Post-16 Transport Policy 2020-21
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Information Classification: PUBLIC Post -16 Transport Policy 2020/21 September 2020 | Version 1.1 Transport Coordination Service Economic Growth and Development Information Classification: PUBLIC Contents 1 | Scope of the Policy 3 Students Aged 16-19 3 Learners Aged 19-25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan 3 2 | Eligibility 4 Measurement of Distances 7 Moving Home or Transferring to a New Establishment 7 Apprenticeships and Traineeships 7 3 | Provision of Subsidised Transport 8 Behaviour 9 Payment of Travel Expenses 9 4 | Arrangements for Children with Special Educational 11 Needs and Other Individual Needs Passenger Assistants 12 Wheelchairs 12 Independent Travel Training 12 5 | Cost 13 Council Expenditure / Level of Subsidisation 13 Required Contribution for Students Aged 16-19 13 The 16-19 Bursary Fund 13 Young Carers / Care to Learn 14 Learners Aged 19-25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan 14 Lost Bus Passes 14 6 | Applying for Transport 15 7| Concessionary Riders 16 8 | Appeals 17 Stage 1 Appeal 17 Stage 2 Appeal 17 Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman 18 9 | Other Transport Schemes 20 Cornwall College (Including Duchy College) 20 Truro and Penwith College 20 Cornwall Council Post-16 Transport Policy 2020/21 2 September 2020 | Version 1.1 Information Classification: PUBLIC 1 Scope of the Policy Students Aged 16-19 1.1 Local Authorities do not have a legal duty to provide free or subsidised transport for young people aged 16-19. However, under Section 509AA of the Education Act 1996, Local Authorities do have a duty to prepare and publish an annual policy statement specifying the arrangements for the provision of travel or other support that it considers necessary in order to facilitate the attendance of all persons of sixth form age (16-19) receiving education or training. 1.2 In order to promote access to education and opportunities for all young people in Cornwall, the Council provides subsidised transport for all students aged between 16 and 19 to access Post-16 education and training. Learners Aged 19-25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan 1.3 Under Section 508F and Section 508G of the Education Act 1996, as inserted by Section 57 of Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009, Local Authorities have a legal duty to provide free transport which it considers necessary for eligible adult learners aged 19-25, and who have an Education, Health and Care Plan to attend qualifying establishments. Cornwall Council Post-16 Transport Policy 2020/21 3 September 2020 | Version 1.1 Information Classification: PUBLIC 2 Eligibility 2.1 To qualify for subsidised transport, a student must: ✓ Live in Cornwall; ✓ Be 16 to 18 years of age on 31 August 2020 - or aged 19 if he/she started their course(s) before their 19th birthday; OR Be 19 to 25 years of age on 31 August 2020, and have an Education, Health and Care Plan; ✓ Attend one of the following types of establishment: i. A school; ii. A further education institution; iii. A Council-maintained or assisted institution providing higher or further education; iv. An establishment funded by the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA); v. A learning provider delivering accredited programmes of learning which lead to positive outcomes and which is funded by the Council – e.g. colleges, charities and private learning providers. ✓ Attend his/her nearest or designated learning/training establishment (see Section 2.2 and 2.3) which offers their chosen course(s) – this includes establishments outside of the county. For students with Education, Health and Care Plans, the establishment’s provision must be an essential requirement to fulfil the learning outcomes identified in the learner’s Education, Health and Care Plan; ✓ Be learning/training on a full-time basis (defined as at least 14 hours of study per week across three academic terms); ✓ Live at least three miles from the learning/training establishment using the shortest available route, unless: Cornwall Council Post-16 Transport Policy 2020/21 4 September 2020 | Version 1.1 Information Classification: PUBLIC i. He/she has a disability, medical or mobility difficulties, or individual needs which mean that he/she could not reasonably be expected to walk the distance required, even if accompanied. Requests under this category must be accompanied by written evidence from a GP or Consultant. The evidence should provide confirmation of the individual’s medical condition(s) and an explanation as to how this prevents them walking the distance to and from the learning/training establishment. All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Evidence of factors such as receipt of Higher Level Disability Living Allowance (DLA) may also be considered to assess the level of need. ii. The nature of the route is such that the student cannot be expected to walk in reasonable safety, even if accompanied. In order for a route to qualify in this category, it must have been assessed and classified as an unsafe walking route by Cornwall Council. Details of the Council’s assessment process can be found in the accompanying Pedestrian Route Assessment Policy, available at www.cornwall.gov.uk/post16transport. 