TRF GUIDANCE NOTES Page 1
TRAVEL ASSISTANCE 2015/2016 FOR
POST 16 STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES AND/OR DISABILITIES
GUIDANCE NOTES
Please complete the Application for Travel Assistance 2015/2016 for Post 16 Students with Learning
Difficulties and/or disabilities and return to:Wakefield Council
Wakefield One
Home to School Transport Team
Learner Support Services
P O Box 700
Burton Street
Wakefield WF1 2EB
If you want any help in filling in any part of the form please contact the student’s school/college, social
worker, connexions representative or a member of the Home to School Transport Team on (01924)
305675 305643, 306980.
It is important you also refer to the Transport Policy for Learners Aged 16-18 in Further Education and
Continuing Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (LLDD) aged 19-24 years before
completing the form.
Completion of the Application Form does not mean that the student is eligible for transport
assistance – the form is an expression of interest in order that the Local Authority can
undertake an assessment.
The form also acts as the risk assessment. It is therefore important that you bring to our attention any
information that is pertinent to the student’s safety whilst travelling on home to school transport. If you
fail to declare any information the Local Authority cannot be held responsible.
IF THE FORM IS SUBMITTED INCOMPLETE OR DOES NOT CONTAIN FULL AND ACCURATE
INFORMATION (INCLUDING YOUR SIGNATURE) IT WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU AND THIS
WILL RESULT IN A DELAY IN ASSESSING YOUR FORM
TRF GUIDANCE NOTES Page 2
About the questions on the application form
Part 1 – Student details
When transporting children and young people it is important that they are placed on journeys within a
similar geographic location so as to minimise travelling times and costs. If, for example, the student
moves address mid-year it is important you notify us as soon as possible as it may be necessary to
re-locate them to an alternative journey and failure to notify us may result in delays in the student
attending school or college.
Part 2 – Parent/Carer details
There may be occasions where we may need to contact you urgently regarding the student’s
transport to/from school/college (eg adverse weather conditions). It is essential therefore that you
notify us of any changes to your address, mobile telephone number and/or contact details as soon as
they change.
Part 3 – School/College Details
Where assisted transport is provided this may be shared with other learners who may also
attend different sites and courses which have different timetables. This could result in longer
travelling times and waiting times at college for the learner. Where the college/school has a
staggered timetable, assisted transport will however only be provided once in a morning to transport
the learner to college/school and then once in an afternoon at the end of the course day. It may be
necessary in certain circumstances (eg. where learners live within the same location and attend the
same college but have different course times) for some learners to experience a degree of “positive
study time” at college.
Some learners may undertake “induction” the first two weeks of the Autumn Term (this may involve
staggered session times, different attendance days and college sites). It will not possible for transport
arrangements to be put in place due to the many variables involved and parents/carers should make
their own arrangements during the induction fortnight.
Part 4 – Social Work Details
We may need to speak to your Social Worker, especially in an emergency, so it is important you
provide us with their contact details.
Part 5 – Independence
All post 16 learners with special educational needs are expected to participate in an Independent
Travel Training assessment.
We accept there will always be students who will require assisted transport and escort supervision
and it is important that the learners with the most need continue to receive high level support.
However, there are others who will be able to move towards greater independence and it is important
to support them to develop their independence skills.
The student may be unable to negotiate the stairs at home as there are too many for them to cope
with but they may be able to manage one or two steps on a bus with encouragement and physical
help from an escort. Obviously there is a difference between the two levels of support and we hope
your information will help us to determine the appropriate level of support that should be provided for
the student.
We need to know how far the student can walk, how long this takes, the effort of walking and if this is
likely to cause discomfort. As a guide 100 steps equates to approx. 90 metres (100 yards)
TRF GUIDANCE NOTES Page 3
Information provided on the Post 16 Transport Request form will help us to determine whether the
student can travel to/from school/college on his/her own, with or without some degree of adult
supervision. In many cases we accept the student will never be able to travel independently on
transport without help.
Where we feel students will benefit from independent travel training the Independent Travel Trainers
will contact you to discuss further and this will provide you with an opportunity to raise questions. If
you feel you would like an informal discussion with the Trainers please contact them on Tel. No.
01924 306348 / 306848.
Part 6 - Mobility
This is about the amount of help the student needs to get in / out of the vehicle in a safe manner and
to ensure that the type of transport we provide is appropriate to the student’s needs i.e. a wheelchair
accessible vehicle. The main consideration is that the student being transported should be able to
travel in safety and with reasonable ease without undue stress, strain and discomfort.
Providing safe transport for students in wheelchairs and buggies can be a complex business. Every
young person’s needs are unique and consequently the types of equipment with which they can travel
safely and comfortably vary enormously.
Sometimes young people may be issued with more than one wheelchair or provided with a different
one as they grow or their condition changes. Electric wheelchairs are heavier and tend to be larger
than manual wheelchairs. As well as more space being required for the wheelchair it is essential that
webbing restraints are used and these take up extra space in front of and behind the wheelchair.
