Lancashire County Council Post 16 transport to education and training policy statement 2018/19
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Lancashire County Council
Post 16 transport to education and
training policy statement 2018/19
Page 1 of 12Contents
Summary of Policy Statement and Main Objectives ..............................................................................3
Details of support available ...................................................................................................................3
Government funded schemes ............................................................................................................3
Discretionary Learner Support Funds ................................................................................................4
For Students attending a School Sixth Form .........................................................................................4
For Students attending a Further Education College or Provider ...........................................................4
For Students attending a Special School ...............................................................................................4
Eligibility for Transport Support..............................................................................................................4
Support for Learners with Disabilities and/or Learning Difficulties ..........................................................4
What happens when my child turns 16?.............................................................................................4
Students with special educational needs or disability with a Special Educational Needs
statement/Education, Health and Care Plan maintained by the local authority ...................................5
Attendance at a school or college outside Lancashire........................................................................5
Passenger Assistants ........................................................................................................................5
Route Reviews...................................................................................................................................6
What can you apply for? .................................................................................................................7
Who can apply? .............................................................................................................................7
Where to apply? .............................................................................................................................7
Mobility / independence training for learners who face difficulty with transport ......................................7
Support available for students who attend a further education institution which is beyond daily
travelling distance and they need to stay away ......................................................................................8
Support available for young parents...................................................................................................8
Useful contact information .....................................................................................................................8
School Transport Enquiry Line ...........................................................................................................8
Appeals and Complaints Procedure ......................................................................................................8
Support available from post 16 institutions in Lancashire ......................................................................9
For young people following an Apprenticeship .................................................................................... 11
Appendix A .......................................................................................................................................... 12
Page 2 of 12Summary of Policy Statement and Main Objectives
Every Local Authority in England has a duty to prepare and publish an annual Transport Policy
Statement which complies with the requirements of section 509 AA of the Education Act 1996
regarding adequate provision of transport to facilitate the attendance of post 16 learners.
The Transport Policy Statement describes the transport support available to young people aged 16-19
years old, and young person's up to 25 years old who have a learning difficulty and /or a disability, who
are entering or continuing in further education and learning, including apprenticeships and
traineeships.
This statement provides information regarding transport support available for Lancashire learners
accessing 16-19 education and training for the academic year 2018/2019.
The following sections outline how 16-19 year olds and young person's up to 25 years old who have a
learning difficulty and / or a disability can access support with transport to their chosen educational
establishment. Much of this support is provided by the establishments themselves, in partnership with
public transport providers and the County Council.
All young people's transition to adulthood should support them to reach their full potential as an adult,
by helping them to make decisions about their career, education, social life and where they are going
to live. The transition process should be driven by the needs, views and wishes of the young person
and their family, and not by the agencies surrounding them, in order that they can become as
independent as possible.
Prior to the end of Y11 we will work with parents, colleagues in our SEND team who have been
working with you to develop the Education Health Care (EHC) plan for your young person, and both
their current school and preferred post 16 education or training provider to determine what support is
required to enable them to travel to and from college/setting.
In line with the preparing for adulthood agenda of encouraging independence and building self-esteem,
support for travel to college/setting will take the following form:
Mainstream Public Transport;
Independent Travel Training;
Contracted transport from pick up and drop off points; and
In exceptional circumstances, contracted transport will be from home.
Where transport is provided, it will be at the beginning and end of the academic post 16
education or training provider day and not around individual bespoke timetables.
Those who do not qualify under the Council's post-16 home to school travel assistance policy for
financial support will need to make their own travel arrangements to and from school or college.
Some colleges operate their own transport services. Therefore, students may wish to contact their
chosen centre directly for information regarding services available in their area. See page 10-11.
Details of support available
Government funded schemes
The 16-19 Bursary Fund
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help students overcome specific barriers to
participation so they can remain in education.
