For the academic years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26
This applies to:
Sixth forms, Further Education Colleges, and other education settings in Devon or with Devon-residents on roll
The Transport Co-ordination Service of Devon County Council
All parents and carers of Devon-resident children above statutory school age seeking transport assistance to and from an education setting
Young people who are above statutory school age seeking transport assistance to and from an education setting in their own right
Learners with an EHCP aged 19-25
Description of policy
This policy describes how eligibility for transport to and from education settings will be determined and how transport will be provided for young people above statutory school age, at sixth form or Further Education College.
General information and contacts
Date determined: 8 March 2023 Review date: Annual Approval: by cabinet members of Devon County Council Key partners: Devon Association of Primary Headteachers, Devon Association of Secondary Headteachers, Devon Association of Governors, Church of England Diocese of Exeter, Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth, School Admissions Service Author: Senior Policy Officer schoolsadmissionpolicy-mailbox@devon.gov.uk Sponsors: Donna Manson Chief Executive Julian Wooster, Interim Director of Children and Young People’s Futures Other contacts: Steve Roberts, 0-25 SEN Transport Manager 01392 383000 steve.roberts@devon.gov.uk Transport Eligibility Team of the Transport Co-Ordination Service 0345 155 1019 – contact through My Devon Customer Service Centre schooltransportservicequeries-mailbox@devon.gov.uk School Admissions Service 0345 155 1019 – contact through My Devon Customer Service Centre admissions@devon.gov.uk Transport Co-ordination Service 01392 383000 Useful links:Department for Education 08700 000 2288
Summary
The LA has a statutory duty to make arrangements to provide free home to school transport for some children of compulsory school age and discretion whether to provide transport for others. There is no statutory duty on local authorities to provide a formal universal Post-16(1) travel scheme although there is a duty to consider whether support is essential to facilitate continued participation in education. There is no automatic entitlement to home to college transport after the age of 16.
This policy sets out Devon’s approach to Post-16 education travel. Devon will make decisions with reference to its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant which seeks to redress disadvantage of opportunity with the armed forces community.
Councils have a duty to publish a transport policy for Post 16 transport setting out their transport arrangements and the financial help available for learners of sixth form(2) age (16-18 or after 18 if they started the course before their 19th birthday).
They have discretion to set out our own arrangements but must have regard to various factors including:
the needs of those who could not access education if no arrangements were made
the need for young people to have reasonable opportunities to choose between courses
the distance and journey time of the place of study
it is for officers to decide whether a course of study represents a new course
there are some programmes of study which mean that each year a student achieves a qualification, certificate or training outcome but do not lead to a final overall qualification at the end of the programme or study or course. An example of this is a ‘skills for living’ type course which does not lead to a final qualification and consists of individual certificates or training outcomes. Where a student undertakes a new qualification or certificate or training outcome this will be considered a new course even though the student will not have changed their programme of study.
Devon County Council expects that parents(3) will consider how students are going to get to and from college(4) prior to applying and accepting a place. Where there is public transport serving a college, it expects that parents will make their own arrangements to pay for a bus or rail ticket and, where necessary, they will approach the college for assistance through their bursary scheme. Only where a parent can evidence(5) that he or she is unable to make other arrangements to get the student to and from college and that the absence of LA travel assistance is an unsurmountable barrier to education will Devon provide travel assistance.
Post-19 students
This is a transport policy for students under the age of 19. There are two exceptions to this.
1 Children are of statutory school age from the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday (or from the fifth birthday if it falls on 1 January, 1 April or 1 September) until the last Friday in the June of the academic year when he or she reaches 16 years of age. Where young people are over the statutory school age but taught in Year 11 in a secondary school, they will be considered as if they were still of statutory school age under the Education Travel Policy.
2 In this document, the term college will be used. This will include sixth form, FE College or other appropriate education setting unless otherwise stated.
3 In this document, any reference to parents should be taken also to mean the student unless otherwise specified. In most instances, travel arrangements will be made by the parent but post-16 students could make arrangements themselves. The term parent also includes carers.
4 In this document, any reference to college should be taken to include sixth form school or college and Further Education colleges. This means any education setting for post-16 students.
5 In this document, where a parent is required to evidence, this should be taken to mean that the parent must provide satisfactory evidence to the LA to support any request for assistance.
a) the LA has a responsibility in respect of travel assistance for learners between 19 and 25 years of age who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This policy reflects the duty set out in Section 508F of the Education Act 1996.
b) the LA will support students under the age 21 who started the same formal education course before they were 19. Adult learners over 19 at a new setting or undertaking a new course or level of course (for example, moving from a Level 1 to a Level 2 course) will be referred to Adult Social Care for advice.
Key points:
There is no universal entitlement to travel assistance from the LA for post-16 students.
Parents are responsible for making travel arrangements for their children unless the young person makes their own arrangements.
Where parents are unable to make their own arrangements then it is their responsibility to approach the College and/or the LA for assistance.
Colleges are provided with bursary funds to support a student with travel, clothing, books and equipment for a course.
