Home-to-school travel support for sixth form and college students

Local authorities do not have to provide travel support for students in post‑16 education. We can normally only help students who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and who meet our eligibility criteria.

Students in financial hardship may be able to get help through a bursary.

Some colleges arrange their own transport and offer free or subsidised buses. These include:

Other sixth forms or colleges may also provide transport. Contact the school or college for details.

If you are not eligible for help with transport

Options for young people who are not eligible for help with transport

Eligibility criteria for post‑16 students with an EHCP

Students aged 16 to 18 with an EHCP may get subsidised travel assistance if all the following apply:

they cannot walk to college or sixth form because of mobility, safety, or disability‑related needs
no suitable transport arrangement is already in place
they are enrolled on a full‑time course (at least 540 directed learning hours over 30 or more weeks, unless there are exceptional circumstances)
the college or sixth form is the closest publicly funded place offering the same or a similar course, or we have placed the student elsewhere

Students with an EHCP aged 19 to 25 may also get free travel support, depending on their needs.

Full details are in our post-16 transport policy statement.

Assessing post‑16 applications

When we assess an application, we look at some or all of the following:

whether the student can use public transport, alone or with support
the length or complexity of the journey
whether a passenger assistant is needed
family financial circumstances
whether the student receives Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
whether a family member can take the student to college
whether there is a mobility vehicle
any other relevant circumstances

Types of travel assistance offered

The Post‑16 Travel Policy Statement for 2026/27 has been updated.

A Personal Travel Budget (PTB) may be the first type of support offered to eligible young people.

In some cases, it is more cost‑effective for us to provide transport instead. This may include:

travel to a specialist post‑16 setting outside Cheshire East
situations where we already provide transport for younger pupils to the same or a nearby location

Personal Travel Budget (PTB)

The mileage rate is 45p per mile for two return journeys per day.
More details are in our Education Travel Payments Policy.

Financial contribution for council‑arranged transport

If we provide transport, parents or carers must pay a fixed contribution towards the cost. The amount is the same for all students, regardless of need, distance, or travel type.

The contribution for 2025- 2026 is £900
The contribution for 2026–2027 is £934.
You can pay in full or by instalments (per half‑term or per term).
You must pay in advance.

If you accept a PTB , you do not need to pay the parental contribution.
This applies to students aged 16 to 18, and to adult learners who started their course before their 19th birthday.

Make a payment

Use our online form to pay the contribution for SEND transport in post‑16 education:

School Transport SEND Payment

If you do not pay

We may withdraw transport assistance if the financial contribution is not paid.

How to apply for post‑16 transport assistance

For students with an EHCP moving into post-16 education, or for students continuing their post-16 education in September 2026, applications are invited to be made before 30 June.

We will notify successful applicants in July and August about the type of travel support offered

For applications for travel starting September 2026:

applications received before 30 June 2026 will be assessed within 4 weeks.
if you apply after 30 June, we will assess the application as soon as possible. Travel may not be in place for the start of the course.

For support needed during the current school year:

Apply as soon as possible. We will assess the application straight away. A decision is normally taken at the next Travel Assistance Panel (TAP) meeting. We will let you know the decision as soon as possible.
Sometimes we may need more time to review the student’s needs. We will stay in touch if this happens.
We normally write to you with our decision within 4 weeks.

Parents and carers are responsible for getting the young person to school while we assess an application and set up travel.
We cannot refund travel expenses.

Supporting information

You can upload medical or professional evidence with your application.

Apply for post 16 transport

To find out how we use your information see our privacy notice (opens in a new window).

Renewing subsidised travel

You must apply for post‑16 travel assistance each year. We will contact you in the spring term when the updated policy is published and applications open.

Bursaries for post‑16 students

Some students can get a vulnerable student bursary funded by central government. Others may get a discretionary bursary funded by their sixth form or college.

For more information, speak to the school or college.
Full eligibility details are on GOV.UK - 16-19 bursary fund.

Contact the school transport team

For enquiries about home-to-school travel support for children and young people with an EHCP:

Email: educationtravelpolicies@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Phone: 01270 686521

For other enquiries
Email: SENDTransport@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Phone 01270 371496 or 01270 371485

Page last reviewed: 24 March 2026