Discretionary post-16 travel assistance

Discretionary post-16 travel assistance

As young people grow older, our focus is on helping them develop the skills and confidence to travel independently. Where appropriate, we offer Independent Travel Training to support this. Refer to our Independent travel training webpages for more information and how to enrol onto our travel training programme. 

Our approach

We do not have a legal duty to provide free or subsidised transport for post-16 students. Instead, we consider each request for travel assistance on a case-by-case basis, taking into account individual needs and circumstances.

• Read our full Post-16 Discretionary Travel Assistance Policy Statement (PDF) for detailed information.

Eligibility criteria

A young person may qualify for travel assistance if:

• They are a resident of Wokingham Borough and
• They have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and
• They are attending their nearest education or training provider allocated by the Local Authority, identified in their most current EHCP as meeting their needs, or a nearer qualifying provider.

In addition, they must meet one of the following criteria:

• Their learning difficulty or disability prevents them from walking to school or college or from using public transport, accompanied as necessary
  or
• They have other exceptional circumstances which impact their ability to use public transport and cannot travel independently or safely, accompanied as necessary, and they live more than 3 miles from their nearest provider.

For learners aged 19 to 25

Travel assistance may be available for young people aged 19 to 25 who:

• Are continuing a course started before their 19th birthday.
• Meet the same criteria above.
• Are attending a full-time college course (minimum 12 hours per week, usually across at least 3 days per week).

Please note: Travel assistance will not be provided for young people who have left education and are returning after the age of 19. Those restarting education after their 19th birthday will be assessed as adults.

Nearest suitable provider

When we consider travel assistance, it will only be provided to the nearest school or college that offers an appropriate course for your child.
This means the course must either:

• Help your child meet their learning or employment goals, or
• Be specifically designed to meet their special educational needs.

This could include:

• Local schools with sixth form provision
• Further education colleges
• Council-maintained or assisted institutions
• Establishments funded by the Education Skills Funding Agency
• Accredited learning providers delivering Council-funded programmes

If your child chooses to attend a school or college outside Wokingham, we can only provide travel assistance if:

• It is the nearest provider offering an appropriate course, and
• The journey is 3 miles or more.

If a similar course is available at a closer school or college, we cannot provide travel assistance.

What we offer

• Our standard offer is a Personal Transport Budget (PTB) – a contribution towards transport costs, giving families flexibility and choice
• Council-organised transport (such as a taxi or minibus) will only be considered in exceptional circumstances

If you’re not eligible

You may still:

• Apply for a spare seat on existing Council transport (subject to availability). See our Spare Seat Scheme page
• Ask your school or college about bursary schemes to help with travel costs

Annual re-application

All post-16 students receiving travel assistance must re-apply each year.
Applications should be submitted by 31 May for a September start.