Where there is financial difficulty, parents should approach colleges for assistance through their bursary scheme.
The LA should only be seen as providing assistance where there is a barrier to accessing or remaining in education and where all other options have been investigated and are not available, as evidenced by the parent.
Where travel assistance is provided by the LA, a contribution towards costs will be required.
Where necessary, the LA may undertake an assessment of need.
1. Equality statement
1.1 Devon County Council will only commit to policies and practices which will eradicate discrimination and promote equality for all, regardless of age, gender, disability, religion and belief, race and ethnicity and sexual orientation.
1.2 This policy will be subject to an Equality Impact and Needs Assessment. This assessment will be integral to all future policy and guidance reviews.
2. Safeguarding statement
2.1 Devon County Council and its partners recognise that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility. Whether their interest is in all young people ‘staying safe’ in all aspects of our services, or whether they are working in specific areas of vulnerability, all staff will have appropriate training and induction so that they understand their roles and responsibilities and are confident in carrying them out.
Schools, settings, children, young people and their parents or carers, or any member of the community should feel secure that they could raise any issues or concerns about the safety or welfare of children and know that they will be listened to and taken seriously. This will be achieved by maintaining an ethos of commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This is supported by a clear child protection policy, appropriate induction and training, briefings on and discussion of relevant factors and refreshed learning in line with current legislation and guidelines.
2.2 Devon County Council acts as a Corporate Parent for Children in Care. This means that the LA has a legal and moral duty to provide the kind of support that any good parents would provide their own children. This policy has been written to comply with this principle.
3. Introduction
3.1 This policy is made by Devon County Council (DCC), the Local Authority (LA) for the County of Devon, acting under the provisions of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and Sections 508 and 509 of the Education Act 1996 and Schedule 35B inserted by Part 6 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. It supersedes any previous agreement or policy. The policy applies to the academic years 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.
This policy sets out how the LA will meet this statutory duty and provides information about the categories of eligible children, the provision offered and circumstances when assistance is not provided.
There should be no assumption that any discretionary elements of the policy will continue in future policies although Devon’s approach has so far been not to remove provision from children who were receiving support at the point when a change to policy was made.
Where it is necessary or expedient to do so, this policy may be reviewed and will be subject to amendment.
4. Home to College Transport
4.1 Parents must think about how their children will get to and from college over the time they attend there. Parents have the responsibility for getting their children to and from college. Transport should be one of the factors parents consider when thinking about which college they would like their children to attend.
The LA provides assistance for young people to attend their post-16 education setting under limited circumstances, set out in this policy.
5. Who is entitled to Transport Assistance?
5.1 There is no universal entitlement to free transport from the LA for post-16 students – those young people who are above statutory school age.
Under limited circumstances, the LA will provide assistance with travel so that a young person can continue in education. Parents or young people themselves can request assistance. All requests for assistance are considered on a case by case basis.
Assistance may exceptionally be made available for post-16 young people who:
live in the Devon County Council administrative area(1)
are under 19 on 31st August immediately preceding the start of the academic year(2)
attend the nearest appropriate college (see section 5.2 below) for their post-16 education
live more than 3 miles from the college(3)
are in full-time4 education(5)
Where they provide satisfactory evidence to the LA:
that they have applied to their education setting for financial assistance, with details of the level of support offered
of the cost to them if they were to make the necessary travel arrangements(6)
of a medical condition or other circumstance that would prevent the parent making the necessary travel arrangements
of their financial circumstances e.g. proof of receipt of means tested benefit
that transport is an insurmountable obstacle to attendance
5.2 The nearest appropriate college is:
the designated sixth form for the home address, or, where the designated secondary school does not have a sixth form
the designated FE College for the home address
the nearest sixth form or FE College(7)
Where the chosen course is essential for access to Higher Education and is not available at the nearest appropriate college, attendance must be at the nearest college to the home address offering the course, or one very similar. The nearest establishment may be in another LA area.
5.3 Where students do not attend the nearest establishment because it does not offer their preferred course, they will be required to provide evidence that the course is essential for entry to Higher.
1 That is the county of Devon except for the Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council areas.
2 Or he or she must be attending a specific course for those with learning difficulties and be required to attend beyond the age of 19 to complete the course. (Support would then continue until the end of the academic year during which he or she reaches 21 to attend the same course at the same establishment.)
3 This will be measured by the shortest walking route using the LA’s online mapping system
4 At least 16 hours of education over at least 3 days a week.
5 Transport assistance is not provided to students undertaking work placements, apprenticeships, or traineeships. In these circumstances, young people are advised to contact their employer or learner provider.
6 This should be the most cost-effective arrangements possible.
7 This will be measured by the shortest vehicular route using the LA’s online mapping system.
Education(1) It must be evidenced that the same or a similar alternative course is not available closer to home.
5.4 Young people are not obliged to attend the nearest setting if, for instance, it offers vocational courses only and they wish to undertake A levels or it offers A levels only and not vocational courses.
5.5 Where the LA is satisfied that there is a need for travel assistance to be provided, that assistance will be chargeable in all cases. This will be a contribution towards the costs incurred by the LA For all students from a low-income household, the parent will be expected to have sough financial support from the college bursary scheme to pay towards that contribution.
