This is the Travel Policy Statement 2023-2024 for students attending further education, with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), who live in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and North Somerset.
The policy is based on the statutory guidance produced by the Department for Education. It sets out the travel assistance the local authority will provide for SEN students of sixth form age, and young adults aged 19 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in education and training.
‘Sixth form age’ refers to those young people who are over 16 years of age but under 19, or have SEND and are continuing learners, who started their programme of learning before their 19th birthday (years 12,13,14).
Summary of policy statement and main objectives
You should note that your local authority is under no obligation to provide travel support for students attending further education establishments.
Students are normally expected to progress in their relevant study plan to continue to access travel support from their local authority.
The local authority may exercise its discretion, where they believe it appropriate, to ask students, parents and carers for a contribution towards travel costs. This policy will apply to students in receipt of DLA with a mobility/vehicle allowance, so the local authority may ask students/parents/carers for a contribution towards travel costs in this instance.
Our travel policy promotes and supports:
- The government’s initiative to increase walking, cycling, and bus travel.
- The three local authorities School Travel Plan Strategies and independent travel.
The nature and mode of travel support will be determined by the local authority and will be one that is consistent with the local authority’s duty to secure value for money. It will normally be provided at standard college hours, at the beginning and end of the college day.
Transport will be provided only where there is no appropriate alternative.
The desired outcome of this approach is actively to encourage young people to travel as independently and inclusively as possible and to develop confidence and vital travel and social skills to support options for post 16 training and employment thereafter. Support with travel for students with SEND will be considered up to the end of the academic year in which the student becomes 19. Consideration will also be given to 19-25-year olds who are continuing to progress and meet criteria under the low-income policy to enable participation.
Each local authority will consider travel arrangements for students who are attending the nearest appropriate further education provision and:
- Have an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP), or medical or physical difficulties, which means they are unable to walk the distance of 3 miles (accompanied as necessary) and
- Are studying a full time course.
Students under Bath & North East Somerset who meet the criteria for support will be required to undertake two weeks independent travel training. Their ability to travel independently will be assessed by personnel from the B&NES Travel service.
An application form can be obtained from your home local authority (your local council).
You may also be able to obtain an application form from one of the following:
- College Coordinator
- Disability Support Coordinator
- School
Applications are normally received by end of July.
The applicant is responsible for returning the completed application form. Completed application forms should be sent to the local authority in which the student lives (some local authorities may request additional information).
Bath & North East Somerset Council
People and Communities, SSEN Service (Post 16 Transport), Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JQ
Email: SENDSchool_TravelTeam@bathnes.gov.uk
Bristol City Council
Home to School Travel Team, Floor 2, 100 Temple Street, Bristol, BS3 9FS
Email: home.school.travel@bristol.gov.uk
On a case by case basis students over 19 and up to the age of 25 may be considered for support with travel. Should support be granted students will need to apply yearly and decisions will be based on any changing needs, changes in circumstances, progression in learning and in line with the policy.
The assessment of support with travel needs will be made in line with this Travel Policy, and will draw together any information from the relevant college/school, the student, and other colleagues.
The mode of travel will be the most inclusive, sustainable and cost effective. In some cases a Personal Travel Budget (PTB) may be made to the parent/carer/student.
For young people with an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP), schools are actively encouraged to use the annual review process as an opportunity to discuss the young person’s transition to post 16 study or training. Schools and colleges are normally expected to empower the young person to develop the necessary skills to become independent travellers.
Local authorities will consider applications for support with travel to colleges outside the area, if the course is considered to be the nearest appropriate course. Applications should be made to the local authority in which the student lives. Support with travel will be approved only if the individual application represents reasonable public expenditure. A Personal Travel Budget (PTB) may be offered.
The local authority will normally provide support with travel, at the start and end of each term, for SEND students at independent specialist providers. The mode of support with travel will be assessed by the Travel Team in line with the student’s needs and the policy.
Students wishing to study on a course that is beyond daily travel distance should contact the local authority to discuss this. For students who are moving to a Post 16 independent specialist provider (residential college), the application form will be completed by the current school, the student, or parent/carer.
Support with travel will be provided at the start and end of each term (ie. 12 journeys) for students in residential college.
The majority of students are able to access their chosen course by walking / public transport. Where communities are not well served by public transport then a number of post 16 providers make innovative, strategic arrangements supported by the Transport Partnership.
The learning provider is responsible for ensuring that students have reasonable expenses met in full, where reasonable expenses are needed to overcome barriers to learning. These may include the cost of travelling to or from the place of learning or work placement. Employers are encouraged to support trainees with expenses such as transport and meals.
It may also be worth asking the learning provider if they offer their own transport service as some may do this.
