Post-16 Transport Policy Statement 2025-2026

Transport policy statement for students aged 16-18 in further education, continuing learners aged 19 and those young people aged 19 up to 25 with an Education Health and Care Plan where considered necessary.

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Introduction

Local authorities do not have to provide any free or subsidised post 16 travel assistance but do have a duty to prepare and publish an annual transport policy statement specifying the arrangements for the provision of transport or other assistance that the authority considers it necessary to make to facilitate the attendance of all persons of sixth form age receiving education or training

All young people carrying on their education post 16 must reapply for travel assistance. Most young people will be expected to take advantage of the concessionary public transport tickets available throughout West Yorkshire. Students will have to purchase these themselves.

'Sixth form age' refers to those students who are over 16 years of age but under 19 or continuing learners who started their programme of learning before their 19th birthday (years 12, 13, 14).

Local authorities also have a broad duty to encourage, enable and assist young people with special education needs and disabilities to participate in education and training, up to the age of 25.

This policy uses the term ‘Post 16’ to include both learners of sixth form age and those with special education needs and disabilities up to the age of 25.

This policy document specifies the assistance that Bradford Council (the Council) considers necessary to facilitate the attendance of Post 16 learners receiving education or training.

Education or training refers to learning or training at a school, further education institution, a council maintained or assisted institution providing higher or further education, an establishment funded directly by the Education Funding Agency, learning providers delivering accredited programmes of learning which led to positive outcomes and are funded by the council, for example, colleges, charities and private learning providers.

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Transport and travel assistance

Concessionary tickets for students 16 to 25

All full time students aged 16 to 25 studying within the West Yorkshire boundary, which includes the City of Bradford Metropolitan District, Leeds City Council, Wakefield Council, Calderdale Council and Kirklees Council are able to take advantage of the subsidised concessionary fares or ticket schemes provided by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Metro) or other travel providers including First Bus, Keighley and District Buses and Arriva in order to travel to and from their place of learning.

In some instances tickets may allow for travel outside of the West Yorkshire boundary at no extra cost. Students will be expected to purchase these subsidised concessionary fares and ticket schemes themselves.

Concessionary tickets provided by Metro include:

• 16-18 Photocard – card allows travel at half fare on buses and trains throughout West Yorkshire. If you travel into North Yorkshire on Transdev Keighley & District, Harrogate & District and Coastliner services you will receive a third off the fare for your journey in North Yorkshire.
• Under 19 Bus only ticket (5-18) – pre-payment card of 1 week or 1 month allowing unlimited bus travel within West Yorkshire.
• 19-25 or student Photocard (16-25) – pre-payment card allowing unlimited travel on trains and buses within West Yorkshire.

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The 16-19 Bursary Fund

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help students overcome specific barriers to participation so they can remain in education.

There are 2 types of 16 to 19 bursaries:

1. A vulnerable person's bursary of up to £1,200 a year for young people in one of the defined vulnerable groups below:
   • in care
   • care leavers
   • in receipt of Income Support, or Universal Credit in place of Income Support, in their own right
   • in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit and Disability Living or Personal Independence Payments in their own right
2. Discretionary bursaries which institutions award to meet individual needs, for example, help with the cost of transport, meals, books and equipment

To be eligible for the discretionary bursary students must:

• be aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August 2025 or
• be aged 19 or over on 31 August 2025 and have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
• be aged 19 or over on 31 August 2025 and continuing on a study programme they began aged 16 to 18 (‘19+ continuers’)
• be studying a programme that is subject to inspection by a public body which assures quality (such as Ofsted), the provision must also be funded by either a Government funding agency or the Council.

Schools and colleges are responsible for managing both types of bursaries. Students who want to apply for support from the bursary fund should contact their chosen school or college to make an application.

Further information can be found at www.gov.uk search for post 16 bursaries.

