Post 16 Transport Policy Statement Academic Year 2025-26

1. Introduction

1.1  Local authorities do not have to provide free or subsidised post-16 travel support, but they do have a legal duty to prepare and publish an annual transport policy statement specifying the transport arrangements or other support facilitating the attendance of young people of sixth form age receiving education or training.

1.2  In most circumstances, young people accessing post-16 education will make their own travel arrangements to their chosen school or college. They may walk, cycle, use public transport, or use the council’s Spare Seat Scheme to travel to school or college.

1.3  For most young people, any travel costs incurred will be their responsibility, or that of their parents

1.4  Young people who require travel support must apply. For travel support from September 2026, an online application form must be completed; see section 1.8 below.

1.5  This policy statement details the transport provision and financial assistance with transport that the council believes are necessary for Oxfordshire residents of sixth form age who are receiving education or training. Therefore, this statement covers those young people in Oxfordshire aged 16 to 18 and those continuing learners who started their course before their 19th birthday. 

1.6  Travel assistance will normally only be considered if the student has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or if the student has a disability which means they requires transport arrangements to be provided, and the establishment attended is the nearest suitable placement to the student’s main address. 

1.7  In all cases an application must be made using our online system and evidence must be provided to show that without travel assistance the student will be unable to attend their educational placement.  When assessing whether to provide travel assistance we will consider

• whether transport assistance is being requested to attend the nearest suitable school or college than can meet that student’s special needs
• whether there is a closer educational provision which is suitable and can meet the student’s special educational needs
• whether there is evidence that a student will otherwise be unable to attend Post 16 education or training
• whether distance thresholds have been met
• any supporting evidence from professionals involved with the student and their family
• the best use of the Council’s resources 

1.8  Education or training refers to learning or training at 

• a school
• further education institution
• a council maintained or assisted institution providing higher or further education
• a 16-19 Academy
• 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
• any establishment (not falling within the above categories) at which the council secures the provision of education or training under section 15ZA of the Education Act 1996

1.9   Travel assistance may also be made available for students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) aged 19 up until they reach the age of 25 years. However, travel assistance for this age group involves submitting a request for a Care Assessment. These assessments are the responsibility of Adult Social Care, not the School Transport Eligibility Team.

2. Who is support available for? 

2.1   Where access to post-16 education is not possible, for example, the nearest school or college is over 3 miles from the student’s home and there is no public transport or school transport services available, the council may be able to assist with travel. In these circumstances, the student or parents should contact the School Transport Eligibility Team at schooltransporteligibilty@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

2.2   Those young people beyond statutory school age who are aged 16 to 19, or started their course before the age of 19, with SEND may receive assisted travel when they attend the nearest suitable educational placement to their home address that has an available place and one of the following applies

• the distance from their home to the educational placement is over 3 miles
• the distance from their home to the educational placement is less than 3 miles but there is no available walking route
• it would not be reasonable to expect the young person to walk to the educational placement because of their mobility problems or because of associated health and safety issues related to their SEND, or because of a temporary or long-term medical condition (evidence is required from a GP or Consultant)

2.3   The nearest suitable educational placement is the nearest one to their home at which the student’s needs can be met. For those with an EHCP, this will be established by the School Transport Eligibility Team from the responses to the formal consultations with schools and colleges undertaken by the SEN Team. If a school or college responds to a consultation stating that need can be met, whether or not it gives reasoning, that will establish that it is a suitable establishment. Preference for a particular course or establishment is not relevant to the decision on whether a school or college is considered to be the nearest suitable school or college. In all other cases, the decision of the School Transport Eligibility Team as to suitability of a placement is final and is not open to review.

2.4   If a young person attends an educational placement where there is more than one site, travel assistance will only be provided to the nearest of those sites at which the young person’s needs can be met. The council will not provide assisted travel between sites. Any dispute over whether the provision at a particular site “meets need” will be determined by confirmation from the School or College as to whether it can meet need at that particular site. 

2.5   Those who wish to study a course at an alternative educational placement to the nearest one that can meet their needs, will be responsible for the full cost and provision of any travel arrangements that will be required for them to attend.

2.6   The transport needs of young people with SEND are assessed individually. Therefore, if travel assistance is approved the travel arrangements will be made according to the student’s needs, for example, if travel assistance has been agreed and the student is in a residential placement, travel arrangements would be made on a weekly or termly basis.