2.2 The designated school is the school designated for the student’s address by the Local Authority. This may be different from the designated area used by a school for admissions purposes. The designated area for all addresses in Cornwall can be viewed via: www.cornwall.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools-and- colleges/school-admissions/designated-areas/. 2.3 Students living in the designated area of the following schools have an additional entitlement to subsidised transport to the learning/training named in the table below. Cornwall Council Post-16 Transport Policy 2020/21 5 September 2020 | Version 1.1 Information Classification: PUBLIC Additional Entitlements Secondary School Designated Post-16 Establishment(s) Brannel School Cornwall College St Austell Cape Cornwall School Penwith College Fowey River Academy Cornwall College St Austell Hayle Academy Camborne Science & International Academy Cornwall College Camborne Penwith College Humphry Davy Penwith College Looe Community Academy Liskeard School and Community College Mounts Bay Academy Penwith College Mullion School Helston Community College Penair School Truro College Penrice Academy Cornwall College St Austell Penryn College Falmouth School Truro College Poltair School Cornwall College St Austell Pool Academy Cornwall College Camborne Richard Lander School Truro College Sir James Smith’s School Cornwall College St Austell St Ives School Cornwall College Camborne Penwith College The Roseland Academy Cornwall College St Austell Truro College Cornwall Council Post-16 Transport Policy 2020/21 6 September 2020 | Version 1.1 Information Classification: PUBLIC Measurement of Distances 2.4 Measurement of distances in relation to eligibility for subsidised transport will be undertaken using the Council’s nominated Geographic Information System software (currently ArcMap) and will be taken from the main gate of a student’s home address (this is where the property meets the maintained highway; private driveways or access lanes are excluded) to the main gate of the learning/training establishment. Distance measurements will be rounded to two decimal points. 2.5 Walking distance is measured by the shortest route by which a student, accompanied as necessary, may walk in reasonable safety. This may include footpaths, bridleways and other pathways as well as maintained roads. Moving Home or Transferring to a New Establishment 2.6 If a student moves away from his or her nearest or designated learning/training establishment which offers their chosen course(s), and they have commenced said course(s), he/she will be eligible for transport if the house move was involuntary (e.g. social housing relocation or as a result of safeguarding issues) and the journey time to the establishment is less than 75 minutes in each direction. Requests for transport under this category will require supporting written evidence (e.g. housing association, Social Care). Apprenticeships and Traineeships 2.7 Transport assistance is not provided for students on apprenticeships or traineeships. The learning provider is responsible for ensuring that reasonable expenses are met fully if they are needed to overcome barriers to learning/training. These may include the cost of travelling to or from the place of learning/training or the work placement element. For further information, please contact your learning provider. 2.8 Young people who have a disability or health condition (physical or mental) that makes it hard to get to and from work may also be eligible for support through Access to Work. Further information can be found via www.gov.uk/access-to-work. Cornwall Council Post-16 Transport Policy 2020/21 7 September 2020 | Version 1.1 Information Classification: PUBLIC 3 Provision of Subsidised Transport 3.1 Transport will be provided via the most cost-effective suitable method. The Council’s default and preferred mode of transport is via public transport. Where public transport is unavailable or unsuitable, alternative modes of travel may include a seat on a bus, minibus or taxi provided under closed contract to the Local Authority. 3.2 As a guide, journey times will not normally exceed 75 minutes each way. However, where a student attends a training/learning establishment which is a considerable distance from their home address, journey durations in excess of this advised threshold may be unavoidable. Should you require any advice on journey times, we strongly recommend that you contact the Transport Coordination Service prior to making an application. 3.3 Provided transport is for one return journey from the home address at which the student is habitually and ordinarily resident to the learning/training establishment at which the student is on roll, during standard academic terms only and at the official beginning and end of the establishment day only.