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16 - 19 year olds - sixth form age arrangements

The Council will generally provide transport assistance to 16–19-year-olds only in the following circumstances:

The student is not able to travel independently and safely to education because they have a special educational need or disability, which will be identified in an Education Health and Care Plan. Exceptional circumstances will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account:

• those who are, or are at risk of, not being in education, employment or training (‘NEET’),
• young parents,
• The choice of further education establishment (including establishment based on religion),
• distance and journey time,
• cost of transport to preferred further education establishment,
• alternative means / non-transport solutions that help facilitate attendance,
• The student has a permanent residence in the Bradford Council administrative area and is over 16 years of age and under 19 at the start of the academic year. (Years 12, 13, 14)
• Attending a programme at a suitable college or sixth form.
• The journey from home to school or college on foot, as measured by the Council’s statutory system, is over 3 miles.
• The school or setting is deemed to be the nearest suitable to meet the education requirements of the student. If a school or college placement has been secured by parental preference and an alternative school or college is closer to your home travel assistance will not be available

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The travel assistance offer - financial support

The normal arrangement the Council will make for students aged over 16 but under 19 under the ‘sixth form duty’ is a Post 16 Personal Travel Assistance Budget (PTAB).

A PTAB is a direct payment and is designed to help the student attend school/college. It replaces council-organised transport, although requests for traditional transport arrangements will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The PTAB can be used in any way that enables a student to get to school or college.

Calculation of the PTAB

The amount of money that is awarded is based on the shortest distance between your home and the school the young person attends.

Many available maps and internet-based measuring tools will give you an indication of the distance from your home to school, but this is only an indication. Bradford Council will use a combination of publicly available online route planning platforms and its own internal mapping systems to calculate the shortest distance. For fairness and consistency, the same process for determining distance is used for all applications.

Payments will be made as follows:

• Between 3 and 10 miles (one way measurement) - £1000 per annum
• Over 10 miles and under 20 miles (one way measurement) - £2000 per annum
• Over 20 miles (one way measurement) - £3000 per annum.

Payments will be made termly in advance (three payments per year).

Attendance data will be checked on a regular basis. Poor attendance may result in the PTAB being withdrawn.

You will be asked about access to a Mobility vehicle for use on behalf of a disabled young person. This will be checked against other council records and may affect the offer of travel assistance that is made.

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Transport support

Some eligible students may continue to be transported to school or college by Council organised transport as determined by the Travel Assistance Service . In these circumstances a charge will made to parents for the service.

This charge for 2025/2026 is currently £370.

The fee is set in line with the cost of an Under 19 Bus Only Ticket which may change each year.

Students and/or parents/carers will be notified of the charges by the Travel Assistance Service in advance and invoiced as soon as possible. Every opportunity will be given for students and/or parents/carers to pay the charges by smaller, more manageable payments suitable to the student and/or parent/carer. Payment details will appear on the invoice.

To be eligible for the offer of transport provided by the council a student must be:

1. Aged 16-19 with an Education Health and Care plan and attending a college or a special school in educational Year 12, 13, 14; and
2. attending their nearest college or school 6^th form providing facilities and a study programme suitable to their needs, and
3. that school or college is beyond 3 miles from their home.
4. unable to access their education by means of a PTAB due to their SEND; and have no other means of facilitating attendance at school or college.

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19 up to 25 with SEND - adult arrangements

Travel assistance for young adults with SEND attending a course that started after their 19th birthday.

This section covers people aged between 19 and 25 years of age with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) who start a new course of education after their 19th birthday.

The overall intention of the ‘adult transport duty’ is to ensure that those with the most severe disabilities with no other means of transportation can undertake further education and training after their 19th birthday to help them move towards more independent living.

Eligibility for support from Bradford Council under the ‘adult transport duty’.

The Council will generally provide a young adult with free travel assistance if ALL the following statements apply to them:

• EHC Plan
• Resident in the administrative area of Bradford Council and aged between 19 and 25 years of age and starting a new course of study after their 19th birthday.
• Enrolled on and attending a programme of learning providing further or higher education or education or training at an institution outside the further and higher education sectors where the Council has secured the provision of education or training and the provision of boarding accommodation.

