Post-16 Transport to Education and Training: Transport Policy Statement 2026/27 - 2. Special educational needs and disabilities
There is no special transport provision for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) pupils and it is expected that all SEND students with a statement or EHCP make their own travel arrangements like any other Student. However, if they are unable to do this for any reason Walsall Council may be able to assist. Such assistance is discretionary and is determined in accordance with the criteria set out in this document.
Students aged 16 to 18
SEND Students who are aged 16 or over and who are unable to access or use public transport may be able to apply to Walsall Council for travel assistance to assist them in their education and training.
Students who are aged 16 or over with an EHCP who are unable to use public transport and who have no other assistance available to them from their parents/carers may be entitled to help with travel assistance to ensure they are able to participate in education or training.
You can apply to Walsall Council for travel assistance in your own right or your family/carers can apply on your behalf. Anyone who wishes to apply for travel assistance from Walsall Council will need to complete an application form each year, even if they have already received any form of travel assistance during the previous academic year.
The Council will assess the individual circumstances of each Student and their need for travel assistance. We will do this in consultation with you, as the Student, your parents/carers, and your school, college, or training provider. This assessment will take account of the type, duration, and location of the chosen course as well as the nature of each young person’s unique special educational needs, disability or learning difficulty.
In most cases, we will offer a Student the opportunity to take part in an independent travel training programme. More information on Independent Travel Training can be seen in Walsall's SEND Local Offer.
Other travel options for Students who are eligible for travel assistance include a personal transport budget; a travel pass; use of shared transport such as a minibus or, in exceptional circumstances, a taxi, usually shared, with or without a designated Passenger Assistant.
Contributions to the cost
Whatever the option, low-income students must pay £300 a year towards the cost. Those who do not meet the low-income criteria must pay £600 a year towards the cost. These contributions are fixed and can be paid by instalments.
College specific information
Students attending the colleges specified on page 3 should contact the college first before applying to the Council for transport assistance. The minimum attendance requirement for full time education is 15 hours per week.
Walsall College students who have an EHCP and no other means of travelling to the college can be assessed for Independent Travel Training or qualify for a personal transport budget. If travel assistance is provided, it will be available at the start and end of the school day and will not support reduced timetable attendance.
South Staffordshire College (Rodbaston) provides its own travel service, which students with an EHCP must arrange directly with the college. However, students enrolled in the Futures programme may contact the SEN Transport Team to apply for supported travel assistance.
Wolverhampton College students who have an EHCP and no other means of travelling to the college can be assessed for Independent Travel Training or qualify for a personal transport budget. If travel assistance is provided, it will be available at the start and end of the school day and will not support reduced timetables.
Students aged 19 or over
Travel assistance may also be extended by Walsall Council above the age of 19 up to the age of 25, to enable eligible students to make further educational progress each year. This is only for any continuing course begun on or before the student’s 19th birthday.
Students who start a new course after the age of 19 may also be eligible for travel assistance from Walsall Council. Students will only be eligible if they have an Education, Health, and Care Plan. Students no longer have a Statement of Special Educational Needs or a Section 139a assessment. You will need to provide evidence to show why you feel the Council should make the travel arrangements rather than yourself or your family/carers.
Alternatively, the Council may simply opt to pay all or part of any adult student’s reasonable travelling expenses.
Where the Council agrees to provide travel assistance, it will do so in the most cost-effective way that takes account of the needs of the Student in question and which represents the best use of resources. The Student’s eligibility for assistance with transport will be routinely reassessed by the Council each year.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this policy, the Council has a discretion to provide transport or travel assistance to any student aged 16 to 25 who resides in the borough, in exceptional circumstances, where there is no alternative means of addressing the travel needs of the Student in question, The Council will judge each case on its merits and the onus is on the applicant Student to explain why the exercise of the Council’s discretion would be justified.
Any transport which the Council provides to Students aged 19 or over, who are attending a course which they started after their 19th birthday (including those with EHC (Education, Health and Care Plan) must be provided free of charge by the Council.