The Bursary Fund is administered directly by individual schools and colleges and has two elements:
Vulnerable Student Bursary – for young people in care or care leavers; those on Income Support or
Universal Credit in their own right; and disabled young people in receipt of both Employment Support
Allowance or Universal Credit and either Disability Living Allowance or a Personal Independence
Payment in their own name. A vulnerable student bursary can be up to £1,200 annually
Page 3 of 12Discretionary Bursary - the rest of the fund is awarded on a discretionary basis by your school or
college. Institutions set their own criteria for allocating this funding and can award discretionary
bursaries to any student facing genuine financial barriers to participating.
Individual institutions are responsible for managing both types of bursary. They will decide which
students receive a discretionary bursary and how much this will be, depending on each student's
circumstances. The bursary is paid directly by the institution. Students who want to apply for support
from the bursary fund should contact their chosen institution to make an application.
More information about the 16-19 bursary fund are available on the Gov.UK website at
https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund/overview
Discretionary Learner Support Funds
If you are aged 19 or over on a further education course and facing financial hardship, you could get
discretionary learner support. This funding can be used to contribute towards travel costs, amongst
other things. More information about discretionary learner support is available at Discretionary
Learner Support.
For Students attending a School Sixth Form
Students attending a school sixth form may be able to travel on the contracted school buses provided
by the County Council, subject to the availability of places. Fares can be paid daily or by purchasing a
season ticket. For more information, please contact the School Traveline on 0300 123 6738 or at
schooltransport@lancashire.gov.uk.
For details of any additional support for transport available from the schools, for example through the
16-19 bursary, please contact the individual school sixth forms directly.
For Students attending a Further Education College or Provider
Transport assistance is generally made available by further education colleges.
In general, college travel passes permit travel to and from the college at the start and end of the
college day. However, some passes may allow greater flexibility. Details of this and any assessment
criteria and costs to the student can be obtained by contacting the college or provider directly for more
detailed information. The table starting on page 9 which has details of support from colleges.
For Students attending a Special School
Students attending a special school may be able to travel on the contracted school buses provided by
the county council, subject to the availability of places. Fares can be paid daily or by purchasing a
season ticket. For more information, please contact the School Transport enquiry line on 0300 123
6738 or at schooltransport@lancashire.gov.uk.
For details of any additional support for transport available, for example through the 16-19 bursary,
please contact the individual special school directly.
Eligibility for Transport Support
Information regarding eligibility for concessionary fares offered by schools, colleges or public transport
operators can be obtained by contacting them directly.
Support for Learners with Disabilities and/or Learning Difficulties
What happens when my child turns 16?
The Local Authority has a duty to encourage, enable and assist participation of all young people with
learning difficulties and/or disabilities up to 25 years of age. However, there is no automatic
entitlement to free home to school transport if your child is over 16 at the beginning of the
academic year (1st September). This is regardless of whether they are working a year behind.
Further education colleges and schools may be able to provide additional support to their students.
This will depend on the policy of the individual college and your circumstances. Please contact your
Page 4 of 12local college's Student Services or Finance Department for further details.
Additionally, please see the special educational needs and disabilities section of Lancashire County
Council's website for more information and the detail below as a summary of support which in 2016/17
the County Council will continue to deliver.
Students with special educational needs or disability with a Special Educational Needs
statement/Education, Health and Care Plan maintained by the local authority
Travel assistance will generally only be considered to the nearest provider with post 16 provision
which, in the opinion of the County Council offers an appropriate course. An appropriate course is
one that enables the young person to meet his or her learning and or employment objectives, or is
specifically designed to meet the student's special educational needs. The following conditions also
apply;
The young person is under 19 years of age when they start their course
The distance between the young person's home and their education provider is more than 3
miles by the nearest suitable walking route
Home to school/provider transport assistance will be considered for young people aged 16-19 who
are attending their nearest appropriate school/provider which is within the 3 mile walking distance if
they could not be reasonably expected to walk there, accompanied as necessary, by reason of their
SEN, disability or mobility problem. Cases are considered on an individual basis and medical
evidence is required before transport assistance is agreed.