Unlike under the ‘sixth form transport duty’, there is no charge for Council-organised transport under the ‘adult transport duty’

What travel assistance we will provide under the ‘adult transport duty’

Travel assistance may be provided in the following ways (this list is not exhaustive):

• Independent travel training to enable students to use public transport or travel independently.
• Subsidised bus pass/travel card.
• Personal Travel Assistance Budget. (PTAB).
• Taxi or specialist transport to/from home or pick up point.
• A contribution towards mileage expenses.

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Refunds

The amount a parent/carer is asked to pay for transport assistance is a small proportion of the actual cost of the transport provided. In these circumstances the Council does not offer refunds where transport has not arrived or is unable to take a student to school or college due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.

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Travel training

The Council currently has an Independent Travel Training Programme which works to promote and implement independent travel for pupils/students attending schools and FE colleges with special educational needs. The aim is to develop the life skills required to travel independently on public transport services.

To be eligible for this assistance the student must be:

1. Aged 16-19 with a Statement of Special Needs or an Education Health and Care plan and attending a college or a special school in educational Year 12, 13, 14; or
2. Aged 19-24 an Education Health and Care plan, having enrolled on the course before their 19th birthday; or
3. Aged 19-24 with an Education Health and Care plan, where the Council has deemed it necessary, they enrol on a course after their 19th birthday; and
4. attend their nearest college or school 6th form providing facilities and a study programme suitable to their needs.

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Students placed by the Council

Where there is no suitable educational provision available locally, and the council has placed a student with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) eligibility for travel assistance will be considered on an individual basis in accordance with the provisions of the student’s EHC plan.

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Students attending residential schools and colleges

If a student attends a school or college on a residential basis secured by the Council because of their SEND and not through parental preference, they can receive payment of approved travelling expenses for journeys made to and from the school or college.

Approved travelling expenses will be given for one return journey at the start and end of each full academic term and half terms. The allowance for each return journey will be a 45p per mile allowance by car or the most cost-effective available rail fare, whichever is cheaper but not exceeding £500 per term.

Payment will be made only if the student attends the nearest school or college having a place available and offering a suitable course.

To be eligible for travel assistance the student

• The permanent home address must be in the Bradford District and will normally be the home address enrolled/registered with the school or college.
• where a student subsequently moves address the eligibility will be re-determined.
• where a student shares equal time between different parental addresses eligibility will be assessed from the property nearest to the school or college attended.
• Have no other means of facilitating attendance at the school or college or have any other arrangement provided in their EHC plan.

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Students who travel outside the West Yorkshire District boundary

Support will consist of the additional costs of travel to school / college outside of the Bradford District Boundary and will be limited to ensure that travel outside of Metro’s West Yorkshire Concessionary Fares Zones is comparable in cost to travel within the zones, using the most cost-effective ticketing arrangements available at the time of travel.

Please note; some concessionary tickets do allow travel across District Boundaries and students who live in those areas will be expected to buy these tickets themselves.

To be eligible students travelling across District boundaries must:

• travel more than 3 miles from their home on a daily basis to attend school or college outside the Bradford district; and
• be entitled to Free School Meals in Further Education.

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Apprenticeships

Young people involved in an apprenticeship and aged 16 - 18 will be entitled to apply for the Under 19 Bus Only Ticket. Those aged 19 and over can apply for the 19 – 25 or Student photocard.

To find out more about the cards above please visit your local bus station travel centre or visit the M Card website.

Learning providers are responsible for ensuring that non-employed Programme-led Apprentices have reasonable expenses met in full where these are needed to overcome barriers to learning.

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Those not in education, employment or training (NEET)

If you take up the offer of a full -time place at a learning provider, you will be entitled, if the eligibility criteria are met, to those benefits listed above for full time students.

