Proposals for changes to Post-16 Home-to-School Travel Support sets to enhance independent travel training for students with SEND, a service that provides support for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

On 7 April, Sheffield City Council’s Education, Children’s and Families Committee approved proposals for Personal Travel Budgets to become an optional choice for students currently accessing SEN travel support but it will be the first option for new applicants.

There is also set to be an expansion of the ‘Freedom to Travel – Skills for Life’ Independent Travel Training program and an increase in fees for young people on taxi and minibus provision.

Councillor Dawn Dale, Chair of the Education, Children’s and Families Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield City Council has always firmly believed the city should be a place where all children belong, and all young people can build a successful future.

“We set out to improve the service we have been providing for Sheffield’s children, and where we have already been making strides in this area. This consultation has helped us revise that further to be more tailored to people’s needs.”

The feedback from a December 2024 council meeting emphasised the importance of supporting individual circumstances and ensuring any changes continue to promote access to education.

The council aims to provide choice and control over independent travel training and transport arrangements for families that use SEND services.

Gaynor Stevenson, a parent present at the council meeting, said her son had never been on public transport on his own at all before he started independent travel training.

She said: “By the time he finishes sixth form he will be travelling independent everyday.

“This scheme has made a huge difference to his life. It’s a win for us, it’s a win for him and a win for the council as well.”

However, there is concern related to the demand of these essential services as they are expected to increase by up to 25% by September 2026, linked to the rising number of children and young people with an Education, Health, and Care Plan.

This increase in demand places additional pressure on the Council’s transport budget.

Councillor Toby Marlinson shared his own experience with the scheme and said that travel training gave his son independent confidence and his family the confidence to allow him the freedom to travel on his own

He said: “He has done so safely ever since. I don’t know where we would be if we hadn’t had that.”