Find information on travel assistance for young people aged 16 years and over, which includes getting from home to school or college.
Home to education transport policy
Nottinghamshire County Council has a transport policy for post-16 transport, which gives full information regarding the eligibility criteria and entitlements for special needs travel assistance.
Download Post-16 Transport Policy Statement 2024 to 2025 Academic Year (Nottinghamshire County Council) [PDF]
Eligibility for travel assistance
Travel assistance may be available for a young person living in Nottinghamshire if they are assessed as being eligible.
Special needs travel assistance eligibility is determined by officers of Nottinghamshire Transport and Travel Services, based upon medical advice and other evidence as required.
A special transport need may arise where the student:
- is unable to walk or travel safely when accompanied to the special school, sixth form or college
- is unable to use public transport when accompanied
To apply for post-16 special transport, a student must be:
- a Nottinghamshire County resident (excludes students resident in Nottingham City)
- attending a full-time course (a minimum of 580 guided learning hours per year over a period of at least 30 weeks) at a school (including academies), college of further education, Nottinghamshire County Council accredited alternative education provider, or independent specialist provider that is funded directly by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) - The scheme does not apply to higher education courses or universities
- attending the nearest establishment that provides the chosen course and level of study and can meet the student’s needs - This will normally be the establishment named in the student’s education, health and care plan may be outside Nottinghamshire, but if a student chooses to attend a provision further away when a more local educational institution can meet their needs, transport assistance will not be provided
- over the school leaving age (16 years) but under 19 years of age on 1 September of the current academic year or continuing to attend a course begun before they were 19 until it is completed, or they reach 25 years of age
Or, they can be aged between 19 and 24 years on 1 September of the current academic year and have an education health and care plan (EHCP).
Applying for special needs travel assistance
Applications are assessed by officers of Nottinghamshire Transport and Travel Services Group. The quickest way to apply is either to:
- apply online at Travel assistance for children and young people with special transport needs (Nottinghamshire County Council)
- call Nottinghamshire County Council's Customer Service Team to complete an application over the phone with you on 0300 500 80 80
If you need any help making your application, please contact the Customer Service Team (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Travel assistance options
If travel assistance is approved, this will normally take the form of one of the following:
- Provision of a Direct Travel Assistance Payment (DTAP)
- Parental mileage allowance
- Provision of special or medical transport
Review of travel assistance and re-applying
All arrangements for children and young people assessed as eligible for travel assistance will be kept under review as over time your child’s needs may change. For example, some children and young people may develop skills which will enable them to travel independently.
Young people attending post-16 education at a college of further education or independent specialist provider will need to apply and be assessed annually for travel assistance.