Where a young person is able to access and use the public transport network safely they will be
expected to do so. Where appropriate, passenger assistant support will be provided, for a period of
time, to support a young person develop independent travelling skills.
No assistance will be provided under this policy for a student who is aged 19 or more when he/she
begins a course of further education, a student choosing to attending a part time course (less than 12
hours) –or a student undertaking a higher education course. Any student who is unable to attend a full-
time course by reason of their disabilities may be considered for transport however any application
must be supported by clear evidence from the school/provider and/or medical professionals working
with the student.
Where travel assistance is provided it would normally consist of a maximum of 1 outward journey and
one return journey from home to school/ designated pickup drop off points. For young people who
have been placed in residential provision by the local authority, transport assistance would normally
consist of one outward and one return journey per term.
Attendance at a school or college outside Lancashire
If a student chooses to undertake a full-time further education course at a school or college outside the
County, travel costs will only be met if the school or college attended is the nearest one providing an
appropriate course and the journey is three miles or more. If a place is available on a comparable
course at a nearer Lancashire school/college, no assistance will be provided.
Passenger Assistants
There is no specific duty on the Council to provide passenger assistants for children carried on home
to school transport. However, fulfilling a duty of care to passengers and others may involve the
provision of a passenger assistant.
A passenger assistant may be provided to accompany a child with significant needs arising from a
medical condition or a disability and where there is an exceptional need for care or supervision. The
decision on whether to provide a passenger assistant will be made as part of the transport banding
assessment taking a number of factors into account. Such factors may include information relating, but
not limited, to:
Medical issues
Health and safety related issues, including risk to self or others
The child's mobility
Page 5 of 12 Any challenging behaviour arising from the child's SEN
Where a passenger has severe learning or physical difficulties, the need for continual care and
supervision
Age and capability
Length of journey
The vehicle type and size.
A 1:1 passenger assistant will only be provided where there is substantial evidence that demonstrates
a child may be at significant risk, or may pose a significant risk to others on the same route, if they
travel without supervision. Any assessment for an individual passenger assistant must be supported
by detailed evidence that clearly demonstrates the nature and level of risk to themselves and/or others.
In exceptional cases, and where a child has a severe medical condition that requires support during
transportation, professional medical support may be provided. Any assessment for this level of
support must be supported by detailed evidence that clearly demonstrates the nature and level of the
risk to the individual.
Where a passenger assistant is provided, he or she will:
Travel with the child from an designated pick-up point to an agreed drop-off point
Assist with entry to and exit from the vehicle
Ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, a safe journey for the child and other passengers
Provide a caring environment whilst on the vehicle
Act as an extended communication channel between home, the transport service and school.
A passenger assistant may supervise more than one child on a journey, consistent with providing the
appropriate level of service for each individual while they are on the vehicle.
First aid may only be given by a passenger assistant trained to do so. A passenger assistant will only
administer any form of medication in an emergency, and only to a child who has a known medical
condition and has the appropriate medication or specific instructions with them; and then only when the
passenger assistant has been specifically trained to administer the medication or appropriate
intervention.
Parents must provide details of all up-to-date information regarding the child's needs. Once transport
with a passenger assistant has been arranged, parents must provide full details of any changes in the
child's need and circumstances, including any information specific to the journey in writing to the SEND
Service Area Teams:
North - Fylde, Wyre and Lancaster
Tel: 01524 581 200
SEND.North@lancashire.gov.uk
South - Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Preston
Tel: 01772 531 597
SEND.South@lancashire.gov.uk
East - Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, Burnley and Pendle
Tel: 01254 220563 or 01254 220562
SEND.East@lancashire.gov.uk
Route Reviews
Over a period of time the children and young people travelling to a school changes – some children will
leave and new children will join. Sometimes the needs of the children travelling also change.
Our transport teams regularly review transport operators and individual transport routes to make sure
that they meet the needs of the children travelling as much as possible, as well as delivering best value
for public money.
