Transport assistance for post 16 low income and SEND students

Who can apply

Most students do not receive or require travel support to enable them to participate in education and training. Generally transport will only be provided for qualifying students:

• from a 'low income' family
• who have Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

If you're from a low income family

To qualify for ‘low income’ transport assistance students must:

• be under the age of 19 years on 1 September 2024
• have applied for a full time course (a minimum of 17 hours per week)
• live over three miles from their catchment sixth form
• live over three miles from their nearest college offering the vocational area they are studying

If you're eligible, your family must provide evidence that you are  in the receipt of one of the following:

• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IB JSA)
• Child Tax Credit and have an annual income below the relevant threshold
• Employment and Support Allowance (Income related) 
• Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 
• Maximum level of Working Tax Credit

Benefits that supersede those listed above.

You must provide evidence of the benefits with your application form which must be within the financial year. These should be photocopies.

Apply for discretionary transport for low income families

Download and complete the application form. After you have completed it, send it to the address on the form.

If you move house you will need to complete an application form for your new address to find out if you will be entitled to assistance with transport.

If you have a learning difficulty or a disability (SEND)

We will consider travel arrangements for students after the age of 18 years up to 25 with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans who started their programme of learning before their 19th birthday.

Where we consider it necessary to make arrangements for the provision of transport where we have secured the provision of the education or training at the relevant institution, along with the provision of boarding accommodation, then this transport will be provided free of charge. 

In all other cases, we have discretion to determine what transport or financial support is necessary to facilitate the student’s participation in education and training. 

What we assess

In determining whether it is necessary for us to provide transport, we will consider on an individual basis why it is necessary and will assess: 

• the needs of those for whom it would not be reasonably practicable to attend a particular establishment to receive education or training if no arrangements were made
• the needs of the relevant young adult students who are parents
• distance and journey time from the student’s home to establishments of education and training, the cost of transport there and alternative means of facilitating attendance at establishments
• the nature of the route or alternative routes which the student could reasonably be expected to take 
• any preference to attend a particular educational establishment based on religion or belief for students from families on low income 
• anything stated in an EHC plan about transport
• whether there is a nearer institution which is suitable and can provide the same or similar qualification(s)
• what other arrangements have been considered or tried and why they are not suitable; 
• what funding is available for transport from the institution that the student is attending. There would be an expectation that the student has actively applied for that funding; 
• if there is a family member/carer who is more aware of the student’s needs and who is able to transport the student and if it is the most appropriate option for the student why it would not be a reasonable arrangement to make; 
• if the student is in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance, the purpose of which is to assist those who have mobility problems, with severe difficulty walking or who need help getting around outside, we would expect this benefit to be fully utilised to meet their transport needs and this includes transport to their educational or training placement. If there are any factors limiting its use, details should be provided; 
• the student’s age, ability, aptitudes and special educational need or disability (as specified within an Education, Health and Care Plan)
• the quality of education or training and locations and times of provision
• if there is a 'Motability' vehicle available to the student. If a decision has been made not to use the 'Motability' vehicle to support the student to reach their education placement, we would normally expect the carer/student to make their own appropriate alternative arrangements, or provide details as to why that is not possible/reasonable
• any other circumstances that need to be taken into account along with any recent supporting evidence
• the best use of our resources

If you're not eligible for free transport

You can contact your school or college to see if they would be able to assist you with your transport arrangements.

If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal.

Other financial support

Find out if you can get financial support to help with education costs by either:

• seeing if you're eligible for the bursary fund
• visiting the education provider’s website to enquire about any travel assistance or bursary scheme available

If you are a young parent under 20, ‘Care to Learn’ can help pay for your childcare and related travel costs, up to £160 per child per week, while you’re in education.

Find out if you're eligible for Care to Learn on GOV.UK

Further information

For more information on post-16 transport, download the policy statement.