Travel and Transport

If your child has complex health needs, or disabilities, they may require additional support to help them get around in the community.  This could be help to get to and from school, or other place of learning. 

You can find out more about transport services to support young people with SEND in this area of the Local Offer.  This includes services with particular expertise in transporting young people with complex medical needs.

In Gloucestershire, there is some travel training available to enable children and young people to develop skills that will empower them to use public transport.  This will improve their independence and prevent isolation as they move in to adult life.

If you need help, or cannot find what you are looking for, contact the Family Information Service by email at familyinfo@gloucestershire.gov.uk 

To help us continually improve, please use the website feedback (top of page) to leave your comments.  Also, each individual service page has an area where you can leave a review.  Your feedback is welcome. 

*REVIEWED SEPTEMBER 2023*

Support available to enable young people with SEND to attend school or college

Children and young people with special educational needs may get help with travel to school or college but it is not an automatic right. An assessment is made of the child's needs and individual circumstances.

A door-to-door service is provided only in specific circumstances. Children may have to travel to their nearest pick up point.

Travel assistance may include

  • bus passes
  • cars & taxis
  • mileage paid to parent / personal transport allowance
  • minibus

You will need to complete an application form and meet the criteria in order to qualify for help and we will ask for quite a lot of information because:

  • we need to make sure you are eligible for travel assistance
  • if we can offer help, we need to be sure that the arrangements are suitable to meet your child's needs

If you need help with completing the form you can ask staff at the school or college or your health visitor. You can also contact the SEN Travel Enablement Team or the SENDIASS Gloucestershire for advice.

SEN Travel Enablement Team
Commissioning for Learning
Shire Hall
Gloucester GL1 2TP

sen.transport@gloucestershire.gov.uk

 


Children 4-16 years

If you think you are eligible for assistance with travel please read the Guidance and frequently asked questions and the policy before applying.

Apply online for SEN 4-16 travel assistance

You can also apply by post using this form: Home to school travel assistance application form for children aged 4 - 16 with learning difficulties and/or disabilities but this will take longer to process.

Young people 16 years and over

If you are applying for travel assistance to attend school or college, please read the post 16 travel policy and apply online using the button below or download and complete the application form (printer required).

Post 16 online Travel Assistance Application Form

Post 16 Transport Policy Statement 2023-24

Independent travel training

Special educational needs students really going places

Students with special educational needs can struggle to travel independently - and overcoming this can seem like a mountain to climb. Simple journeys to see friends, go to school or college or even commuting to a job can seem really daunting. Encouraging young people to take those first steps to being confident enough to catch a bus, hand over money and navigate their own way to and from bus stops can cause anxiety, stress and concern - for students, parents and carers alike.

Help is at hand. Gloucestershire County Council is working closely with students and their families on a one to one basis to fully support them to acquire the skills and confidence needed to travel independently.

The Independent Travel Training team was introduced in January 2017 and qualified trainers continue to support young people to travel independently across Gloucestershire. The support offered to young people helps them to understand the risks of independent travel and introduces them to appropriate coping strategies to help them manage their journeys. 

How does travel training work?

Travel training will usually start with a home or school visit followed by an initial assessment to make sure the training is suitable for the young person at the time.

Training will be on a one to one basis with our trainer accompanying the student for their entire journey, often travelling with them to the bus stop, sitting with them on the bus and then taking them to their destination. As the student becomes more confident, our trainer will start reducing the amount of journey time with them - helping the student to be independent and travel safely.

Sessions will be bespoke to meet your individual needs.

There is no pass or fail, it is a travel experience with an outcome we discuss and agree with you.

Parents and carers have found they are able to step back a little for the first time in years. An added bonus is that more social opportunities are now open to trainees and being able to travel independently can lead to work placement possibilities.

Who is this service available for?

  • You have an Education, Health & Care Plan
  • You are/will be in full-time education (540 guided learning hours)
  • You are/will be attending the nearest school or college that can meet your educational needs
  • You live over 3 miles away from your nearest school or college

If you do not meet this criteria, please get in touch to see if we can still help.

How will travel training be delivered?

The training will include:

  • using a bus pass or money and understanding information displays/timetables
  • journey planning
  • practical training in the community: on foot, crossing roads, using public transport with the right support from the travel trainer
  • 'What if' scenarios, copying strategies, how to resolve problems, using a mobile phone safely and more.

Who can make referrals?

Either parents or the following people can refer for travel training: schools, social workers and other practitioners or lead professionals working with children and young people with learning difficulties or disabilities.

If you complete and return our referral form and questionnaire (PDF, 242.5 KB) , we will contact you to discuss your options.

More information:

For an informal conversation about how travel training might help you, please contact the team on: 

itt@gloucestershire.gov.uk
01452 328751

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