Page 6 of 12It is not possible to consult with parents as part of an operator or route review. This is to enable
operator / route reviews to be carried out in a timely and efficient manner and to avoid raising parental
expectations that preference for a particular form of provision will override the cost-effectiveness or
efficiency. However, where a child's education health and care plan indicates that he or she is
particularly sensitive to change, the impact of any proposed change will be considered. This may
involve discussion with the school / college or the parent.
Parents may receive notification at any time that the type of transport provision for their child's school
transport is to be changed as a result of a review. Changes may involve:
Changes to the contractor employed
Changes to Passenger Assistant provision
Changes to timings.
Notice will be given of changes wherever possible, but some may need to be made at very short
notice, for example as a result of termination of a contract with a vehicle operator or sickness.
Further sources of support
In addition disabled students, if eligible, can apply for the NoWcard. The NoWcard is part of the
English National Concessionary Travel Scheme and is jointly operated by Cumbria and Lancashire
County Councils, and Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool Borough Councils to enable
concessionary bus travel for both older and disabled residents.
What can you apply for?
You can apply for a pass which will entitle holders to free off-peak travel, between 9.30am and 11pm
Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays, on local bus services throughout
England.
Who can apply?
The scheme is open to all citizens over the age of 5 who:
Are registered blind or partially sighted
Are registered profoundly or severely deaf
Are without speech
Have a disability or suffered an injury which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on
his/her ability to walk
Have a learning disability that is a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which
includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
Do not have both arms or have long term loss of the use of both arms
Would be refused a driving license under Section 92 of the Road Traffic Act (1998), otherwise
than on the ground of persistent drug or alcohol misuse.
Where to apply?
Lancashire residents should contact the NoWcard Helpline on 0300 123 6737 or visit
www.nowcard.org to find out how to apply.
Mobility / independence training for learners who face difficulty
with transport
A number of colleges provide training and support. Please contact the college or school directly.
Bus Confidence is a website designed to help young people with special educational needs travel to
school or college on their own. The on-line training package is available at Bus Confidence free of
charge to students, parents & schools.
Page 7 of 12Support available for students who attend a further education
institution which is beyond daily travelling distance and they
need to stay away
There are two options available for students studying away from home because their chosen course is
not available locally:
Studying at a college that offers residential bursaries for certain courses
Students aged at least 16 and under 19 on 31 August 2015 who are studying at Myerscough
College can apply for accommodation on campus. Priority is normally given to students living
outside a 25 mile radius. Funds may be available to help towards residential costs through the
Residential Bursary Fund. For more information please contact the College’s Student Finance
Advisor on 01995 642398 or email studentfinance@myerscough.ac.uk
Applying for finance under the Residential Support Scheme (RSS)
The Residential Support Scheme is nationally administered by the Education Funding Agency
and provides help with term-time accommodation costs, up to a maximum of three years.
Awards are up to £3,458 depending on the level of household income.
For more information regarding eligibility criteria or how to apply, visit https://www.gov.uk/residential-
support-scheme or call the Learner Support Helpline on 0800 121 8989.
Support available for young parents
The Care to Learn (C2L) scheme can help pay for childcare and travel costs for young parents aged
19 and under at the start of their course. The scheme is available for publicly funded courses in
England including courses in schools, school sixth forms and sixth form colleges.
Applications and further information are available from the Student Bursary Support Service on 0800
121 8989 or at c2l@studentbursarysupport.co.uk. Further information is available at
https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn
Useful contact information
School Transport Enquiry Line
Telephone: 0300 123 6738
Email: schooltransport@lancashire.gov.uk
Open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
For information on public transport services, including bus timetables and routes, visit the Public
Transport section of Lancashire County Council's website.
For help planning your journey, please visit http://www.traveline.info/ or telephone 0871 200 22 33.
Appeals and Complaints Procedure
Appeals to Lancashire County Council regarding transport provision for learners with special
educational needs/disabilities
Parents or students can appeal against a decision not to provide transport, the mode of transport or
passenger assistance, if they feel there are exceptional circumstances.
