integration with TfW ITSO card printing services for all provisioned learners.
Email Notifications
Automated emails for key application, workflow status and learner service allocation updates.
Automated Service Planning
Smart route planning that helps reduce journey times, cut costs, and make better use of vehicles through automated optimisation.
One-Click Application Assessment
Checks eligibility, flags issues, and recommends the best route in a single action, reducing assessment time and improving consistency.
Safe Walking Route Management
Define, manage and share safe walking routes. Visualise safe and dangerous walking and cycling routes on a map for each campus.