Post-16 Education Travel Assistance - WNC

If you're a student over the age of 16 in full time education, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) may be able to provide assistance with transport.

You may qualify for school travel assistance if you are:

• aged 16 to 18
• in full time-education (12 hours or more a week)
• living more than 3 miles away from your nearest school or further education establishment

Costs

All students who are entitled to school travel assistance will need to contribute £1,000 a year towards the costs of their transport.

Charges apply to all students whether they are attending mainstream, special or specialist post-16 education provisions, independent schools or further education colleges, and other suitable training establishments.

Exceptions Please see the school travel assistance webpages for details about exceptions (low income, low income and special educational needs or disabilities, young people aged 19 to 25 with an EHC plan).   

How to apply

WNC will only transport to educational settings at the beginning and end of a typical academic day.

• Apply for post-16 travel assistance

If you are applying for travel assistance for a student with an EHC Plan, please complete the following form:

• Apply for post-16 travel assistance for a student with an EHC Plan

 

Read the WNC Post-16 Education Transport Policy 2024-2025 (PDF 226KB).

Read the Travel Assistance Code of Conduct.

More information and T&Cs can be found in the WNC Post-16 Student Travel Scheme Guidance Notes.

Contact the Travel Assistance team 

For students with an EHCP: e-mail: [email protected] 

Phone Number: 526449

For students without an EHCP: e-mail: [email protected]

Phone Number: 01604 526431

Other transport support for post-16 students

WNC will also take receipt of 16 to 19 bursary funding into account in assessing an individual’s need for financial help with transport.

Where a person receives a benefit to facilitate their mobility needs (e.g. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance, where this includes the higher rate mobility element) WNC may explore whether this can be used to support their transport needs to and from education or training for which a mileage rate will be paid.

Each case will be considered on its own merits.

WNC are working together with key partners to enable access to further education and training courses for 16 to 18 year olds. The following colleges offer travel support:

Northampton College

Northampton College sell subsidised bus passes where a student is eligible (under 19, more than 3 miles from site of study, on a full-time course). Students can apply to the bursary for transport support where there is a household income below £26,000 or income based benefits. They also sell Stagecoach bus passes for use on public bus services. Email: [email protected].

Moulton College

Moulton College operates a comprehensive subsidised transport network throughout Northamptonshire, allowing students access to the main college and all of its centres. Email: [email protected].

Appeals

If an application for free travel assistance is declined, parents may appeal by submitting a form to escalate the matter to a Stage One Appeal.

Find out more about the appeals process.