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.
Learners without special educational needs or disabilities
We will provide information to help young people who do not have special educational needs or disabilities. We do not provide travel assistance.
Learners with special educational needs or disabilities
Those with SEND who may be eligible for travel assistance are:
- young people of sixth-form age
- adults aged 19 years-old or older in education or training
In most cases, there will be a charge for travel support. This may be all or part of the cost.
We will reassess the transport needs of young people with SEND when they move to post-16 learning, even if they stay at the same place of education.
If your child's education, health and care (EHC) plan assessment has found that support with transport is necessary to meet their needs, you should complete the application form below.
From 1 September 2022, there will be a transport charge for all eligible young people whose families do not meet the criteria for low income – details will be provided in a letter to parents in an update to our post-16 transport policy statement, below.
Eligibility
All applicants must live within Thurrock. Where a young person lives between 2 addresses, we will use the address at which child benefit is paid, if applicable. Where no child benefit is paid, we will use the address for benefits paid to the young person, or other evidence we consider relevant.
We will only offer post-16 transport support where:
- the student attends the nearest suitable school or college – as recommended by the local authority – that offers the course they wish to study
- their school or college is more than 3 miles from their home address
Apply for post-16 travel support
If your child is starting a new school year in September 2022, you should apply for help with home to school travel no earlier than 1 June 2022.
Post-16 transport application form
Further information
Our post-16 transport policy statement, below, provides more information.