Help with Travel for Students Aged 0-16

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1 About this policy

This policy explains how Wirral Council helps children aged 0 to 16 with travel to school or nursery. It covers children who live in Wirral and are in education. 

You can find this policy on the Council’s website: www.wirral.gov.uk/travelassist. 

The policy is written to help children, parents, and carers understand who can get help with travel and how decisions are made. If you have any feedback or ideas to improve this policy, please email: travelassist@wirral.gov.uk. 

Age groups covered:

• Pre-schoolers (0 to 4 years old)
  These are children who are not yet old enough to start school. 

• Children of compulsory school age (5 to 16 years old)
  Children start compulsory school at different times depending on their birthday. They stop being of compulsory school age on the last Friday in June of the school year when they turn 16.

2 Main Rules About Travel Help

2.1 These Key Principles apply to all age groups covered by this policy.

2.2 Getting into a school doesn’t mean you get travel help
Just because a child is accepted into a school or the school is named in their Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, it doesn’t mean they automatically get travel support.

2.3 Limited budget
The Council has a set amount of money for travel support. Decisions about extra help will depend on how much money is available and how many people need support.

2.4 Tell us about changes
Parents and carers must let the Council know straight away if anything changes that could affect travel support. This includes changes to address, school, or family circumstances. 

2.5 Independent Travel Training (ITT)
Children and young people who apply for travel support will be assessed to see if they can learn to travel on their own. If they get travel support, they may be expected to take part in training to help them become more independent. 

2.6 Other ways to travel
When deciding on travel support, the Council will look at all other possible ways the child or young person could get to school. 

2.7 Personal Transport Budgets (PTB)
The Council encourages families to use a Personal Transport Budget if it suits their needs. This gives families more control over how they manage travel. 

2.8 Parents helping with travel
Parents are expected to take their children to school if needed, until the child turns 18, unless there’s a good reason why this isn’t possible. 

2.9 Annual reviews
Travel support is checked at least once a year. It will also be reviewed if something changes, like a new school or a change in needs. If the child has an EHC Plan, the review will happen during or after the plan’s yearly review. 

2.10 Travel for other reasons
When deciding on travel support, the Council may look at how the child or young person travels for other things like shopping, visiting family, or going out.

3 Travel Help for Pre-Schoolers

Wirral Council usually does not provide travel help for children under 5 years old. However, there may be help available in exceptional cases, especially if the child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan).

If the Council agrees to help, it will usually offer a Personal Transport Budget. This is money to help pay for travel. In rare cases, the Council may provide transport directly.

When deciding whether to offer help, the Council will look at:

• How far the child lives from their nursery or early years setting.

• How long the journey would take.

• How much it would cost to provide travel help.

• Whether there are other ways the child could get there.

• Whether there are other suitable nurseries or settings closer to home.

• What the child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) says about transport.

• How to make the best use of the Council’s budget and resources.

4 Travel Help for School-Age Children (aged 5–16)

Wirral Council follows the law set out in the Education Act 1996 to decide which children aged 5 to 16 can get free travel help to school. The Council will only offer help if the child meets the legal rules or if there are exceptional circumstances.

Who can get travel help?

Children who live in Wirral may get help if they meet one or more of the following:

4.1 How far from school you need to live

• Children under 8 years old must live at least 2 miles from their nearest suitable school.

• Children aged 8 and over must live at least 3 miles from their nearest suitable school.

4.2 If the walk to school is dangerous

Children may get help if they live close to school but the walking route is unsafe. The Council will check the route and decide if it’s hazardous.

Unsafe routes may include:

• Roads without pavements or street lights.

• Areas where it’s not safe for a child to walk, even with an adult.

If a parent or carer disagrees with the Council’s decision, the Road Safety Team will carry out a full review.

4.3 Help for families with lower income

Children from low-income families may get travel help if they meet these rules:

• Aged 8 to 11: School is at least 2 miles away.

• Aged 11 to 16: School is between 2 and 6 miles away, and there are fewer than 3 suitable schools closer to home.

• Aged 11 to 16: School is between 2 and 15 miles away, and it is the nearest school preferred for religious or belief reasons.

Low-income families are those who:

• Get free school meals, or

• Receive the maximum amount of Working Tax Credit.

The Council uses a computer system to measure the shortest walking route from home to school.

4.4 Help for Children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities

Some children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) may not be able to walk to school, even if the school is nearby. In these cases, Wirral Council may offer travel help.