5.6
1 Confirmation of current entry requirements or a letter from the Higher Education setting stating that the course is essential for entry to the Higher Education course. ‘A’ levels are adequate for entry to university and therefore the wish to study the International Baccalaureate rather than ‘A’ levels is considered an expression of preference.
6. Post-16 Young People with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
6.1 Students are not entitled to transport assistance solely on the grounds that they hold an EHCP. A student with an EHCP must meet the same eligibility criteria for transport assistance that apply to all young people, unless he or she is unable to do so on the grounds of disability or medical condition.
A formal request for transport assistance must be made in all cases.
6.2 Students with SEN who are entitled to transport assistance may use transport available to all or may require a dedicated or specialist vehicle. In some instances, it may be necessary for an escort to accompany the young person.
The LA will assess the needs of each young person who requests transport assistance. This will include how the young person’s needs can be best met so that transport can be arranged at the lowest possible cost commensurate with meeting the those needs.
6.3 A college that is named on an EHCP will be deemed to be the nearest suitable setting unless it was named solely as an expression of preference.
6.4 A contribution to the cost of transport support is required in all cases, including where the young person has an EHCP.
7. Adult Learners aged 19 to 25 with an EHCP
7.1 Assistance (1) may also be made available free of charge for adults who:
live in the Devon County Council administrative area
are aged between 19 and 25 on 31 August immediately preceding the start of the academic year
have an Education, Health, and Care Plan
attend the nearest suitable setting
are in full-time(2) education(3)
receive education at institutions either maintained or assisted by the Council and providing further or higher education or within education sector
receive education or training at institutions outside both the further education sector, and the wider higher education sector, but only where the Council have secured the provision of education or training at the institution in question, and the provision of boarding accommodation
7.2 The LA will have regard to, amongst other things:
the age of the adult
the nature of the route or alternative routes which the adult could reasonably be expected to take
what funding is available from the education setting. There will be an expectation that the learner or their carer has applied for all potential funding
whether there is a family member or carer willing to provide transport
whether the learner has a journey that cannot be undertaken on public transport or the learner has needs that means public transport is not suitable
(1) Under the duties imposed by section 508F of the Education Act 1996 (2) At least 16 hours of education over at least 3 days a week. (3) Transport assistance is not provided to learners undertaking work placements, apprenticeships, or traineeships. In these circumstances, learners are advised to contact their employer or learner provider.
7.3 Learners and their carers should contact the Transport Team as early as possible to discuss their transport needs. A transport application form must be submitted from April onwards for transport from September each year. Later applications can also be made.
An assessment of need form may also be required. This may be necessary to establish whether it is necessary for the LA to provide transport under the duty imposed by section 508F.
7.4 Any transport provision will be by the most cost-effective means appropriate for the learner and may include Independent travel training.
7.5 Where a transport application is refused for a learner, the two-stage appeals process will be available, set out in section 11 below.
Where the LA does not consider assistance to be necessary under this duty, it may make a further assessment for assistance under the Care Act 2014, for which a contribution towards may be charged.
The Transport Entitlement Officer Panel (TEOP) or Clerk to the Appeal Panel will refer cases to the relevant social care officers where appropriate.
8. What does Transport Assistance look like?
8.1 In cases where the LA agrees assistance it will be for a “main road” type of service only. Parents will be expected to make their own arrangements for transport to a specified pick up point. Transport assistance will not necessarily be for a door to door service.
8.2 Any assistance offered will be to the college start and finish times, based on one inward and one outward journey each day. Travel assistance will not be tailored to meet individual timetables, i.e. where contract vehicle timetables are not in line with that of the student. In such circumstances parents are expected to make suitable adjustments to travel arrangements.
The LA will determine the most appropriate travel arrangements. There will be a presumption in favour of shared travel arrangements. It will not be the LA’s responsibility to get a student to a pick up point.
8.3 The type of assistance that may be provided will be the most cost effective for the LA and will be open to review:(1)
provision of a vacant seat on a LA contract vehicle(2 )
petrol allowance to assist parents to take a young person to college – the amount to be determined by the LA
parental acknowledgement – this is a payment to assist with travel costs to and from college or to and from an appropriate pick-up or drop-off point for a public service or LA contract vehicle
Independent Travel Training
Where the journey time is lengthy or requires changes of vehicle as a result of the course chosen by the student, whilst assistance may still be offered, the parent will be responsible for managing that journey.
(1) While it may be agreed to provide a financial allowance to a parent, should other students require support in the same area, it may become more cost-effective for the LA to offer vacant seats on a vehicle. (2) The LA will not assist with travel on public service vehicles as parents will be able to make their own arrangements, supported financially by college bursary schemes where appropriate.
8.4 Journeys may involve a change of vehicle. Smaller, feeder vehicles may be used to link with larger contract vehicles or with public transport. A public transport route may entail children using more than one bus or a bus and train combination.
