What types of travel assistance do we offer?
You could get:
- Money to help pay for travel (called a Personal Travel Budget or PTB)
- Training to help your child learn to travel by themselves
- A bus pass to use public transport
- A shared minibus or taxi
- Special vehicles for wheelchair users, with helpers if needed
Sometimes, parents or carers need to help get their child to a pick-up point. For children in nursery or for those over 16, travel help may only be available for some days each week.
See if you qualify and apply for travel assistance
How to arrange travel
- We will tell you when and where we will collect your child.
- We usually pick up your child from home and take them to school.
- Sometimes, we might need to pick up or drop off your child at a different place.
- You must help your child get into and out of the vehicle.
- If no one is there to collect your child after school, we will take them to a safe place for you to pick them up.
- If your child is not going to school, you must let the transport company know. We will make sure you have their contact details.
Can you get travel assistance to any school?
Your child must go to the nearest suitable school that can meet their needs. This school should be named in their EHC plan. If you choose a school farther away, we might not be able to help with travel costs.
Can you get travel assistance to residential schools?
If your child goes to a residential school and it is in their EHC plan, you can apply for travel help. Travel will match their schedule, usually once a week or every half term. We cannot give transport on other days.
Can you get SEND transport without an EHC plan?
If your child does not have an EHC plan, you cannot get our SEND transport help. You might be able to get our mainstream offer.
Can you get travel assistance for respite?
If it is during term time, you can apply for travel help to respite care. This will be reviewed on a case by case basis and is not always provided.
Can you get travel assistance outside of school hours?
Usually, transport is only at the start and end of the school day. If your child shares a vehicle, pick-up and drop-off times might be a bit earlier or later. We cannot offer transport in emergencies or for trips that are not between home and school or college.
What if your child is late?
Your child must be ready on time. The vehicle can only wait for five minutes.
What if you need to change the travel arrangements?
You must apply again if your child:
- moves house
- changes school or college
What is independent travel training (ITT)?
Independent Travel Training helps children with special needs learn to travel safely on their own. If your child has an education, health, and care (EHC) plan and gets travel help from us, they can join this training.
What is independent travel training?
- It teaches young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to travel alone to school or college.
- It helps them use buses and trains confidently.
- We also have a programme that shows younger children how to walk safely.
Training Options
We offer different types of training:
- One-to-one training: Your child travels with a trainer (walking or using public transport) until they can do it on their own.
- Group family training: Families practise together at home with a trainer’s support.
- Accompanied walking training: A responsible adult learns how to walk safely with the child to school.
- School or college training: One-to-one or group sessions at school or college to get ready for other courses.
What happens during training?
- A trainer will make a plan with you and your child.
- The trainer checks the route and meets your family.
- Training is designed to suit your child’s needs.
- Your child learns how to get to school or college safely. As they get better, the trainer will watch them try the journey on their own.
- They learn to find their way, use timetables and public transport, and handle problems that might come up.
By the end, your child should be able to travel alone.
How long does training last?
How long the training takes depends on what your child needs. The trainer will talk to your family about how your child is doing.
How to apply for independent travel training
To apply, fill out the referral form from National Star College:
If you need help applying, contact the Travel Training Team Coordinator.
Email: Debbie Baldwin
Phone: 0781 500 6582
What is a personal travel budget (PTB)?
What is a personal travel budget (PTB)?
A personal travel budget (PTB) is money that can help you organise travel for your child or young person to get to school or college. We will offer you a PTB if we decide it’s the most appropriate form of support.
- Your child must be eligible for the council's travel assistance to school or college.
- You will be responsible for organising all your child's school or college journeys.
- We have decided that a PTB is the most appropriate offer of support and best use of our resources.
What can you use it for?
You can use the PTB to help pay for your child’s travel to school or college. You do not have to tell the council exactly how you spend the money.
The council will check how often your child goes to school or college. If your child’s attendance falls below 95%, they will ask you to pay some money back.
How much can you get?
The amount of money you get depends on how far you travel (in miles) and how many days your child goes to school or college.
The money will be paid into your bank account and will not affect any benefits you receive.
Apply for a personal travel budget
If your child has special educational needs and you want travel help, you can say you would like to get a PTB when you apply.
If your application is agreed, but the council cannot offer the usual travel help, like a minibus, you might be offered a PTB instead.