Councillors have reviewed and revamped the original proposal to replace the majority of post-16 home to school transport with personal travel budgets.

The plan aims to equip young people with the ‘confidence, skills and knowledge’ required to travel independently on public transport, which will aid their journey into becoming adults.

Councillor Dawn Dale, chair of the Children and Families Policy committee, said: “We must ensure that our policies are inclusive and cater to the diverse needs of all children in Sheffield.

“It’s imperative that we continue to engage with the community to understand their concerns and aspirations.”

The proposal will provide many economic benefits such as improved access to employment, training, apprenticeships, work placements and volunteering opportunities.

On a personal level, it is hoped that the scheme will see increased personal development, including confidence, independence and practical skills to use in their future lives. This is along with reducing the expectations and pressure on family members.

The ‘Freedom to Travel – Skills for Life Programme’ will be developed further to supply enhanced independent travel training for Post-16 students.

In the future, it is planned to broaden this training to younger age groups to facilitate the early development of these skills.

Gaynor Stevenson, a parent whose son Robert is in his final year of A-Levels, said: “It’s improved his confidence, it’s given him a sense of self-worth and it has enabled him.

“I can see him becoming an adult and the change in him has been absolutely huge. This scheme has made a huge difference to his life.”

The consultation, to address the previous proposal, ran from 14th January to 12th February and gathered 975 responses from young people, parent carers and school/college staff.

The initial proposals were seen as impractical and financially burdensome for families along with safety issues with certain modes of public transport being highlighted.

Increased traffic congestion and potential attendance issues were also called attention to by education staff.

For students applying for travel support in September 2025, Personal Travel Budgets (PTBs) will become the first offer for new Post-16 students requiring home-to-school travel support and alternative transport options will be made available where necessary.