2.7   An officer within the School Transport Eligibility Team is responsible for the assessment of eligibility for travel assistance.

2.8   Independent travel training for students who face difficulties with transport may be provided on a one-to-one basis depending on the level of need and the availability of trainers. 

3. Oxfordshire County Council Spare Seat Scheme for those aged 16-19

3.1   If a young person does not qualify for travel assistance, it may be possible to purchase a seat on home-to-school transport through the Spare Seat Scheme.

3.2 The council may already arrange transport from where a student lives for young people who are eligible for free travel to their school or college, and if there is space in the vehicle, it may be possible to purchase a seat. 

3.3  This is a paid service that is only available on existing transport and where there would be no additional cost for the council to add the young person to the journey. 

3.4  If a student would like to be considered for travel on a seat available under the Spare Seat Scheme, they need to submit an application at Paid home to school travel assistance (spare seats scheme) 

3.5   There is no guarantee that a seat will be available or will continue to be available for the duration of the period of study for a young person. It is important that students consider how they may travel to school or college if this service is not available.

3.6   Seats on coaches provided for home-to-school transport are made available on payment of a distance related charge. The charges for the 2025/26 academic year are set out in Table 2.

Note: Charges are subject to review and change further information can be found on the council’s website

3.7   The charge will depend on the distance from a student’s home to their school or college. The distance from home to school or college will be measured along the shortest available route using the council’s Geographic Information System (GIS).

3.8   If there are more requests to pay for seats on a route than there are seats available, they will be allocated in the descending order of priority shown in Table 3.

* Where there are more applicants than places in any of the above categories, priority will be given to those living closest to the destination school (measured using the shortest available route using the council’s GIS)

4.  16 to 19 Bursary Fund

4.1   To help with funding, school and colleges have a fund provided by the government called the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund which is available for students in Post 16 Education and can be used toward the cost of travelling to and from school or college. 

4.2   There are two types of 16 to 19 bursaries

• a vulnerable bursary of up to £1,200 a year for young people in one of the defined vulnerable groups
• discretionary bursaries which institutions award to meet individual needs, for example, help with the cost of transport, meals, books and equipment 

4.3  Further information on the 16-19 Bursary Fund is available on Gov.UK web pages at the following link 16 to 19 Bursary Fund: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

4.4  16-19 Bursary Funds are managed by schools and colleges. Young people who want to apply for support from the bursary fund should contact their chosen institution to make an application.

4.5  Students under the age of 19 enrolled on courses for higher education qualifications are not eligible for support.

5.  Support for students aged 19-25 (Adult Duty) – Continuing with a first course of study begun before the 19th birthday

5.1   The School Transport Eligibility Team will consider applications for travel assistance made by, or on behalf of, those students with SEND aged between 19 and 24 years of age (inclusive) if they are continuing with a first course of study begun before their 19th birthday. An assessment will be made taking account of the specific circumstances of the applicant and the case for assistance with travel. Once a student is starting a course of study after their 19th birthday any requests for travel assistance will need to be made to Adult Social Services through an application for a Care Assessment.

5.2   If travel assistance is agreed, it will continue until the end of the agreed course of study, or until the end of the academic year in which the student’s 25th birthday occurs, whichever is the sooner. However, travel assistance will be reviewed throughout the course and independent travel will be encouraged. 

5.3   More information about the council’s Local Offer for young people attending education or training can be found at Education and employment for young people | Oxfordshire County Council.

5.4   Further helpful information is contained in the following Moving into Adulthood online Handbook at OxFSN | Moving Into Adulthood.

6. Young parents/Care to Learn

6.1  If a student is a young parent under 20, Care to Learn can help pay for childcare and related travel costs, up to £160 per child per week, while they are learning. Care to Learn can help with the cost of

• childcare, including deposit and registration fees
• a childcare ‘taster’ session (up to 5 days)
• keeping a childcare place over the summer holidays
• taking the student’s child to the childcare provider

6.2  More detailed information on this and how to apply can be found at Care to Learn: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

7. Types of travel assistance

7.1  Where travel assistance from the council is necessary, the council may consider provision of one of the following forms of travel assistance

• a public bus or train travel pass
• Independent Travel Training
• a Direct Travel Payment
• a council-arranged coach or bus service
• a council-arranged minibus
• a council-arranged shared taxi
• a council-arranged solo taxi, based on a travel needs assessment undertaken by the council
• Passenger Assistant support, based on a travel needs assessment undertaken by the council
• Other alternative assistance based on needs/circumstances (case by case)

7.2  In order to determine the most appropriate travel option for students and the most cost-effective means of travel assistance, the council will use a range of criteria. 

