Post‑16 travel assistance for students with SEND

Overview

From age 16, we do not have a legal duty to provide free travel. However, we may offer travel support to help young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) access education or training. Because of this, travel support after the age of 16 works differently from school‑age travel.

This support is called post-16 travel assistance. It is not automatic, even if they have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, you need to apply.

Who can get help

We may consider travel support for young people who:

• live in Somerset
• are aged 16 to 25 (applications for those aged 19 to 25 are considered on an individual basis and for a first course of study only)
• have SEND
• are studying full time
• attend the nearest suitable school, college or provider that can meet their needs

For young people with an EHC plan, the placement must be the one named in the plan. If the placement is not the nearest suitable option, we usually cannot help with travel.

Support is reviewed each year.

Differences with post-16 travel support

For young people aged 16 and over:

• travel assistance is discretionary, not a legal duty
• young people are expected to become more independent where possible
• families and young people may be asked to contribute to travel costs

We must use public money fairly and support independence where it is safe to do so.

School age travel assistance works differently. You can find that information on our School travel assistance page.

What type of help you might get

We focus on helping young people travel as independently as possible.

If support is agreed, it may include:

• independent travel training, where suitable
• a personal travel payment to help with travel costs
• in exceptional cases, a seat on a council‑organised vehicle

Personal travel payments are a contribution, not full funding. Families or young people are responsible for arranging travel that meets their needs.

Where appropriate, all students are expected to work with our Independent Travel Trainers to receive training to allow them to travel independently in the future. If a young person does not participate in this scheme any travel awarded including a Personal Travel Payment will be withdrawn.

When we usually provide help

We usually provide travel support when:

• a young person’s SEND means they cannot travel safely on their own
• the distance to the nearest suitable setting is more than 3 miles
• independent travel training is not suitable or has not been successful
• support is needed to remove a barrier to education

Our decisions balance:

• the young person’s needs
• safety
• independence
• value for public money

When we cannot usually provide help

We do not usually provide travel support if:

• the young person can travel safely on their own
• the course or placement is not the nearest suitable option
• the young person is on an apprenticeship, traineeship, supported internship or work placement
• support would not be a fair use of public funds

Travel support is also not normally provided to fit exact start and finish times. Young people may arrive earlier or leave later and use this time for self‑study.

How to apply

You must apply each year for post‑16 travel assistance. 

Apply as early as you can and before 30 June. This gives us the best chance to have support in place for September.

What happens after you apply

We review the information you send us. This can take up to 10 working days.

We will write to tell you:

• our decision
• what support, if any, we can offer
• any contribution you need to pay
• when support will start

Support is reviewed each year and may change as a young person becomes more independent.

If we cannot provide help, we will explain why.

Once a young person has been assessed as entitled to post 16 travel assistance it can take up to a further 10 working days for this to be arranged. If travel assistance is required for a September start you will be notified of the travel arrangements over the summer.

If you disagree with the decision

If you do not agree with our decision, you can ask for a review.

We will explain:

• how to request a review
• what information to include
• what happens next

Find out more at Post-16 travel assistance decision reviews

Help while you wait

We know waiting can be hard.

While we assess your application:

• you are responsible for getting your child to school or college
• schools and colleges may offer short‑term flexibility

You can also speak to:

• your school’s SENCO or college SEND lead
• the SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIAS)

Downloads

Post 16 Travel Policy 2026/27 academic year

Travel policy statement for young people aged 16 to 18 in education, further education, continuing learners aged 19 and young people aged 19 to 24 (inclusive) with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

PDF, 472 KB