8.5 The LA’s assistance may include offering a vacant seat on a LA contract vehicle where there is no access to suitable public transport.
9. How would students get to and from College without LA assistance?
9.1 Before the LA will consider providing travel assistance to the nearest appropriate college, it will require the parent to evidence that all other options have been explored and that no other arrangements or sources of support are available.
This includes whether the student could:
walk to and from college
use a bicycle
use a motorcycle or moped
use a car provided by family or friends
access public transport
make other arrangements
In many cases, the student will be able to walk to and from college or travel using public transport. Where this is the case, there is no need for the LA to assist.
9.2 The LA expects that travel by public transport will be funded either by the family, with or without the support of the college bursary scheme. If, after approaching the college, the parent can evidence that there remains a genuine hardship acting as a barrier to accessing or remaining in education, the LA will assist. Students must attend their nearest appropriate college to be entitled to LA transport assistance.
10. How do Parents and Young People request LA Assistance?
10.1 Where a parent is unable to make other arrangements to enable the student to travel to and from college, the flow chart on section 5.5 above will assist in self-assessing whether assistance may be available from the LA.
Parents can visit the LA website or contact the Devon Customer Service Centre on 0345 155 1019 for advice and support.
10.2 Parents and young people can request transport assistance using the form published here.
A copy can be requested from the Devon Customer Service Centre.
An assessment of need may be necessary. This will establish whether transport assistance is required and the form that assistance will take.
10.3 All requests for assistance will be considered on a case by case basis. While they may be challenging for parents, the LA does not consider that the following circumstances are likely to be exceptional on their own:
parents’ work hours or child-care arrangements not fitting in with public service times or college times
parent’s need to get other children to and from school
the convenience of using a family vehicle (including Mobility vehicle provided for the student) for other purposes
an unavailable route, assessed by the LA(1)
11. Appeals, comments and complaints
11.1 Parents and young people have the right to appeal against a decision not to provide travel assistance. This may be to challenge the decision itself, on grounds that the decision was flawed and incorrect under this policy or to appeal that the policy itself be set aside and assistance provided.
11.2 Where refused, the request for assistance will be reviewed by a second LA Officer within the Transport Co-ordination Service. If the request is still refused, there are two tiers of appeal:
a Transport Eligibility Officer Panel (TEOP)
an appeal panel comprised of elected Members of the LA.
11.3 The TEOP is the first tier of appeal. It considers requests for transport assistance where there is no entitlement. It may authorise assistance where costs do not exceed upper limits set out in appendix 3. It may refer cases to the Elected Member who is the portfolio holder for education transport where the upper limit would be exceeded.
It does not consider appeals about the safety of a walking route.
The Panel sits weekly as required. It consists of a minimum of four LA Officers from the:
Transport eligibility team
Special Needs transport eligibility team
0-25 Special Educational Needs Team
TCS provision team
and may also include:
Senior Policy Officer (Education)
a representative from the School Admissions Service.
11.4 A case that is identified as urgent by a Transport Officer will be considered by at least two of:
Transport Manager (Policy and Appeals)
Senior Policy Officer (Education)
Education Transport Manager (General)
Another member of the TEOP
It will be referred to the TEOP if unresolved.
11.6 The TEOP will not reconsider a case unless there is a significant and material change in circumstances likely to affect its decision. An appellant who is dissatisfied with a decision of the TEOP or the Elected Member who is the portfolio holder may submit an appeal to the Appeal Panel consisting of elected Members of the county council.
11.7 The TEOP and the Appeals Panel will consider whether not receiving transport assistance support would be an insurmountable barrier to continued education.
1 The legal requirement to provide education transport where the route is deemed unavailable to be walked, accompanied as necessary, only applies to students of statutory school age. Therefore, such circumstances will not confer an entitlement to travel assistance for post-16 students.
Safeguarding and welfare will be the LA’s overriding concern and this may require signposting to appropriate LA teams and agencies rather than providing transport assistance.
11.8 Where an appellant feels that an appeal has not been conducted in a fair manner, he or she may pursue a complaint with the Local Government Ombudsman.
12. Fees and charges
12.1 Fees and charges for education transport services will be set by the LA in this policy and are subject to change at any time. Current charges are detailed at Appendix 3.
Policy history
Date
Summary of change
Contact
Implementation date
Review date
10/2017
2018-19 Policy updated to 2019-20
Policy and Strategy Officer
9/2018
10/2018
9 Feb 2018
Policy determined by the Cabinet of Devon County Council
As above
9/2018
10/2018
10/2018
2019-20 Policy updated to 2020-21
As above
9/2019
10/2019
15 Feb 2019
Policy determined by the Cabinet of Devon County Council
As above
9/2019
10/2019
10/2019
2020-21 Policy updated to 2021-22
As above
9/2020
10/2020
14 Feb 2020
Policy determined by the Cabinet of Devon County Council
As above
9/2020
10/2020
10/2020
2021-22 Policy updated to 2022-23
As above
9/2021
10/2021
12 Feb 2021
Policy determined by the Cabinet of Devon County Council
As above
09/2021
10/2021
14 June 2021
Amendment made to section 8.29, inserting: It would also be appropriate to consider safeguarding and or other diverse needs
Senior Policy Officer
Immediate
As identified
9 July 2021
Amendment made to Appendix 5, point 7 to remove the second paragraph as all year groups at Cranbrook Education Campus are full open:
As above
Immediate
As identified
9 July 2021
Amendment made to Appendix 5, point 7 to remove the second paragraph as all year groups at Cranbrook Education Campus are fully open: Deleted: However, there will be a transition period during which Cranbrook Education Campus will gradually expand to the point where it operates five secondary Year Groups from Year 7 to Year 11. During this period, designated area transport eligibility to Clyst Vale will apply for any Year Group that is not in operation at Cranbrook. For example, where Year 9 is not operating at the Cranbrook, addresses in its area will still have transport eligibility to Clyst Vale (minimum distance eligibility will apply).
