Support for learners over 16 years-old
By law, we provide transport free of charge to eligible children between the ages of 5 and 16 years-old. We do not provide transport for students of ages above 16 years-old, unless they have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and have been assessed as eligible.
If eligible, you must pay towards the cost of providing transport. Students and parents should look at all other travel and transport options before applying to us for assistance. These may be cheaper than the rates we charge.
If you apply to us for travel assistance, we'll ask you to show you've looked at all other options.
Learners without special educational needs or disabilities
We will provide information to help young people who do not have special educational needs or disabilities. In exceptional circumstances we may provide travel assistance but you would have to pay each year towards the cost of transport.
You may be able to get assistance from the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund – details below.
Learners with special educational needs or disabilities
As young people get closer to school leaving age, they should be given opportunities to learn a range of life skills, including independent travel where possible.
We may provide travel assistance to learners aged from 16 to 25 years-old (post-16) if they have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or mobility problems. The type of assistance will be based on an assessment of the young person's needs.
Where possible we will consider the student's course timetable when arranging travel assistance but we cannot guarantee transport will line-up with timetables for each individual student.
Eligibility for post-16 travel assistance
Once a student is 16 years-old, their SEND support must be reassessed. This applies to any young person who:
- is 16 to 19 years-old and started their course before their 19th birthday – if starting a new course, you must reapply with evidence of your continued education
- is 16 to 19 years-old with severe physical and learning disabilities
- is 16 to 19 years-old and has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan issued by us
- is 19 to 25 years-old and continuing a course they started before their 19th birthday
- lives more than 3 miles' walking distance from their place of learning
- attends the nearest suitable college or sixth form
We do not provide travel assistance to learners who are apprentices, trainees or in work placements.
How much you'll need to pay
The charges for post-16 transport are provided below.
| Charge type | Total each year | Total each week for 38 weeks of term |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | £900 | £23.69 |
| Low income family | £450 | £11.85 |
Low income families are those who are entitled to:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- the maximum level of Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit, with an annual gross income of £16,190 or less
- Universal Credit, with an annual earned income of £7,400 or less
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
If you are eligible for travel assistance, we will contact you with details of what we can provide and how you can pay.
16 to 19 Bursary Fund
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund helps students aged 16, 17 or 18 years-old who struggle with the costs of full–time education or training.
Each education provider has its own policy for managing the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund according. Young people must apply directly to their academy, school, college or other training provider for support from the fund.
For more information, go to GOV.UK: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund.
Apply for post-16 travel assistance
If your child is starting a new college year in September, you should apply for travel support no earlier than 1 June and no later than 8 July – if you apply after this date, we may not be able to arrange support in time for the beginning of term.
If you make a late application, even if this is because student's course timetable was not available, you will be expected to take your child to and from school or college until transport has been arranged.
Apply for home to school or college travel assistance
Further information
Our post-16 transport policy statement, below, provides more information.