This transport policy statement is for:
- students aged 16 to 19 in further education
- continuing students aged 19 and over
- young adult learners aged 19 and over in further education with an EHCP (Education and Health Care Plan)
Academic year 2023 to 2024
Under 19 years of age
According to National Guidance on Post 16 transport and travel support to education and training there is no legal requirement for a council to provide free or subsidised travel support to young people of sixth form age.
Councils do have a duty to prepare and publish an annual transport policy statement which explains what transport and travel arrangements there are locally for pupils of sixth form age to get to further education.
Sixth form age refers to young people 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).
Over 19 years of age with an Education Health and Care Plan
The council also has a duty to encourage, enable and assist young people with the most severe disabilities with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), with no other means of transportation, to participate in education and training, up to the age of 25.
The adult duty applies only to young people who are attending a course that they started after their 19th birthday. If the council provides transport for adult learners under this duty, it must be free.
This policy statement uses the term post-16 to include:
- learners of sixth-form age
- learners with learning difficulties or learning disabilities from 19 up to the age of 25
Education or training refers to:
- learning or training at a school
- a further education institution
- a council-maintained or assisted institution providing higher or further education
- an establishment funded directly by the Education Skills Funding Agency
- learning providers delivering accredited programmes of learning which lead to positive outcomes and are funded by the council, for example, colleges, charities and private learning providers