As above
Immediate
As identified
1 Sept 2021
Amendment made to Appendix 5 to remove reference to catchment school transport eligibility for the two primary schools in South Molton as both schools are now fully open
As above
Immediate
As identified
1 Sept 2021
Amendment made to Appendix 6. This is to reflect the change of use and reduction from 3 to 2 sites for Sidmouth primary school
As above
Immediate
As identified
10/2021
2022-23 Policy updated to 2023-24
As above
11 Feb 2022
Policy determined by the Cabinet of Devon County Council
As above
Immediate
As identified
1/2023
Redrafted as policy for 2023-26
To review the level of contribution and to extend the policy document to cover three academic years at a time
As above
Immediate
As identified
8 March 2023
Policy determined by the Cabinet of Devon County Council
When a request for travel assistance is refused, parents can pursue their request for assistance to:
a Transport Eligibility Officer Panel
a panel consisting of elected Members
Where a parent feels that an appeal has not been conducted in a fair manner, he or she may pursue a complaint with the Local Government Ombudsman.
Applications
Travel assistance is not provided automatically for any student. Parents or young people must make a formal request as early as possible to enable appropriate provision to be put in place. Establishing that there exceptional need to support from the LA may take some time.
Where assistance is agreed, it will be for that academic year only. A further request can be made for the following year if that is necessary.
Appropriate adult
A parent or other person nominated by the parent to accompany the child to and from school.
Attendance
Where travel assistance is agreed, it may be reviewed termly, taking into account the student’s attendance. Assistance may be withdrawn if attendance is less than 95% as a result of unauthorised absences. The LA reserves the right to suspend transport assistance until a reintegration plan is agreed between parent, student and setting.
Boarding
Where the LA arranges for a young person to board at a college, transport will be provided in accordance with the boarding arrangements where the usual distance criteria are also met:
weekly boarders will be provided with journeys from school on Friday afternoons and to school on Monday mornings
termly boarders will be provided with journeys from school at the end of each term and half-term and to school at the beginning of each term and half-term
termly borders will be provided with transport for exeat weekends only when the school’s residential facility is closed1
unused journeys will not be carried forward
(1) Where there is doubt, the 0-25 Special Education Team will confirm whether the child is required to return home for the weekend. An exeat weekend means that boarding students are expected to leave the school after lessons have finished on the Friday afternoon to spend the weekend away from school with their family or guardian.
Where a parent arranges for a young person to board at a college, no assistance for transport will be available from the LA except where there is eligibility otherwise.
Catchment school
The LA will recognise one catchment sixth form and one catchment FE College for transport purposes. Where catchment areas overlap, the LA will recognise one school. For the avoidance of doubt, appendix 4 sets out the recognised catchment schools for transport purposes.
Where a new college is opened or a college extends its catchment area, the LA may review over the following academic years the impact on parental preference before making any change to the catchment area college recognised for transport purposes.
Where an address has more than one catchment school for admissions purposes due to inaccuracy in online mapping, (for example, the boundary line runs through a residential property) that inaccuracy will be corrected at the earliest opportunity.
Children of passengers
Where a post-16 student is carried on education transport and is also the parent of a child, the LA will seek to support the student’s education and any wish to be accompanied by the child. The following will be taken into account:
the safety of the parent and child and others on the vehicle
suitability of the vehicle
costs which carrying the child would incur
a contribution towards costs will be required for both passengers
Code of conduct
The LA has formulated Codes of Conduct to detail the standards of behaviour required of passengers on education transport. This is in the interests of the health and safety of all passengers, drivers, and other road users. A student who persistently misbehaves on education transport will be deemed not to be abiding to the Code of Conduct. A potential consequence of this is a ban from travelling, either for a temporary or indefinite period.
No alternative transport assistance will be provided. Students will be responsible for making their own arrangements.
Transport assistance will not be provided for students until a request has been approved by the LA, a photograph and payment has been provided as necessary and the Code of Conduct agreed to by the student and/or the parent.
The provision of a photograph and the acceptance of a travel pass will also be acceptance of the terms of the Code of Conduct. Parents of post-16 students are encouraged to be aware of the Code of Conduct and support students in meeting its terms.
