Introduction
This transport policy statement is for:
- young people aged 16 to 18 in further education
- continuing learners aged 19
- young people aged 19 to 24 (inclusive) with learning difficulties and, or disabilities
Local authorities do not have to provide free or subsidised post 16 travel support but do have a duty to prepare and publish an annual transport policy statement. This statement specifies the arrangements for the provision of transport or other support that we consider necessary to make to facilitate the attendance of all persons of sixth form age receiving education or training.
All young people carrying on their education post 16 must reapply for travel support.
‘Sixth form age’ refers to those young people who are:
- over 16 years of age but under 19, or
- continuing learners who started their programme of learning before their nineteenth birthday
Local authorities also have a duty to encourage, enable and assist young people with learning difficulties or disabilities to participate in education and training, up to the age of 25.
This policy uses the term ‘post 16’ to include both:
- learners of sixth form age
- those with learning difficulties or disabilities up to the age of 25
This policy document specifies the support that we consider necessary to facilitate the attendance of post 16 learners receiving education or training.
Education or training refers to learning or training at:
- a school
- a further education institution
- a council maintained or assisted institution providing higher or further education
- an establishment funded directly by the Education Skills Funding Agency
- a learning provider delivering accredited programmes of learning which lead to positive outcomes and that we fund for example:
- colleges
- charities
- private learning providers
Aims and objectives
We have the following aims and objectives when assessing transport or travel support:
- To enable every learner reaching school leaving age living in Lincolnshire to access a course of education or training.
- To provide subsidised transport support to learners of sixth form age to the nearest or transport designated sixth form, college or other licensed provider over three miles from the student's home. Designated Transport Areas (DTAs) are areas drawn round colleges and schools indicating a transport entitlement. A copy of the DTAs can be found at Appendix G of the home to school or college transport policy.
- To assess the needs of learners with special educational needs and, or disabilities (SEND) on an individual basis to determine the necessary and appropriate support required from us to facilitate attendance.
- To take account of the demographic makeup of the Council when determining the subsidy towards transport including:
- the rural nature of the county
- the distances travelled by rural learners
- the specific needs of SEND learners.
- To ensure the support is affordable to all by maintaining the request of a flat rate contribution towards the transport for all sixth form learners. This is irrespective of the factors mentioned above.
- To promote a partnership approach to supporting learners experiencing economic hardship by sign-posting learners to the support that is available from all partners. This will include education providers through Bursary Support Funding.
Review
We review the post 16 transport policy annually.