Types of assistance offered

The aim is to ensure that all children and young people lead lives that are independent and as free from restriction as possible.

The provision of travel assistance will be based on individual needs and circumstances and have regard to the efficient use of resources.

Once a child or young person’s eligibility for travel assistance has been agreed, the council would aim to offer two forms of assistance in the first instance:

  • Independent Travel Training (bus/train pass)
  • Travelling (mileage) expenses

(Nursery/pre-school aged students will be offered travelling expenses)

Our final offer would be:

  • Assistance in the form of a council contracted vehicle

This decision would be based on the most suitable type of travel assistance to meet the identified needs of the individual child or young person and will take account of the council’s duties to make the best use of its resources. 

It should be noted that the type of travel assistance offered will be reviewed at least annually and may change as the needs of the child or young person change, whilst continuing to ensure the most suitable travel assistance is provided to meet individual needs and the best use of the council’s resources.

Travel assistance will usually only be provided for the beginning and end of the standard school/college day.

Any other journeys required will be the responsibility of parents/carers including individual/bespoke timetables, attendance at annual reviews, medical appointments, before/after school/college activities or any other time.

The council will always consider forms of travel assistance that help to develop independent travel skills to enable children and young people to lead independent lives as they grow older.

Independent Travel Training (ITT)

Once it's agreed that a child or young person is eligible for travel assistance the council will first consider the suitability of Independent Travel Training as their first travel assistance offer. The training will support a child or young person to be taught the necessary skills that will allow them to effectively deal with and resolve a range of scenarios that they might encounter when travelling on public transport:

• Timetables (including time management)

• Road safety including walking and cycling

• Accessibility (access to transport, exits and purchasing tickets)

• Communication

• Personal safety (including what-if scenarios) 

• Travel preparation

If the transport team, SEN education team or education setting identify through a transport application, the assessment process or an annual review that a child or young person may have the potential to be supported to travel independently through a travel training programme, then it will be arranged for our travel training provider to conduct an assessment in the first instance to decide if training is a suitable option for the individual.

If it is decided this is a suitable option, then arrangements will be made to begin training, at the earliest opportunity. A trainer from our travel training provider, will initially contact the parent/carer to arrange an assessment and discuss the offer. This assessment process is undertaken by a qualified Travel Trainer and involves contributions from the young person and their parents, school staff and other professionals. It is expected that where independent travel training is offered as a travel solution, a child or young person will take this up.

Travelling expenses

If a parent/carer is offered this form of travel assistance, it is their responsibility to ensure travel arrangements for the child or young person to:

  • Enable them to travel safely
  • Enable them to attend school regularly and on time; and
  • Enable them to be effectively educated once they arrive at school

Travel assistance will not be provided for the following;

  • Children or young people taken ill during the day
  • Any type of appointments including medical or any other specialists
  • Children or young people who have been excluded during the school day
  • Breakfast or after school clubs/any form of childcare
  • Journeys from/to alternative addresses/placements
  • Journeys between different campuses of the same school/college
  • Individual pupil timetables
  • Any off site provision
  • Bespoke transport for examinations
  • Inductions, transitions or ‘taster days’
  • School trips if departure and return times sit outside the normal school drop off and collection time