College 16 to 19 bursary scheme
If there is a financial barrier to the young person remaining in education the college should be approached for assistance. All colleges receive funds for a 16-19 bursary scheme to provide targeted help to individuals in need. They may exercise their discretion to make financial awards to young people in ways that best fit their needs and circumstances.
Bursary awards should be targeted towards young people facing financial barriers to participation, such as the costs of transport, meals, books and equipment. There are two types of bursaries:
Exceptional need bursary – the DfE calls this the Vulnerable Student Bursary Students could receive up to £1,200 if they:
are in care to a Local Authority or have recently left LA care
receive income support in their own name; or
are disabled and receive both employment support allowance and disability living allowance in their own name.
Discretionary bursary
Parents can apply for a discretionary bursary if they are not eligible for a vulnerable bursary but need financial help for their children to stay on in a school, college or training provider.
Colleges with multiple sites
Where a college operates with more than one site, travel assistance will be based on the distance to the main site.
Where a college out-sources all or part of the education provision, the college will be responsible for all transport arrangements to and from the off-site provision. Travel assistance will be arranged to the main college site only. Transport to an alternative place of study will not be supported by the LA.
Compulsory School Age
Children are of compulsory or statutory school age from the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday (or from the fifth birthday if it falls on 1 January, 1 April or 1 September) until the last Friday in the June of the academic year when he or she reaches 16 years of age. This does not mean they must attend a state-funded school or, indeed, any school. During this period, however, a child must receive full-time education.
Concessionary seats
These seats are available on vehicles contracted by the LA where a young person is not entitled to free transport and a seat is not required by a passenger with an entitlement.
Concessionary seats require a financial contribution in advance.
A bus, coach or taxi which has been hired by the Transport Co-ordination Service to serve a particular route to a school.
Costs
Whenever the LA provides transport assistance, it will take into account whether the costs to the LA are reasonable and sustainable when determining the form of assistance to be provided. The LA has limited resources to provide assistance. Colleges are provided with specific funds to be deployed through their own bursary schemes.
Distance measurement Post-16 students must live beyond a minimum walking distance of three miles from the college unless he or she is unable to walk that distance, accompanied as necessary, by a parent or other responsible person.
Measurements of distance for transport purposes are made between the nearest public access point to the residential property and the nearest official entrance to the college grounds. Transport is not provided on private property. Measurements are made using Devon’s electronic mapping system .
Equal cost
Where transport assistance is agreed, it will be for travel at the beginning and end of the college day. It will only be varied where there is no additional cost. The variation will be terminated if another passenger requires a place on the vehicle at the beginning or end of the school day.
Transport will not be provided to a different college where it appears the costs would be the same: where two colleges are close together or at similar distances from home. To provide transport assistance in these circumstances may lead to an additional cost later.
Escorts
There is no legal duty on the LA to provide escorts for young people carried on education transport. However, fulfilling a duty of care to passengers and others may involve the provision of a passenger escort.
Journeys may involve a change of vehicle at a specified point along the route. Drivers are instructed not to depart from these points until the connecting vehicle has arrived and the driver is certain that all passengers have been transferred safely.
This will not apply to public service vehicles which will not wait for connecting public service vehicles.
Fee-paying schools
The LA will not provide free transport to an independent, fee-paying school unless it has arranged the place there.
Where the LA arranges for a student to receive education at an independent school as part of an EHCP, that college will be deemed to be the nearest appropriate college for the purposes of a request for travel assistance (except where it named is the result of parental preference and where a closer college could meet the student’s needs.)
Fees and charges
Fees and charges for education transport assistance will be set by the LA annually and are subject to change at any time. Any allowance would be net of the required contribution. For example, if the costs were assessed as £1000 a year, the allowance would be £1000 less the contribution of £690/£750/ £800 in each academic year (see appendix 3).
The contribution to costs must be paid in advance for the academic year before a seat is made available or other arrangements put in place. Where a student no longer requires travel assistance, the travel pass must be returned to the address on the reverse of the pass. When a travel pass is received a refund will be made based on the time left before it expires.
Home address
The LA when considering eligibility to transport assistance will not accept more than one address as the young person’s home address. The terms of a child arrangements order may clarify the home address.
Where necessary to determine which address to recognise and in the absence of a child arrangements order, the LA will consider the home address to be with the parent with primary day to day care and control of the young person. In reaching this decision, evidence may be requested to show the address to which any Child Benefit(1) is paid and from which the young person is registered with a medical GP. Any other evidence provided by parents will also be considered by the LA in reaching a decision on the home address for transport purposes.
This may be necessary for instance where parents do not agree on the home address. Parents are urged to reach agreement or seek a Specific Issues Order from a court to decide which parent should or should not pursue an application. Where they do not, the LA will determine the home address. In reaching this decision, the LA will seek the views of those schools for which it is the admission authority
1 Child Benefit will not be an automatic determining factor. This benefit is not universal and does not necessarily reflect where the child’s resides for the majority of the time. Payment of the benefit can take some time to follow the child after a change in living arrangements.
Young people may make their own independent living arrangements. The LA will accept evidence of the home address from a young person.
