Transport and travel support
3.1 Concessionary tickets for young people 16 – 25 from public transport providers
3.1.1 Travel pass
A travel pass will only be considered if the pupil is not eligible for any other financial assistance towards their transport costs, such as a Merseytravel Disabled Persons Travel Pass or Bursary. Each case will be considered on an individual basis. If a bus pass is provided, it will take the form of a pre-paid Merseytravel SOLO ticket for use on public bus services. The ticket will cover areas within the Merseytravel area required for transport from home to school. If this involves more than one mode of transport (bus and train), a TRIO ticket may be issued, and a charge may apply.
3.1.2 Merseytravel
Merseytravel offer a range of concessionary passes and pre-paid tickets. A range of term-time tickets is available for young people and adults in full-time education or work-based learning who do not receive another allowance that covers the cost of travel. Trio tickets can be used on buses, trains and ferries. Solo tickets are for bus travel only, and rail pass tickets are for trains. The tickets are also available to be purchased on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis. Students who reach their 18th birthday during a term are required to purchase an adult ticket for the whole of that term.
3.1.3 Merseytravel Disabled Person Travel Pass
Merseytravel offers free travel to Merseyside residents with certain disabilities on buses, trains and Mersey ferries. The disabilities include:
- 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 effect on the ability to walk.
- Does not have arms or use of arms
- A learning disability
- Would be refused a license to drive a motor vehicle because of epilepsy, a severe medical disorder, sudden attacks of dizziness or fainting or diagnosed dementia conditions
- Severe mental health issues
Students are advised to seek advice for the most appropriate ticket from any Merseytravel Centre or to telephone Merseytravel Hub Support on 0151 236 6056. Further information can be found on the Merseytravel website: merseytravel.gov.uk. The cost depends on the area that they cover and the age of the student. A student may qualify for a Merseytravel National Travel Pass if they have certain disabilities which are permanent or are long-lasting (defined by the Department for Transport as having lasted 12 months, or likely to last 12 months, or likely to recur) as listed above. The Merseytravel Disabled Person Travel pass is valid for 52 weeks of the year.
For full details on how to apply, please visit MerseyTravel here.
3.1.4 Arriva
Arriva offer a range of student passes, both annual and termly, for use on Arriva buses in the Northwest Area, valid throughout Liverpool and Merseyside. Further information can be found on the Arriva website: www.arrivabus.co.uk/student-saver-tickets-in-north-west
3.1.5 Railcard services
The 16-25 Railcard offers a one-third discount for those aged 16-25 and students on a range of journeys. For the best offers, students should check with operators what choices are available for their journey at the time they want to travel. Information on student railcards, rail fares and services can be obtained from the railcard website here.
3.2 Transport Vehicles
In exceptional circumstances, the Council may provide a vehicle to transport a young person to and from their education setting. Vehicles and drivers are provided by a suitably qualified, registered commercial provider working to contractual standards set by the Council. Whenever possible, young people will travel together in mini-buses or taxis. These will be specially adapted to meet the needs of those young people travelling on them. Each route will be planned on the educational settings' start and finish times and the shortest possible route for all young people travelling on a particular vehicle.
Passenger assistants are allocated to vehicles where it has been identified that pupils require supervision during the journeys to and from their education setting. All passenger assistants and drivers working on the home-to-school transport contract are required to have a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level. Any approval for transport will usually be for the academic year only. All applications will be reviewed annually in time for the next academic year to ensure the arrangements are still appropriate. You may also be contacted by Knowsley’s Independent Travel Training Officers, who will complete the review and an assessment for suitability for travel training. Travel assistance is also reviewed at the annual review of the pupil’s EHCP Plan. Further information relating to Independent Travel Training can be found here. If there is a change in circumstances prior to the annual review, such as change of address, change of educational placement or any changes to the Education Health Care Plan, it is the responsibility of the young person and/or parent/carer to inform the Travel and Travel Support Service to ensure the necessary review is undertaken. Where, for any reason, travel support is approved in error, the Council reserves the right to withdraw the travel provision at any time.
3.3 Travel support from schools and colleges
The websites of many schools and colleges provide comprehensive information on the transport assistance provided by educational settings. Students are advised to contact the institution directly for more detailed information, as transport plans may be subject to change.
The latest information from GOV.UK can be found here.
3.4 The 16-19 Bursary Fund
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help young people overcome specific barriers to participation so they can remain in education.
You could get a bursary to help with education-related costs if you’re aged 16 to 19 and:
- studying at a publicly funded school or college in England, not a university
- on a training course, including unpaid work experience
A publicly funded school is one that does not charge you for attending.
There’s a different scheme in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
If you’re 19 and over, you could also get a bursary if you either:
- are continuing on a course you started aged 16 to 18 (known as being a ’19+ continuer’)
- have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
More information regarding the bursary can be found here.
3.5 Young parents / Care to Learn
If you are a young parent under 20, Care to Learn can help pay for your childcare and related travel costs, up to £160 per child per week, while you’re learning.
Care to Learn can help with the cost of:
- childcare, including deposit and registration fees
- a childcare ‘taster’ session (up to 5 days)
- Keeping your childcare place over the summer holidays
- Taking your child to the childcare provider
For more information, please see here.