Those taking up the offer of an Apprenticeship, Entry to Foundation Learning or employment with training to NVQ level 2 will be able to apply for either an Under 19 Bus Only Ticket or for those aged 19 and over can apply for the 19 – 25 card.

Course information can be found on the UCAS website.

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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.

Types of childcare

The childcare provider must be Ofsted registered and can be a:

• childminder
• pre-school playgroup
• day nursery
• out of school club.

If your child needs specialist childcare, the provider must also be on the Care Quality Commission’s register for specialist provision.

If you want a relative to get Care to Learn for looking after your child, they need to be both:

• providing registered childcare for children they’re not related to
• living apart from you and your child.

Payments

Childcare payments go directly to your childcare provider. Before your childcare provider can be paid:

• your childcare provider needs to confirm your child’s attendance
• your school or college needs to confirm that you’re attending your course.

Payments for travel costs go to your school or college - they’ll either pay you or arrange travel for you.

Attendance

Payments will stop if:

• you stop attending your course
• you finish your course
• your child stops attending childcare.

Eligibility

You can get Care to Learn if:

• you’re a parent under 20 at the start of your course
• you’re the main carer for your child
• you live in England
• you’re either a British citizen or a national of a European Economic Area (EEA) country
• your course is publicly funded (check with your school or college)
• your childcare provider is registered with Ofsted or the Care Quality Commission.

Type of course

Care to Learn is only available for courses in England that have some public funding.

This includes courses that take place in:

• schools
• school 6th forms
• 6th form colleges
• other colleges and learning providers, including Foundation Learning
• your community at Children’s Centres.

Young parents are also entitled to apply for an Under 19 Bus Only Ticket or for those aged 19 and over can apply for the 19 – 25 or Student Photocard.

For more information please visit Care to Learn: how to claim.

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Applying for transport support

Application forms will be available from May each year and should be returned before 30 June for SEN College and sixth form transport.

Students should apply for support as soon as an offer of a place has been made by the school or college by completing an application form available from the Travel Assistance Service.

Full contact details are listed below and in the Council’s Post-16 Transport Policy Statement which can be found on the Council’s travel assistance web page.

For advice about the Policy, application forms for support under the policy, and concerns about transport arrangements contact:

Travel Assistance Service
Shearbridge Depot
Shearbridge Road
Bradford
BD7 1PU

Telephone: 01274 439450

Email: [email protected]

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Appeals

Two Stage Process

1. In cases where an application for travel assistance under this policy is declined, parents / carers or a young person can request a review of the decision, which will be carried out by an independent officer who was not party to the original decision. Request for a review should be made in writing within 20 working days of the original decision and sent to the Travel Assistance Service at the address set out above. The request for a review should include reasons as to why the decision should be reviewed and details of any circumstances the parent/carer or young person believes should be considered in the review, together with any supporting documents
   Within 25 working days of receipt of the request for a review an independent officer will review the original decision and notify the parent/carer or young person in writing of the outcome of the review, and the reasons for it.
2. If a parent/carer or young person is unhappy with the outcome of a review, the matter can be escalated to an appeal. This must be requested by the parent/carer or young person in writing within 20 working days of receiving the review decision, and sent to Committee Services, Legal and Democratic Services, City Hall, Room 112, Bradford, BD1 1HY, setting out the reasons for the appeal and providing any information in support of it. Appeals are heard by a panel of senior council officers.
   Within 40 working days of receiving a request for an appeal, the independent appeal panel will consider written and verbal representations from the parents/carers or young person and officers involved in the case. Written notification of the outcome of the appeal with reasons for the appeal decision will be sent to the parent/carer or young person within 5 working days of the appeal being heard.

Complaints to the Secretary of State

Under certain circumstances the Secretary of State may direct a local authority (‘LA’) to make transport arrangements or provide financial assistance for travelling expenses for individuals or groups of learners or direct a LA where the LA has exercised its functions unreasonably or failed to discharge a duty.