Where the LA asks for evidence of the address from which a young person would attend school, this would usually be written confirmation of a house purchase or a formal tenancy agreement. It is recognised that some families may be unable to provide this – for example, where a house move is at very short notice or where a family is escaping domestic violence. Applicants who cannot provide this evidence should contact the LA. There is no intention to penalise families where there is a genuine reason why the usual evidence cannot be provided.
Independent Travel Training (ITT)
Some young people need additional help getting to and from college or using the transport that is available. This may be because of their individual special educational needs.
The LA offers additional help through ITT. This may enable a young person to walk to and from college and to cope better with traffic; it may enable the young person to manage the public service vehicles on the route to and from college.
The LA will not normally provide transport assistance which requires a journey time greater than:
90 minutes for post-16 students
The length of a journey will include the time taken to get to and from pick up and set down points. Journey times may exceed these limits for exceptions such as:
exceptional traffic or weather conditions
attendance at a special school
attendance at a remote boarding school
distance to a college that offers a particular course
multiple sites where a college operates with more than one site transport entitlement will be based on the distance to the site where the young person is educated for all or most of the time
My Devon Customer Service Centre Helpline for information on services in Devon:
0345 155 1019 and mydevon@devon.gov.uk. The first point of contact at 0345 155 1019 for enquiries regarding school admissions and education transport. Queries which cannot be resolved at this stage will be passed on for specialist advice and assistance from the School Admissions Service or the Education Transport Team.
Network reviews the LA regularly reviews transport networks and individual routes. This is done to maintain an efficient, cost-effective network. Further information on school transport network reviews.
No pass, no travel all passengers are required to carry a pass if issued. This policy is in place to ensure that entitled children can board their vehicle and so that vehicles are not overcrowded.
Young people who lose their pass during the college day can be issued with a temporary pass by the college so that they can get home safely. For further information on no pass, no travel, see school and college transport.
Parent In this policy, parent should be read to include carer or guardian where appropriate. Post-16 students may also apply for a school or college place in their own right and also make their own arrangements for transport. While parents will act in this area in most cases, references to parents in this policy should also be read as the student where this is the case.
Participation age nationally, the participation age has been increased. The Participation Age is not the same as the statutory school age. The effect of the Raising of the Participation Age is that a young person who ceased to be of statutory school age but has not reached the age of 18 or attained a Level 3 qualification is under a duty to participate in education or work-based training. This statutory requirement on young people is not accompanied by a universal, statutory entitlement to transport support.
Personal Transport Cost Allowance (PA) Where a young person is entitled to transport assistance and there are difficulties in negotiating a suitable transport contract, parents who are able to convey their young people (or the young person themselves) to college may receive a PA instead of transport being provided.(1)
1 Claims for a PA will require the completion of a Petrol Allowance Form CT7
The PA is based upon a standard rate for mileage to and from the college each day. The requirements of the journey will be taken into account in determining the actual rate to be paid. Parking, subsistence, and other costs will not be met. (see appendix 3)
No arrangements are in place to pay an allowance in lieu of transport where a young person uses a bicycle as transport to and from education.
Pick up and set down points Travel assistance will not necessarily be from door to door. The responsibility for getting a student to and from a pick-up point lies with the parent. The LA does not assume that the student will walk to and from the pick-up point but where he or she does, it is the responsibility of the parent to accompany the student as necessary.
Residence eligibility Devon County Council will not support school transport for young people who live outside of the Devon administrative boundary. Support must be sought from the home LA.
Transport is provided from one home address.
Temporary absence from home The LA will exercise discretion to provide transport assistance where a young person is absent from the home address due to circumstances beyond the control of the parent and there is an intention and capability to return. This will be for up to 12 calendar weeks. It would be unreasonable for the young person to transfer schools for this length of time. The provision may be extended in exceptional circumstances.
The parent or young person will be required to provide evidence of the reasons for absence, for example, following a fire, flooding or where essential repairs are required at the home or where there are social reasons. They must also demonstrate that they cannot make other arrangements to attend the college. such as the availability of assistance from family or friends and neighbours, a College Travel Plan, other agencies or otherwise.
The LA will consider:
whether the college was the nearest appropriate college before the move
The LA will exercise discretion to provide transport assistance where a young person is unable to get to and from school because of a temporary medical condition. This will be for up to 12 calendar weeks, for example, where the young person cannot walk to college because of a broken leg. It would be unreasonable for the young person to transfer colleges for this length of time. The provision may be extended in exceptional circumstances.
The parent or young person will be required to provide evidence of the medical condition and that no other suitable arrangements could be made, such as the availability of assistance from family or friends and neighbours, a College Travel Plan, other agencies or otherwise.
The LA will exercise discretion to provide transport assistance where a young person is absent from the home address due to circumstances beyond the control of the parent and there is no intention or capability to return. This will be for up to 12 calendar weeks. It would be unreasonable for the young person to transfer colleges for this length of time. The provision may be extended in exceptional circumstances.