What parents and carers need to know:

• Parents and carers are usually expected to make sure their child gets to school safely and on time.

• This includes children with SEND, as it helps build independence and life skills.

• Having an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) or attending a specialist school does not automatically mean travel help will be provided.

• Only a named officer from the Assisted Travel Team can agree to give travel help.

Important points from national guidance:

• The Council does not have to pay for travel if a parent chooses a school that is further away than the nearest school that can meet the child’s needs.

• If the parent chooses a school that is not the closest suitable one, they may have to pay for travel themselves.

Who can get travel help?

• Not all children with an EHC Plan need travel help.

• If a child cannot walk because of their SEND, disability, or mobility issues, they may be entitled to support.

How to apply:

• Parents or carers must fill out an application form.

• The Council will look at information from:

  • Health professionals

  • Educational psychologists

  • Headteachers

  • Children’s social care

  • The child or young person themselves

• The Council will tell parents if their child is eligible.

• Travel help is reviewed every year.

5 Who qualifies for Travel Help if they have SEND

To get travel help, a child with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) must go to a school or unit that the Council agrees is the most suitable for their needs.

Important things to know:

• If a parent or carer chooses a school that is not the nearest suitable one, the Council may not provide travel help.

• Travel help is based on the child’s needs only. The Council cannot consider:

  • Family circumstances

  • Siblings at other schools

  • Parents’ working hours

What kind of travel help is provided?

• Travel is only provided to and from the child’s home address.

• It covers standard school start and finish times.

• Extra journeys (like after-school clubs or appointments) are not covered.

• If the child goes to an independent school, it must be:

  • Named in the child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan), and

  • Agreed by the Council as the nearest suitable school.

• If the child goes to a school outside Wirral, travel help may be offered only if the Council agrees that it is the most suitable school for the child’s needs.

6 How we decide if help is needed

Wirral Council decides if a child needs travel help based on their individual needs. The Council looks at whether the child can reasonably walk to school, either alone or with an adult.

What the Council considers:

• Can the child walk to school with an adult?

• Can the parent or carer reasonably be expected to walk with the child?

• The child’s age and whether it’s normal for a child that age to be accompanied.

What the Council does not consider:

The following things do not affect the decision:

• Parents’ work or other commitments.

• Whether siblings go to different schools.

• If the parent chooses a school that is not the nearest suitable one.

• Travel between different schools or colleges.

• Occasional visits to other places.

• Travel to clubs before or after school.

• Travel to medical appointments.

• Travel at different times due to detention or exclusion.

In these cases, parents or carers must arrange travel themselves.

Appeals:

If a parent or carer feels that accompaniment is a problem, they can raise this during an appeal. The Council will look at each case individually.

7 What Kind of Travel Help is Available

If a child or young person is eligible for travel help, the Council will decide what type of support is best based on their individual needs and how to use resources wisely.

Types of travel help:

Independent Travel Training (ITT)

(Suggested heading: Learning to travel independently)

• Children and young people may be offered Independent Travel Training (ITT).

• This helps them learn how to travel safely on their own and build confidence.

• It’s part of their education and helps them become more independent.

Pre-paid travel passes

(Suggested heading: Free bus or train tickets)

• A Merseytravel SOLO ticket may be given to use on public buses.

• If the journey needs both bus and train, a TRIO ticket may be offered.

• If the child has a disability, they may get a Disabled Person’s Travel Pass instead.

Personal Transport Budget

(Suggested heading: Money to help with travel)

• If a parent or carer can take the child to school, they can apply for a Personal Transport Budget.

• This is money paid monthly to help cover travel costs.

• The amount includes:

  • 45p per mile

  • £3 per day (extra support)

  • Up to 2 return journeys per day

• This is only available for journeys within Wirral, unless agreed otherwise.

• The budget is only given if the child attends school regularly.

Transport vehicles

(Suggested heading: Minibuses or taxis)

• If a travel pass isn’t suitable, the Council may provide transport like a minibus or taxi.

• Vehicles are adapted to meet children’s needs.

• Routes are planned to be as short as possible.

• Children are picked up and dropped off at a safe location near home, often a bus stop.

• Home pick-up is only offered if the child has significant needs.

Passenger assistant support

(Suggested heading: Extra help during the journey)

• The Council may provide a passenger assistant if the child has:

  • Medical needs

  • Safety concerns

  • Mobility issues

  • Challenging behaviour

  • Severe learning or physical difficulties

• The decision is made during the eligibility assessment and considers:

  • The child’s age and ability

  • Length of the journey

  • Type of vehicle

  • Level of supervision needed

• Travel arrangements are reviewed every year, and parents/carers can discuss changes during the child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) review.

