Transport to Education and Training Policy Statement for Students of Sixth Form Age 2016-2017 Policy Statement and Main Objectives This transport policy statement details the arrangements for transport and financial assistance for transport that the local authority considers it necessary to make to ensure access to education or training for learners of sixth form age. 1. Introduction 1.1 A child’s statutory entitlement to free home to school transport ceases once the child reaches the end of compulsory school education in the school year in which the student is 16 years of age. Although students are required to participate in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they become 18, there is no statutory entitlement to free transport once a student reaches sixth form age. 1.2 This policy statement sets out the support and assistance for home to school or college transport for students of sixth form age which is available for students living in the East Riding of Yorkshire and receiving full time education or training. The East Riding of Yorkshire Council does not provide transport or travel assistance for part time students, students attending higher education establishments or non state funded education, unless the student is on a course that has been arranged through the Council. Students undertaking a recognised Traineeship Programme of up to 6 months may be eligible to apply for the support options listed in section 4. For students undertaking an Apprenticeship, employers will need to take account of the students’ likely transport arrangements and students should discuss options available with the employer and educational establishment in the first instance. 1.3 It is important that students consider transport when they start to plan their progression into sixth form and further education, including choices about which educational establishment they would like to attend. 2. Definitions of the terms for the purposes of this policy document. ‘Sixth Form Age’ refers to students who are over the age of 16, but under the age of 19 on 31 st August of the academic year. ‘Full time education’ for students other than those with learning difficulties and disabilities is a minimum of 540 planned hours of education or training per academic year as defined in the Raising of the Participation Age guidance, March 2014. ‘Continuing students, 19-24’ refers to students with a learning difficulty and / or disability aged 19-24 for whom the Council has arranged a learning difficulty assessment or has a continuing statement of education need or has an education, health and care plan, which sets out provision for a continuing programme of sixth form age full time education or training. ‘Most appropriate or nearest school or college’ means the school or college that: 1 2016/2017 Statement re Post 16 Transport • offers the main essentials of the course required by the student, both in terms of type and level to enable them to progress onto their chosen career/pathway; • is the nearest to the students home, regardless of local authority boundary. Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (LDD) The Learning and Skills Act (2000) defines a learning difficulty as: “having a greater difficulty in learning than a majority of people of that age, or having a disability which prevents the use of facilities generally available from educational establishments providing sixth form education and training.” 3. Travel Support 3.1 It is important that students consider their transport requirements when they start to plan the educational establishment they would like to attend. There are a number of ways in which young people can be provided with support for transport to help them get to their educational establishment. 3.2 Discounted Season Tickets 3.2.1 Students of sixth form age can apply for a discounted season ticket for use on any home to school transport contracted by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council where there are spare seats. Application forms for season tickets are available online at www.eastriding.gov.uk or by contacting East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Passenger Services (please see appendix A for contact details). Discounted season tickets on Council contracted vehicles are available to all students regardless of age. 3.3 Independent Travel Training for students who face difficulty with transport 3.3.1 Independent travel training is available subject to assessed need. The East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Youth and Family Support service would be able to offer advice and make a referral to the Futures Plus team (please see appendix A for contact details) . 3.4 16-19 Bursary Funding 3.4.1 Educational establishments receive a 16-19 bursary fund direct from the Department for Education (DfE). This is provided to them to enable them to support the most vulnerable students attending their establishment. Each educational establishment will have its own arrangements and eligibility criteria for the administration of their Bursary Fund. To find out if you are eligible for a bursary you will need to contact your relevant educational establishment. A list of contact details and further information is available at the end of this document. 3.5 Department for Education Support 3.5.1 Support may be available from the Department for Education for some students, the following are examples of the type of support. Full information can be found on the Gov.uk website, details of this can be found in Appendix 1 at the end of the statement : - Residential Support Scheme: Enquiries for residential support for students who attend an educational establishment which is beyond daily travelling distance and need to stay away should be directed to Residential Support Scheme. Contact details can be found in Appendix A at the end of this statement. - Care to Learn Scheme: If you are studying, have a child and are aged under 20 at the start of your course, Care to Learn can help pay for your child care costs while you are learning. Enquiries for Care to Learn should be directed to Gov.uk (please see Appendix A for contact details). - Dance and Drama Award: You may get a Dance and Drama Award (DaDA) to help with fees and living costs at one of 19 private dance and drama schools. Enquiries for 2 2016/2017 Statement re Post 16 Transport Dance and Drama Award should be directed to Gov.uk Contact details can be found in Appendix A at the end of this statement. 3.6 Providers’ Own Transport 3.6.1 Some educational establishments have special financial and transport schemes arranged for students on roll. The range of support varies considerably and discussion with the educational establishment will clarify their current offer. A list of relevant schools, sixth form colleges and further education colleges is included in Appendix A. That appendix also gives the contact details for the establishment and a summary of the transport support offered by the school or college where that information has been made available. To ensure students have the correct information for the academic year 2016/17, please contact their intended educational establishment direct. 3.7 Commercial Public Services 3.7.1 Local Bus Services in East Riding of Yorkshire Bus companies offer a range of reduced rates and discount cards. The contact details of some of the bus companies which operate in the area can be found in Appendix A. 3.7.2 National Rail Please check the railcard website for up to date information. The contact details can be found in Appendix A. 4. Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities 4.1 Students aged 16-18 4.1.1 Subject to the eligibility criteria listed below, transport support may be available to students with learning difficulties and disabilities who are aged between 16 and 18 and are unable to travel to their educational establishment independently. If the student reaches the age of 19 after the start of the academic year, they will continue to receive support until the end of that academic year. 4.1.2 Assessments for this support are made annually through: the annual review of the student’s Statement of Special Educational Needs; or through a review of the student’s Education, Health and Care Plan; or the review of the transport needs assessment. In-year reviews will take place where the student is undergoing independent travel training to determine whether or not the student is able to travel on their own. The travel support may cease if the student is able to manage the journey independently. 4.1.3 Any student with learning difficulties and disabilities who is not in an educational establishment placement and may require some assistance should contact East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Youth and Family Support service (see Appendix 1 at the end of the statement for contact details). 4.2 Students aged 19+ 4.2.1 Students aged over 19 at the commencement of the academic year would not normally be entitled to receive assistance. However, at any time the student may request a transport assessment by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Youth and Family Support Service (see Appendix 1 for contact details). Any assessments done in this way will be presented to the Director of Children, Families and Schools for consideration. Families will be informed of the Directors decision in writing. 4.3 Contribution and Eligibility Criteria 4.3.1 Students in Year 12 and above with learning difficulties and disabilities who qualify for 3 2016/2017 Statement re Post 16 Transport transport support under these provisions will be required to pay a contribution of