The parent or young person will be required to provide evidence of the reasons for rehousing, for example, eviction. The parent must also demonstrate that no other arrangements can be made for the young person attend the college.
There will be no assumption that rehousing will be in the same area. The LA will consider:
whether the college was the nearest appropriate college before rehousing
the existing transport network
whether the house move was voluntary or involuntary
Support for transport where a Looked After Child has a temporary care placement will be the responsibility of Children’s Services, not under this policy.
Transport and change in assessment
Where an improvement to a route is made which results in the route becoming available for a young person to walk, accompanied as necessary, transport assistance will be withdrawn with up to 6 calendar weeks’ notice. Transport and false information Where transport assistance has been provided as a consequence of information submitted by the parent which was false or misleading and transport would have been refused had correct and accurate information been submitted, assistance may be withdrawn immediately and will normally be withdrawn with no more than 4 calendar weeks’ notice.
The costs of providing the transport may be sought from the parent or young person.
Transport Co-ordination Service or TCS The Transport Co-ordination Service, the team responsible for assessing eligibility and organising the education transport network. TCS will:
administer this and any other policies which are determined by Devon and which govern eligibility for transport assistance
determine entitlement to travel assistance
be responsible for management of the budget for education transport.
manage all operating arrangements including planning, provision and management of transport in the most appropriate and cost-effective manner
determine the most appropriate form of transport provision
plan and manage education transport on a day-to-day basis
make arrangements for transport within 20 working days(1)
establish effective and appropriate operating standards
manage contract compliance with transport providers
integrate transport needs of clients and public passenger transport networks
Transport Eligibility Officer Panel A Panel consisting of LA officers.Responsible for hearing appeals against decisions of the Education Transport Team to refuse transport. A further appeal exists to elected Members of Devon County Council
Transport Eligibility Team A part of the Transport Co-ordination Service.Responsible for determining eligibility for education transport
(1) In many cases, arrangements will be in place more quickly. In other cases, the process may be delayed, particularly where additional transport is required, in more rural and remote areas and where transport operators and providers are scarce. The LA is required to follow tendering procedures for new routes.
Transport in error
Transport assistance provided because of an error assessing entitlement criteria will be removed with up to 6 calendar weeks’ notice.
Vehicles not arriving
Travel to School -There will be occasions when a vehicle does not arrive to pick up a child who is entitled to a journey as an eligible passenger or as a concessionary passenger. This may be because of bad weather including flooding or icy conditions where it is not possible for the vehicle to travel safely. In these circumstances, a parent may decide to make alternative transport arrangements to school. This will be entirely at the parent’s discretion and own cost.
The parent would also be responsible for the return journey should conditions not have improved sufficiently for education transport to be provided safely. Further information on school closures due to bad weather.
Travel to Home – In all circumstances, arrangements will be made to return children to home or a place of safety where they have been taken to school by education transport.
Waiting times
Waiting time on school premises before and after school will not normally exceed 10 minutes. Where the school is on a split site, the normal 10 minutes arrival or waiting times will be varied, as time will be required to enable the transport to serve each site.
Although every effort is made to operate to timetables, where long or complicated journeys are undertaken, it is possible that there may be waiting time between connecting transport provision. Road and traffic conditions may cause these times to vary.
Walking distance
All young people are expected to walk to and from college each day up to a maximum distance of 3 miles. Young people under the age of 18 and those older young people with additional needs are not expected to walk to and from college alone.
Walking distances may include metalled roads, recognised by ordnance survey, footpaths and bridleways. Distances above the walking distance are measured by road for the entire route. This may mean that the shortest road route using a motorway or other unavailable route is less than the shortest walking route.
Appendix 3 – Schedule of fees and charges
This Schedule is subject to change following the allocation of resources.
Contribution for concessionary and post-16 passengers £690 per year in 2023-24, £750 per year in 2024-25, £800 per year in 2025-26.
Discount on contributions if paid in full in advance £30.
Upper limit for transport provided on temporary absence from home address £35 per day.
Upper limit for transport provided where a child is temporarily rehoused £35.
Upper limit for transport provided on temporary medical grounds £35 per day.
Upper limit for transport provided on temporary medical grounds £35 per day.
Upper limit for transport provided on educational continuity grounds £25 per day.
Petrol allowance 25p per mile.
Appendix 4 – Areas in Devon with more than on Designated Sixth Form College(1)
1) Newton Abbot College and Coombeshead Academy The College and Academy share a designated area for admissions purposes. Transport assistance is available to one setting only on designated school grounds.
Assisted transport on designated school grounds will be available to the establishment which was the designated school in the 2010-11 academic year (before the two areas overlapped) which is shown . This approach has been adopted as recognising the closer of the two schools would have disallowed designated school transport from a large number of addresses around Ipplepen. By recognising the designated areas at the end of 2010-11, the LA has ensured that transport provision became no less favourable for any resident.
2) Atrium Studio School
The admissions designated area for the School coincides with the areas for a number of secondary schools in south Devon. The LA does not recognise the designated area for the School for transport purposes.
1 This section may be amended following the determination of admission arrangements by own admission authority schools.