All applications for travel support are considered in line with the policy criteria.
Where applications do not fulfil the policy conditions set out above, consideration will be given to the individual’s circumstances.
However, students, parents/carers have a right to appeal.
Bath and North East Somerset Appeal Process
All appeals will be considered on an individual basis in line with this criterion. To submit an appeal the applicant should put in writing the reason for the appeal together with any supporting evidence e.g. medical report to:
>Bath & North East Somerset Council
People and Communities, SSEN Service (Post 16 Transport), Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JQ
Email: SENDSchool_TravelTeam@bathnes.gov.uk
The appeals process has two stages:
Stage 1 – Appeal to the SEND Manager
The young person has a right to appeal and can be supported by parents/carers. They have 20 working days from the receipt of our decision to make a written request for a review of the decision. This first stage involves the SEND Team Manager responsible for SEN school transport examining your evidence to see if our policy has been applied properly and fairly. If they find that it has not been and that you are entitled, then transport will be provided. If they find that our policy has been applied properly and fairly, then your Stage 1 appeal will be rejected, and they will respond within 20 working days explaining why this decision has been made.
Stage 2 – Appeal to a senior officer panel
If you are unsuccessful at Stage 1 and you feel that you are entitled due to your circumstances, then you can escalate your appeal to Stage 2. You have 20 working days from receipt of our Stage 1 response to submit a request for a Stage 2 appeal. This request will be referred to a senior officer panel (consisting of a senior officer from both the Transport service and the Education service) who will set up an appeal hearing within 40 working days.
We aim to ensure that the appeal process is conducted in a transparent and fair manner and that the young person feels they have been able to put their case and have been listened to.
Approximately 10 working days before the hearing, the young person will be sent an invitation to attend the hearing. They will be asked to send information and evidence in support of their appeal.
All papers will be treated as confidential and hearings will be held in private. If the young person or their representative is unable to attend, the case will be heard in their absence.
After the hearing the Panel will make their decision. They will consider the information and evidence submitted, both beforehand and at the hearing. They will consider whether providing transport for the young person in question would be an effective and efficient use of Council resources or whether this consideration is outweighed by the appeal made by the young person.
The Panel make their decision on the evidence and circumstances presented and concerning the individual young person in question.
The Panel’s decision is final and binding on both parties for the academic year in which the appeal is brought. The Panel’s decision and their reasons will be contained in a letter sent to both parties within five working days of the hearing. Further appeals may only be made in subsequent years if there is a substantial change in circumstances to consider.
At both stages of the process there is a right of complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman but only if the complainants consider that there was a failure to comply with the procedural rules or if there are any other irregularities in the way the appeal was handled. If the complainant considers the decision was flawed on public law grounds, the complainant may apply for judicial review.
Bristol Appeal Process
All appeals will be considered on an individual basis in line with this criterion. To submit an appeal the applicant should put in writing the reason for the appeal together with any supporting evidence e.g. medical report to:
Bristol City Council
Home to School Travel Team, Floor 2, 100 Temple Street, Bristol, BS3 9FS
Students are advised to contact their school, college, or training provider Student Support Services to get advice on eligibility criteria to receive a Bursary Fund/financial help. Contact details for education providers are set out below. You can find out more about the Bursary Fund on the GOV.UK website. We do not administer the Bursary Fund.
| College | Travel details |
|---|---|
| South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (formally Filton College) | The college sells discounted bus tickets for local bus routes. Tickets are available from the finance office. A student photo card will be required, at an additional cost. The college can advise you of any other travel schemes available e.g. Rail travel |
| City of Bristol College | Travel and transport options, as well as contact details, are available from their website. |
| St Brendan’s Sixth Form College | The college sells a variety of First bus tickets at a reduced rate for students. They also operate a number of their own routes. Contact the college ticket office 0117 977 77 66 |
| Weston College | The college offer a variety of local First bus and other operator routes during term time. You can contact the college online or by calling 01934 41 14 11 |
| Bridgwater College | The college offer a variety of local travel schemes. Find out more on their web site, or by calling 01278 44 12 33 |
| Bath College | You can find details of public bus and rail services, park and ride options, as well as the cost of college buses on the Getting to college page of the college website. You can also email enquiries@bathcollege.ac.uk |
First Bus Student Tickets
Students may purchase discounted travel tickets from the First Bus Group. A number of student saver tickets are available. They usually require a student photocard.
Student Railcards
Students may apply for a 16-25 Student Railcard.
A 16-25 Railcard saves 1/3 on rail fares throughout Great Britain for a year. Minimum fares apply for travel at or before 10.00am Monday to Friday (except during July and August).