Post-16 Transport Policy Statement 2025 – 2026

4.1 LA support for young people without special educational needs or disabilities 

The council is committed to supporting all young people in accessing further education, training, and employment opportunities wherever possible. This statement provides information on available transport options to help families and students make informed decisions.

There are some key differences between the compulsory school-age (5 to 16) ‘home-to-school transport’ duties and those for post-16 students. The council does not have a statutory duty to provide free or subsidised travel assistance for post-16 students who do not have special educational needs or disabilities.

As such, transport assistance will not normally be provided to post-16 students who were not eligible for free home-to-school transport during their compulsory school years. However, the council recognises that transport can still present a barrier for some learners. We therefore encourage students and families to explore the following options.

The council should promote the use of more independent travel offers set out within this statement before agreeing to the Council’s assisted travel. In addition, some sixth forms and further education colleges may operate or contract their own transport services where concessions apply. 

Travel with any discounted passes or concessions is subject to the operator's terms of carriage. Students should contact the operator directly to inquire about any day/time restrictions. 

Details of routes may be available on the individual sixth form or further education college website, or by contacting the establishment directly. Students may wish to inquire with their chosen sixth form or further education college about what support is available to them.

4.2 LA support for Learners with special educational needs or a disability aged 16-18

This section applies to sixth-form learners with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), typically aged 16 to 18. If a young person with SEND starts their course before their 19th birthday, they are assessed under the 16-18 duty. If they start a new course after their 19th birthday, they are assessed under the adult learner duty in the section below.

The Council applies criteria determining a pupil’s eligibility for sixth-form age transport. Such assistance is discretionary and is determined on an individual basis in accordance with the criteria set out below. The minimum criteria to be eligible for travel support from the Council ordinarily are as follows: 

1. You must be a Knowsley resident 
2. You must be attending a course at a school, further education college or institution or a 16-19 Academy consisting of at least 450 guided learning hours per year
3. Or must have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan and attend the nearest suitable school, college or learning provider. 
4. You must be aged 16-18 years or have started the relevant course before you turned 19 and are continuing to attend it.

An application that meets these minimum criteria will then be considered in accordance with the criteria below. Applications which do not meet these minimum criteria will only be considered in accordance with the criteria below in exceptional circumstances.

4.2.1 Further criteria for Travel Support 

The Council has discretion to determine when to provide travel support to facilitate young people's participation in education and training, and all referrals will be considered on an individual basis. This power to provide travel or financial support must be exercised reasonably and lawfully. In determining what support to provide, the Council will have regard to the following: 

1. The needs of those for whom it would not be reasonably practicable to attend a particular establishment to receive education or training,g if no arrangements were made
2. The need to ensure that persons in the Knowsley area have reasonable opportunities to choose between different establishments at which education or training is provided
3. The Council’s general duties are to ensure that enough suitable education and training is provided to meet the reasonable needs of 16–18-year-olds
4. Distance and journey time from the young person’s home to establishments of education and training, the cost of transport there and alternative means of facilitating attendance at establishments
5. The nature of the route or alternative routes which the young person could reasonably be expected to take
6. The nature of the young person’s special educational needs, disability or learning difficulty
7. Anything set out in an Education, Health and Care Plan about transport requirements
8. Whether there is a nearer institution which is suitable and can provide the same or similar qualification(s)
9. Where a parent/carer has requested that an educational establishment be named in the EHC Plan, but it is not their nearest educational establishment that can meet the pupil’s needs, the local authority will assess the costs of both the provision and transport needs. If this is not deemed to be the most efficient use of public resources, the nearest educational establishment will also be named in the EHC Plan, and the young person or parent/carer will be responsible for all transport costs.

Providing assisted transport will only be given for learners with special educational needs who have had their needs assessed against the set criteria above, and the effect of their complex needs on their ability to travel. This may include: 

• Complex communication difficulties 
• Severe and complex learning difficulties 
• Complex learning and behavioural difficulties 
• Physical and medical difficulties 
• Dual sensory impairment 

Learners with special educational needs who have received transport assistance and are moving from compulsory school age to sixth form age will have their transport needs reassessed when they apply for transport provision. This is to ensure that any assistance offered is suitable to meet those needs. Continuing post-16 learners will also have their transport needs reviewed on an annual basis.

Applications for an eligibility assessment for transport aged 16 - 18 may be made via the Travel and Travel Support Service. All applications should be made by completing the online application form here or by email for a paper version of the form.

4.2.2 Fixed Learner Contribution required 

If the lowest cost option (as deemed by the Council) is for the Council to provide transport, then for students aged 16–18 years old and those aged 19 who are continuing learners, a financial contribution of £725 per annum is payable. For the previous full academic year, the average cost of transporting post-16 students (16 to 25 years) was £4,310 per person.

4.2.3 Low income

Local authorities are expected to target any support on those young people, and their families, who need it most, particularly those with a low income. Therefore, the fixed learner contribution will be reduced by 50% for students who would have qualified for free school meals or whose parents/carers are on low income and who can provide evidence of a means-tested benefit. These include:

Qualifying low income: 

• Low income is considered if the family's annual net earned income does not exceed the amount set out by Central Government. More information can be found here
• Universal Credit with an annual income of less than the specified amount found here
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit 

If you receive Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit, we need to see the full award, showing the income breakdown. 