The Student Support Appeals Committee will consider any written information you give them to support
your appeal, but they will not allow you to give your information in person. The Student Support
Appeals Committee decision is final, unless there is some significant change in your circumstances
which means we should reconsider the appeal.
Appeal forms are available from local area education offices or downloadable from the council's
website.
Page 8 of 12Appeals to Colleges of Further Education
If you have applied for transport support from a local college, have been unsuccessful and feel there
are valid reasons for an appeal, please write to the Principal at the relevant College.
Complaints about Lancashire County Council
Should you wish to make a complaint about the local authority in relation to this policy statement, you
are able to do this in a variety of formats. Further information is available at Complaints Process.
If this does not result in a satisfactory outcome, young people and their families may consider
contacting the Local Government Ombudsmen (LGO) or complaining to the Secretary of State.
Further information on the LGO complaints process is available at LGO Complaints. To complain to the
Secretary of State, young people and their families should use the contact form which can be found
here.
Support available from post 16 institutions in Lancashire
*Transport support available from colleges is subject to change.
College Information Contact
Accrington & Contact the college for Address Accrington and Rossendale College
Rossendale more information/terms Broad Oak Campus
College and conditions. Broad Oak Road
Accrington
BB5 2AW
Telephone 01254 389933
Email info@accross.ac.uk
Website www.accross.ac.uk
Blackburn £30 per term travel pass Address Blackburn college student support The Hub
College for a number of travel Blackburn College
options. Feilden Street
Blackburn
BB2 1LH
Telephone 01254 292929
Email thehub@blackburn.ac.uk
Website
Blackburn St An SMC Travel Pass Address Student Services
Mary's entitles you to daily travel St Mary's Sixth Form College
College on the SMC service buses Shear Brow
for one Academic Year Blackburn
(term time only). Routes BB1 8DX
and timetables are Telephone 01254 580464
available from the college. Email studentservices@stmarysblackburn.ac.uk
Website www.stmarysblackburn.ac.uk
Blackpool 6th Subsidised transport Address Student Services
Form College support is available across Blackpool Sixth Form College
the majority of transport Highfurlong
routes to the college. Blackpool
Prices vary dependent on FY3 7LR
route. Telephone 01253 394911
Email vjackson@blackpoolsixth.ac.uk
Website www.blackpool.ac.uk/support/funding
Page 9 of 12Blackpool & The college runs two bus Address Student Services
the Fylde services from Fleetwood Blackpool and the Fylde College
College and South Fylde. Contact Ashfield Road
the college directly for Blackpool
details. FY2 0HB
Telephone 01253 504343
Email info@blackpool.ac.uk
Website www.blackpool.ac.uk/support/funding
Burnley Full time students Address Student Services
College travelling over 2 miles to Burnley College
college are able to buy a Princess Way
bus pass for £2.50 per Burnley
week BB12 0AN
Telephone 01282 733333
Email student.services@burnley.ac.uk
Website www.burnley.ac.uk
Cardinal Subsidised passes are Address Student Services
Newman available with all the major Lark Hill Road
College transport providers in the Preston
Lancashire Area. Passes PR1 4HD
are valid for the entire Telephone 01772 460181
academic year and most Email studentservices@cardinalnewman.ac.uk
can also be used at Website www.cardinalnewman.ac.uk
evenings and weekends.
Please complete the
Transport Application
Form available from the
College.
Lancaster & Free College Bus Service Address Student Services
Morecambe available for scheduled Lancaster & Morecambe College
College services for full time Morecambe Road
students from the Lancaster
Garstang and Galgate LA1 2TY
area. Telephone 0800 306 306
Special rates (up to 20% Email info@lmc.ac.uk
discount) on Stagecoach Website www.lmc.ac.uk
termly bus passes.
