Travel options
The type of travel assistance offered will depend on the individual needs of the child or young person and their family's preferences. Options include:
- Independent travel training: This program helps young people develop the skills and confidence to travel independently, using public transport or other sustainable modes of travel. Parent carers can choose this option if it suits their needs.
- Personal travel budgets: These budgets provide families with the flexibility to make their own travel arrangements, reimbursing them for costs such as mileage, public transport fares, or the use of taxis. Parent carers can choose this option if it suits their needs.
- School buses and minibuses: The Council may provide or contract school buses and minibuses to transport eligible children and young people to and from school.
- Taxis: In some cases, where other options are not suitable, the Council may provide a taxi service, either shared or solo.
Independent Travel Training
Learning to travel independently can be a major step toward greater freedom and confidence for children and young people (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Travel training for Southend residents is provided by Essex County Council. The Independent Travel Training (ITT) programme is designed to help young people, who are eligible for home to school travel assistance, gain the skills they need to travel safely to and from school or college.
Travel training gives people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) the confidence and skills to travel independently on:
- buses
- trains
- walking routes
The training goes beyond just getting from A to B. It helps to build social skills, self-esteem, and confidence, which are vital for a smooth transition into adulthood. Dedicated travel trainers work with young people at their own pace, ensuring they feel secure and fully supported throughout the process. The training covers essential skills like road safety, using public transport, reading timetables, and knowing what to do in unexpected situations.
Real-life benefits: a case study:
After his travel training a 16-year-old with autism now travels to college on his own. Initially his parents were anxious about him using public transport, but the one-on-one support from his trainer helped him build the confidence and practical skills he needed. His parents report that he's not only more independent but also more engaged and happier, and he even meets up with friends after college now - something he rarely did before.
Is Independent Travel Training right for you?:
ITT is a fantastic option for many young people with SEND who want to build their independence. To find out if your child or young person is eligible read below or contact the Southend-on-Sea City Council Education Transport team at EducationTransport@southend.gov.uk
Funding for travel training
Travel training applications will be considered for funding if:
- the child or young person lives in Southend-on-Sea
- the parent carer of the child or young person is aware of the referral
- travel training is being requested for travel between the home and education setting
Travel training for other reasons (such as travel to and from a workplace, or for leisure) cannot be considered for funding.
Funding for travel training is most likely to be approved if the child or young person is currently in receipt of, or eligible for, contracted transport assistance. An example is a place on a minibus to get to and from school. In this case, travel training would mean the child or young person could then be issued with a bus or rail pass and travel to their place of education independently instead of using contracted transport.
Funding for travel training may also be considered if:
- the child or young person attends a special school and;
- is not currently eligible for transport assistance but could potentially become eligible in the future
There may also be other instances where funding is approved.
Travel training can be requested as an option on an initial application for home to school transport assistance for a child or young person with SEND.
Applying for travel training
Most applications will be made by:
- a parent carer of a child or young person with SEND or;
- by the education setting that the child or young person attends
A young person can also apply for travel training themselves.
To apply for travel training, complete the Essex County Council online application form.
Essex County Council will send applications for Southend-on-Sea residents to the Southend Council SEND Team Transport Entitlement Officer for consideration.
Email EducationTransport@southend.gov.uk for further information about travel training.
Personal Travel budgets
For many families with children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, getting to and from school or college can be a challenge. That's why we offer Personal Travel Budgets (PTB).
A PTB is a direct payment you can receive to arrange your own transport for your child, instead of using a vehicle contracted by the council. This allows you to choose the transport provider, whether it's a taxi service, a relative, or even using your own car, giving you more control and a better fit for your child's specific requirements.
For families who are eligible for home to school travel assistance, a Personal Travel Budget (PTB) gives you the flexibility to manage your child's travel arrangements in a way that best suits your family's unique needs.
A Personal Travel Budget can be a great option for families who want more control and flexibility over their child's transport arrangements.
Please contact us at EducationTransport@southend.gov.uk for more information and to see if a personal travel budget is right for you.
Real-life benefits: a case study
A mother of two, found the school run very difficult to manage. Her eldest son has a complex physical disability that requires a specially adapted car seat and a flexible schedule.
With a Personal Travel Budget, she was able to arrange her own travel, allowing her to drop her son off at the most convenient time for him, avoiding busy rush hours and reducing his anxiety. The PTB also gave her the flexibility to use a trusted private hire company for after-school activities, which wasn't possible with the council's arranged transport.