Southend-on-Sea City Council are launching a new, streamlined online application process for home-to-school and college travel assistance.
At Southend-on-Sea City Council, we are working to make our services easier for families to access.
We are pleased to announce that from 1 May 2026, we will be launching a new, streamlined online application process for home-to-school and college travel assistance.
What is changing?
Currently, applying for travel assistance can feel fragmented, with different processes for mainstream and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) applications.
From 1 May, all applications will move to the Citizen Portal. This single digital system replaces the old "My Southend" forms and the previous email/paper-based forms.
Many families will already be familiar with the Citizen Portal, as it is the same system used for school admissions and two-year-old funding.
Does this change eligibility?
No. It is important to know that while the way you apply is changing, nothing else is.
- the eligibility criteria remain exactly the same
- the Home to School Transport Policy has not changed
- the way we make decisions on applications remains consistent
How to apply (from 1 May)
You will be able to access the new application process directly via our website.
Get ready with our video guide
To help you get used to the new system before you apply, we have created a step-by-step video guide. This walks you through the portal and shows you exactly what to expect.
By moving to a single system, we aim to make the process clearer and more efficient for every family in Southend.
If you have any questions before the new system goes live, please contact the team at EducationTransport@southend.gov.uk