Myerscough Transport provided to and Address Myerscough College
College from the main campus Bilsborrow
each day during term time. Preston
Routes cover much of Lancashire PR3 0RY
Lancashire. Various bus Telephone 01995 642222
pass schemes are Email transport@myerscough.ac.uk
available. Website www.myerscough.ac.uk
Nelson and All 16-18 students are Address Nelson and Colne College
Colne College eligible for subsidised Scotland Rd
termly bus passes. Nelson
If you would like a BB9 7YT
personal Travel Plan Telephone 01282 440 200
before you enrol, or you Email studentservices@nelson.ac.uk
require more information Website www.nelson.ac.uk
on transport contact the
college directly.
Page 10 of 12NLTG Address The Old Bakery
Vocational Grange Lane
Centre of Accrington
Excellence BB5 2BU
Telephone 01254 397119
Email info@nltg.co.uk
Website www.nltg.co.uk
Preston Subsidised travel available Address Student Services
College across a number of routes Preston College
- Contact the college St Vincent's Road
directly for more Preston
information. PR1 6AS
Telephone 01772 22 56 56
Website www.preston.ac.uk
Runshaw Subsidised travel available Address Student Advice Centre
College across a number of routes Runshaw College
- Contact the college Langdale Road
directly for more Leyland
information. PR25 3DQ
Telephone 01772 643020
Email justask@runshaw.ac.uk
Website www.runshaw.ac.uk/life-at-runshaw/travel-
to-runshaw/
West A free Arriva bus pass is Address Learner Gateway
Lancashire available to full-time West Lancs College
College further education students Yewdale
(aged 16-18 years) who Skelmersdale
need a bus to get to WN8 6JA
college. Passes will be Telephone 01695 52300
issued in the first term. Email enquiries@skelmersdale.ac.uk
The college also offers a Website www.westlancs.ac.uk/student-
free bus Service from support/transport
Kirkby, Fazakerley,
Aintree and Maghull areas
to Skelmersdale.
For young people following an Apprenticeship
As apprentices are employed and will being receiving a wage, no financial support will be provided by
post 16 institutions in relation to travel costs. It may be that young people on an apprenticeship are still
entitled to discounts on bus fares and the bus companies would be able to advise on this.
Support available from post 16 institutions in neighbouring local authority areas
For information about the transport policies in the neighbouring local authority areas of Blackpool and
Blackburn with Darwen, these will be available on their websites:
www.blackpool.gov.uk
www.blackburn.gov.uk
Page 11 of 12Appendix A
Transport Banding Indicator Specification
Framework Band
T1 Child/young person can travel No transport required.
independently eg: walk, public transport, No passenger assistant
parent drop off. required.
T2 Parent can transport child/young person No transport required.
using own transport in exchange for No passenger assistant
payment at appropriate mileage rate. required.
T3 Child/young person is developing No transport required.
independent travel skills. Passenger assistant support
required.
T4 Child/young person is able to access Transport in a suitable vehicle
dedicated transport at designated pick provided.
up/drop off points. No passenger assistant
required.
T5 Child/young person is able to travel with Transport in a suitable vehicle
selected other pupils without supervision. provided.
No passenger assistant
required.
T6 Child/young person is able to travel with Transport in a suitable vehicle
selected other pupils. The level of need may provided.
require intervention/supervision from a Passenger assistant provided.
trained passenger assistant.
T7 Child/young person is not able to travel with Individual travel in a suitable
other children or young people but can vehicle provided.
travel without supervision. No passenger assistant
Appropriate evidence must be submitted to required.
support the need for individual travel.
T8 Child/young person is not able to travel with Individual travel in a suitable
other children or young people. The level of vehicle provided.
need may require intervention/supervision Passenger assistant provided.
from a trained passenger assistant.
Appropriate evidence must be submitted to
support the need for individual travel
T9 Child/young person has complex medical Specialist transport provided.
needs that may require possible specialist Appropriately trained
intervention in transit. passenger assistant/medical
Appropriate evidence must be submitted to support required.
support the need for specialist transport.
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