7.3  Information on Direct Travel Payments, what they are, what they can be used for, and their values, can be found at SEND school travel assistance | Oxfordshire County Council. Banding and values are reviewed annually and updated accordingly to ensure ongoing sustainability and value for money.

7.4  The council operates its own Independent Travel Training Programme (ITT), designed to help young people with SEND use public transport. The programme helps young people obtain knowledge and experience of a planned route and attain a high level of road safety skills. Assessment for suitability of ITT will be undertaken on a case-by-case basis and reflect the needs/circumstances of the young person. Where it is identified that ITT is not appropriate then it will not be offered and an alternative for of travel will be provided.

7.5  The programme provides individual travel training on a bespoke one-to-one basis with young people. By directly assisting the young people, their families and support networks, the training is tailored to suit the needs of each individual student. 

8  Transport Appeals 

8.1  If a parent disagrees with the decision not to award travel assistance, they can appeal. The council follows a two-stage appeals process.

8.2  Stage 1 – Review by a senior officer/officer panel

Parents and carers have 20 working days to request a review of our decision about home-to-school transport eligibility or provision. Parents or carers can submit an appeal at Appeal for home to school transport | Oxfordshire County Council.  They must detail why the decision should be reviewed and give details of any personal or family circumstances to be considered and include supporting evidence, for example, evidence from a medical professional. An acknowledgement will be sent when we have received the request for a review.

8.3  The decision will be reviewed by a senior officer or via the Transport Exceptions Panel. The Transport Exceptions Panel meet regularly throughout the year and is made up of officers from Children’s Services and the Supported Transport Team.

8.4  The outcome of the decision will normally be sent within 20 working days.

8.5  Stage 2 - Review by an Independent Appeal Panel

Parents and carers have 20 working days from receipt of our Stage 1 appeal decision notification to ask for it to be reconsidered at Stage 2, which is a review by an Independent Appeal Panel.  Details of where to send the Stage 2 request will be included with the Stage 1 appeal decision. Within 40 working days of receipt of the Stage 2 request, an Independent Appeal Panel will consider written and verbal representations from both the parent or carer and officers involved in the case. The Independent Appeal Panel will give a detailed written notification of the outcome within 5 working days of the panel meeting.

8.6  The Independent Appeal Panel is made up of officers who have experience and knowledge of transport issues. These officers are independent of the original decision-making process.

8.7  Stage 3 - Complaint to Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman

Parents and carers can complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman only if they consider that

• there was a failure to comply with the procedural rules
• if there are any other irregularities in the way the appeal has been handled

8.8  The council will not consider requests for a further transport appeal within the same school academic year unless there has been a significant change of circumstance.

8.9  Complex cases may take longer than the timescales given above.

9.  Useful contact information

Oxfordshire County Council 
Travelling to school | Oxfordshire County Council

School Transport Eligibility 
County Hall 
New Road 
Oxford 
OX1 1ND 
SchoolTransportEligibility@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Supported Travel Service
PO Box 867
Oxford
OX1 9NR
ee-specialeducationalneedsitu@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Planning transport to school/college 

Details of bus routes by parish as well as links to operators’ websites and timetables can be found on the public transport pages of the council’s website at the following  link www2.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/public-site/public-transport

Other useful sources of information on public transport

• Traveline: https://www.traveline.info/  
• Oxford Bus Company: https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/
• Stagecoach Oxfordshire: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/about/oxfordshire
• Thames Travel: https://www.thames-travel.co.uk/

10 Complaints

10.1   The council aims to deliver high-quality services, but we understand that sometimes things may not meet expectations. If you're dissatisfied with any service you've received from the council, you have the right to make a complaint.

10.2   For more information or to make a complaint, please visit our Comments and Complaints page Comments and complaints | Oxfordshire County Council