Special educational needs and disabilities

We can provide assistance with travel from home to school and college for children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Assessments will be undertaken on an individual basis before offering the most appropriate support that meets their needs. If Bolton Council agrees to provide a travel solution to access education it will be provided in a safe and cost effective manner, taking account of the child and young person’s specific needs and having regard to the best use of the Council’s resources.

Travel solutions include:

  • Travel pass - A free pass for use on public transport. This may also be provided for a parent/carer or another travel buddy (e.g., Relative, Sibling or peer) to support the child/young person to access education.
  • Personal Travel Budget (PTB) - A payment to a parent/carer that enables them to arrange home to school travel in a way that suits them.  Find more details in the PTB information booklet.
  • Supported public transport - Where a pupil can travel on public transport with some assistance, but their parent/carer is unable to accompany them, Bolton Council may provide a Travel Assistant.
  • Multiple pick-up vehicles, including pick-up points - Young people will travel together in vehicles, which will be specially adapted to meet the needs of the pupils travelling on them.

The travel solution will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that the support offered continues to meet the needs of the child/young person.

Applications for travel assistance must be submitted at transition points for:

  • Nursery to Primary
  • Primary to Secondary
  • Secondary to Post 16

This will include a review of the child/young person’s needs and the travel solution.  At this stage alternative travel solutions may be discussed.

Further details can be found in our travel assistance and post 16 policy documents.  For further information on wider SEND support, visit our Local Offer website.
 

Apply for SEN travel assistance for children under 16

Apply for SEN travel assistance for young people over 16