Transport for post-16 pupils with special educational needs

Due to the need to reduce risk of COVID-19 transmission, we are working with schools and their requested options for transport. This may mean your child being taken to school at a different time or with a different driver. The team will let you know details once these are available and arrange for Meet and Greets if required.

Please also see our school transport plans and Covid-19 guidance for September.

Personal Travel Budget (PTB) – Changes due to coronavirus/COVID-19

Due to the potential changes to students' attendance at school because of the coronavirus, we are temporarily changing the PTB Process. If you are already receiving PTB you should have received a copy of the letter below, please apply for your reimbursement as explained on the form attached to the letter (you can print/electronically use the linked document below).

Please note: this process is only available to those already in receipt of PTB.

PTB Coronavirus Letter - Blank

Size: 67KBFile format: word

Post-16 transport for pupils with special educational needs

If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and is aged between 16 and 25, they may be eligible for assistance with transport.

Many students with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) are expected to travel independently either by public transport or on foot to their post-16 education provision, unless their SEND, medical or disability prevents this.

Eligibility information

Young people with SEND may be eligible for transport assistance if they meet the following criteria:

Live in Cambridgeshire
Be aged between 16 and 25 years
Have a valid Statement or EHCP, and be unable to access public transport, school bus contracts or walk
On a full time course (minimum 15 taught hours) and attending their nearest appropriate centre, offering an appropriate course for that young person
Live more than 3 miles from the school / college or not be able to walk less than those distances specified due to SEND

For families who are in receipt of the following benefits, free post-16 transport provision would be offered, if all the eligibility criteria is met:

Income support
Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
Income related employment and support allowance
Support under part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
Holds the NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate

If you do not qualify for the above benefits, a contribution of £205 per term (2020/21 academic year) will be payable at the point of application.

Should your child not meet the SEND post-16 transport policy, or is able to access public transport, rail or school bus contract, please visit our mainstream post-16 education transport page to check eligibility.

Transport provision

Transport needs for each child are assessed on an individual basis, based on their Statement / EHCP and information from professionals and parents. Transport is provided in the following way:

Placed on an existing transport route
New transport provision
Personal transport budget

Whichever best meets the child's needs and is cost effective to the Council.

Out of county placements

If a child has been placed at an independent out of county provision, transport support will be provided. You will be asked to transport your child and costs will be met. Please see the personal transport budget page for details on this.

If you do not have access to a vehicle or are unable to provide transport, the Council will provide transport in the same process mentioned above.

How to apply

Apply for post-16 SEND transport

All applications are assessed and approved by the Statutory Assessments Team (SAT). Please allow 15 working days for applications to be processed. This may increase during peak periods.

If you would prefer to complete a paper application form instead of using the online system, a copy can be found below.

Personal transport budgets

For full details, please visit our personal transport budgets page.

Reviewing transport provision

A review of your child's transport provision will be made annually as part of the annual review process. The nature of SEND transport means that arrangements have to be flexible, with pupils joining and leaving routes throughout the year, and the Council are not able to communicate these changes to parents. Changes to operators are avoided where possible, but are occasionally out of the Council's control.

The Council also has a legal obligation to review and re-tender transport contracts on a regular basis. However, any review of this nature will be communicated with parents prior to any changes being made.