Introduction
This policy sets out Knowsley Council’s approach to providing travel support for children, young people (including those aged 0 and 25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and adults who live in Knowsley. The policy outlines why we deliver services, what services we deliver and how they are delivered. It ensures that we are complaint with legislative obligations, delivering the best services for residents in a sustainable way.
What is travel support?
Travel support can help children, young people and adults to access the services and opportunities that meet their needs, such as education and training, as well as care services. Travel support can be provided in a variety of ways depending on individual needs but can include:
- Advice and guidance on walking, cycling or public transport options
- Provision of travel pass to enable independent travel
- Travel training and support to enable independent travel
- Travel by minibus or specialist vehicle
- Travel in taxi or private hire vehicle
The Council has a statutory duty to provide some travel support services, for example children of compulsory school age who have particular needs and difficulties getting to school. Other services the Council provides are discretionary, meaning that the Council will assess and determine in accordance with this policy if transport is required in the applicant’s individual circumstances. As such service users may be asked to contribute towards the cost of this service.
Who is this policy for?
This policy includes all components of travel support that is currently provided by Knowsley Council, which are:
- Early Years -Pre School Children aged 0-4 years old (Appendix B)
- Home to school – Under the Education Act 1996 local authorities must promote the use of sustainable travel and transport for all children and young people of compulsory school age who travel to receive education in the local authority’s area. For more information on Knowsley Council’s Home to School policy please refer to Appendix C. Which also includes Children and Young People accessing education or training 0-19 or up to age 25 with SEND. (Appendix C and E)
- 16-19 Travel Support – Schedule 19 of The Education Act 2002 gives local Authorities responsibility for:
- Preparing and publishing transport policy statements, following consultation with their partners, by 31 May each year. The policy statement should outline the transport support available for eligible students. For more information on Knowsley Councils Post 16 policy please refer to Appendix D
- 19-25 Travel Support - Under the Education and Skills Act 2008 local authorities have a duty to encourage, enable and assist the participation in education and training of young people up to the age of 25 with special educational needs and disabilities. Appendix E. Furthermore section 508G of the 1996 Education Act places a duty on Local Authority’s to provide a policy on home to college transport support for adult learners
- Children’s Social Care provides Travel Assistance to those children in need, where an assessment indicates this is appropriate, this is underpinned by the following legislation;
- Children Act 1989
- Children Act 2004
- Adoption and Children Act 2002
- Leaving Care Act 2000
- The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018
More information can be found on the Adult Social care page of the travel support policy.
- Adults accessing Social Care services - This covers travel support arrangements for people over 18 who may be eligible for travel support from Adult Social Care Services in Knowsley. The Care Act 2014 sets out the responsibilities Adult Social Care has in relation to travel support for adults and more information can be found in Appendix G.