In addition, Learners and their families may apply for assistance via the 16-19 bursary fund. More information can be found here.

Families with low incomes are encouraged to contact the school/college directly and request assistance with the 16-19 bursary fund. 

The following students will be exempt from the Post 16 contribution, and no charge will be made: 

• Young people who are looked after by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council 
• Young people living alone who are entitled to Income Support in their own right (evidence will be required to support this) 
• Young carers (evidence from a support worker or association involved will be required)

4.3 LA support for Adult Learners with SEND aged 19-25 

For the purposes of this Transport Policy Statement, post 19 refers to the end of the academic year in which the student turns 19 years of age. This part of the policy deals with the provision of transport assistance for adults aged 19 to 25 years with an EHC Plan who live in Knowsley Metropolitan Borough and are in education or training at a qualifying educational establishment at: 

• A school (including an academy school)
• A further education institution (including a sixth-form college)
• A council-maintained or assisted institution providing higher or further education
• An establishment funded directly by the Education Funding Agency, such as an independent specialist provider for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities
• A learning provider that is funded by the council to deliver accredited programmes of learning which lead to positive outcomes; this could include a college, charity, or private learning provider

Local Authority support will have a needs-led approach in which the individual needs of each adult are assessed to inform the appropriate form of travel support. The council will provide travel assistance for people who meet the eligibility criteria for support. Reference to ‘adults’ in this policy statement is a reference to both ‘adults’ and ‘relevant young adults’ as defined in Section 508F of the Education Act 1996. 

In accordance with Section 508F of the Education Act 1996 (and subsequent amendments), the council will make transport arrangements it considers necessary to facilitate the attendance of young people and young adults aged between 19 and 25 years with an EHC Plan, where the council has secured the provision of education or training. Transport must be provided free of charge if necessary. This applies to: 

• Adults (those who are aged 19 years or over) for the purpose of facilitating their attendance at council-maintained or assisted further or higher education institutions or institutions within the further education sector.
• Adults aged under 25 with an EHC Plan for the purpose of facilitating their attendance at institutions where they are receiving education or training outside the further and higher education sectors. For those young adults, the councils’ duty only applies where it has secured the provision of education or training at that institution and the provision of boarding accommodation in connection with that education or training.

4.3.1 Eligibility criteria 

The assessment of eligibility of an adult aged between 19-25 years with an EHC Plan for travel assistance will consider the suitability and feasibility of different transport options and will consider: 

• The availability of existing transport 
• The person’s physical mobility 
• The person’s ability to travel independently 
• Access to a Motability vehicle and whether it is reasonable to use it to travel to the relevant location 
• Availability and willingness of a family and carers to assist with transport

Any factors that may pose an unreasonable demand or risk to health and safety when travelling Where the council agrees to provide travel assistance to an adult aged 19-25 the mode of travel support will be determined by the council and will be one that is consistent with the council’s duty to secure value for money and the needs of the young person.

4.4 Independent Travel Training

The Independent Travel Training (ITT) officers offer children and young people who have Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) a set of essential skills, enabling them to travel independently to and from school and college. Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities will be supported, where appropriate, through Independent Travel Training and encouraged to develop their independence by using public transport. This service promotes independence, increases confidence, improves social skills, and opens up routes to further education, employment, and leisure. Each personalised training programme is flexible to meet their needs and is authorised by a young person (when aged 16 or over and if they have capacity) or parents/Carers. It will allow students to learn at their own individual pace. Training/support is gradually phased out until the individual feels competent enough to carry out the journey from home to their place of education and return.

At the time of referral, officers will request an assessment of suitability for Independent Travel Training. A decision cannot be made until this assessment has been completed. If a pupil is deemed suitable to undertake Independent Travel Training, the family will be expected to cooperate with the programme.

For pupils not eligible for a Merseytravel Disabled Persons' Travel Pass, the cost of bus travel will be provided during the training programme. For secondary school-age pupils who can access public transport following participation in the Independent Travel Training programme, a travel pass will be provided for the rest of the academic year in which training was undertaken to those not eligible for a Merseytravel Disabled Persons’ Travel Pass. Eligibility for a travel pass will be reviewed annually on an individual basis.

4.5 Apprenticeships 

Students on waged apprenticeship programmes or any waged training or learning are not eligible to apply for a bursary. However, students on a traineeship programme are non-waged, so they may be eligible. More details can be found on the GOV.UK website here.

4.6 Applying for Council transport support 

Applications for transport assistance can be made from April onwards and should be done so as soon as possible. 

Applications for students requiring a travel pass should be made before 31 July so the pass can be received for the start of the term in September. 
It can take up to 20 working days to assess applications, make travel arrangements, and issue travel passes. The Travel and Travel Support Service will contact families to gather further information about individual needs and requirements. 

If students apply in August or September, there is no guarantee that transport will be in place for the start of term, and they may need to make alternative arrangements in the interim.