8 How to apply for Assisted Travel

If you think your child qualifies for free travel help, you can contact Wirral Council to apply.

Who to contact:

Council Call Centre – Information and Advice Team
 Email: assistedtravel@wirral.gov.uk

They will guide you through the application process and explain what information you need to provide.

9 Independent Travel Training for Secondary School Pupils with SEND

Wirral Council offers Independent Travel Training (ITT) to help secondary school pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) learn how to travel safely on their own.

What the training includes:

• Pupils learn skills to travel independently to and from school or college.

• The training helps build:

  • Confidence

  • Social skills

  • Independence

  • Access to education, work, and leisure

How it works:

• Each training plan is personalised to suit the pupil’s needs.

• Pupils learn at their own pace.

• Training is approved by:

  • The pupil (if they are 16 or older and able to give consent), or

  • Their parent or carer

• Support is gradually reduced until the pupil can travel on their own.

Assessment and travel support:

• Before training starts, the Council will assess if the pupil is suitable for ITT.

• If the pupil already receives travel help, it will continue on days when they are not training.

• After completing training, pupils who can use public transport may get a travel pass for the rest of the school year.

• Travel pass eligibility is reviewed every year.

10 Extra Help in Special Cases

Sometimes, Wirral Council may offer travel help to children who don’t meet the usual rules. These are exceptional cases, and support is usually short-term and reviewed individually.

When extra help may be given:

Permanent exclusions

If a child is permanently excluded and placed in a new school that is far from home, the Council may provide a travel pass.

Managed transfers

If a child is temporarily moved to another school as part of a managed transfer, they won’t get a travel pass. If the move becomes permanent, the child will be assessed under the usual rules.

Domestic violence

If a child has moved to a refuge or had to change homes due to domestic violence, and the new home is far from their current school, they may get a travel pass to continue attending that school.

Looked After Children

If a child in care moves to a new placement and now lives far from their school, they may get a travel pass to stay at their current school.

Emergency Orders or Special Guardianship Orders

If a child is under an emergency or special guardianship order and has moved home, they may get a travel pass if they now live far from their school.

Low-income families

Travel help may be given if:

• A parent’s Working Tax Credit has been reduced and is now less than the cost of a standard travel pass.

• A parent earns just above the limit for free school meals under Universal Credit, but still cannot afford travel costs.

In both cases, the child must meet the distance rules for travel help.

11 Keeping Travel Safe

Wirral Council takes safety very seriously for all children and young people using Council-provided transport.

Behaviour on transport:

• If a child behaves in a way that is unsafe or disruptive, the Council may refuse to let them use the transport.

• If a child is temporarily suspended from transport, parents or carers must arrange travel themselves during that time.

• If poor behaviour continues and the Council cannot be sure it will improve, the Council may offer a travel pass or mileage expenses instead of transport.

12 If You Want To Challenge a Decision

If you disagree with a decision not to provide travel help, you can appeal through Wirral Council’s official process.

The appeal process has two stages:

Stage 1: Review by Council officers

• A panel of senior staff from the Assisted Travel Team will look at your case.

Stage 2: Independent panel review

• If you’re still unhappy after Stage 1, an independent panel will review your case.

• You can send written information and also speak to the panel if you want.

13 If You Want to Make a Complaint

Wirral Council aims to provide the best service possible. If you're unhappy and want to make a complaint, there are several ways to do this.

How to complain:

You can contact the Council by:

• Visiting the Council website: www.wirral.gov.uk/about-council/complaints-compliments-and-feedback

• Calling the Information and Advice Team: 📞 0151 606 2000

• Writing to:
  Information and Advice Team
  Wirral Council
  PO Box No 2
  Birkenhead

If you're still not satisfied:

You can take your complaint to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. This is an independent organisation that looks into complaints about councils.

14 How to Get in Touch

If you need help with school or college travel, you can contact the Council in the following ways:

For school travel pass applications

• Email: schooladmissions@wirral.gov.uk

• Phone: 0151 606 2000

• Team: Council Call Centre – Information and Advice Team

For Special Educational Needs (SEN) transport and travel training

• Email: assistedtravel@wirral.gov.uk

• Phone (Transport): 0151 666 4697

• Phone (Travel Training): 0151 666 4229

• Team: Assisted Travel Service