It is therefore important parents provide the correct information as variations can affect the transport
arrangements. It might also mean that we have to undertake a further risk assessment.
Part 7 – Students Special Needs
The young people we transport are unique and so are their special needs. It is extremely important
therefore that you provide us with as much information as possible. We accept that the student’s
primary special need may for example be autism, but they may also have other associated needs
such as learning difficulties or behavioural problems. We need you to tell us as much as possible
about the student’s special needs so that we can provide the correct level of support and assess any
potential risks
The information you provide will also be passed to the escorts so they are aware of what to look for
and how to respond.
For example, if the student has a seizure you need to tell us what type and what happens – could this
happen a couple of times a month and are there any warnings signs? Do they fall to the floor and
lose consciousness? Will they need oxygen and do they have the potential to stop breathing on the
transport? Will they need emergency hospital treatment?
All this information will help us ensure that the student is safe and the appropriate action is taken if
they have a seizure.
The student may have difficulty speaking – they may have a stammer, lisp or speech difficulty and
become frustrated if they cannot be understood – they may choose not to speak. If we are not aware
of this then we cannot respond appropriately and this may cause the student to become frustrated.
Difficulty communicating – they may use Makaton to communicate or may draw simple pictures. We
need you to tell us.
If the student has an Individual Health Care Plan it is important that you let us have a copy so that we
know how to correctly respond to the student’s needs.
TRF GUIDANCE NOTES Page 4
Part 8 - Behaviour
The behaviour of the majority of students on home to school transport is generally very good and
does not cause any concern. However, the behaviour of a minority of students can be unacceptable
and unsafe.
Whilst we understand a student’s special needs may be the cause of such behaviour, the
consequences of poor behaviour on home to school transport can be wide ranging. In extreme
cases, such behaviour can cause considerable danger to themselves, other children and young
people travelling on the vehicle, the escort, driver or the wider public.
It is therefore important you tell us if the student may be a risk to others or may be at risk from others.
If we are aware of what prompts the behaviour then we may be able to put measures in place to deal
with this.
Persistent poor behaviour on the journey to and from school/college may be grounds for exclusion not
only from the vehicle but also from the school/college and this includes young people with a statement
of special educational needs
Under no circumstances must students bring items on the vehicle which could place themselves or
others at risk. If this happens then we may have no option but to suspend the student from transport
pending further investigations. Multiple or serious incidents may lead to an immediate exclusion,
irrespective of whether the student has a statement of special needs or not and could result in Police
involvement.
You should refer to the student’s Individual Behaviour Plan when completing the form.
Part 9 – Medication
Medicines should only be taken to school/college with a student where it would be detrimental to the
student’s health if the medicine were not administered during the school day. Medicines should
always be provided in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist and include the
prescriber’s instructions for administration and dosage.
It is the parent/carers responsibility to ensure that the item is placed in a sealed envelope/plastic
wallet or an appropriate first aid bag clearly marked with the student’s name as well as the name of
the person receiving the item and then handed to the escort for safe transportation and delivery.
Escorts are not normally able to administer any medication or offer treatment. In most cases where
there is a medical emergency the escort will follow the agreed “999 emergency protocol” - this is to
instruct the driver to divert to the nearest hospital, if it is no more than 10 minutes away, or to summon
emergency services.
In exceptional cases escorts will be authorised to administer buccal medication for seizures
but they must be trained by an appropriate health professional (i.e. school nurse) and parents
must provide written authorisation.
Even where buccal medication is administered escorts will still ring 999 for an ambulance.
Due to issues around dignity and privacy, gender and the need for two health professionals to be
present to minimise the potential for accusations of abuse, escorts cannot administer rectal diazepam
but must follow the 999 Emergency Protocol.
If the student has an Individual Health Care Plan you should attach to this to the application form.
TRF GUIDANCE NOTES Page 5
Part 10 - Equipment
Some students will need to transport equipment with them i.e. folding wheelchairs, suction machines,
etc. It is important we are aware of the items so that we can check there is sufficient space in the
vehicle to store them. We also need to ensure they are safely stored away.
Part 11 – Travel Costs
It may be possible, in certain circumstances, for parents/carers to transport the student to and from
school or college and for the Local Authority to make a contribution towards mileage
expenses/personal transport budget. Each request will be considered on a case by case basis.
Part 12 - Additional Information
It is important we ensure, where appropriate, students are provided with the correct level of support
and that adequate and trained staff are able to respond to their individual needs. Any additional
information you provide will help us come to this decision.
Part 13 – Disability Living Allowance
The Local Authority may take into account receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for the student
when assessing what support might be needed by the student (i.e. as a proxy of the severity of a
disability) but may not require the student to use this to support their transport costs to learning.
Where a parent has not obtained a vehicle the mobility allowance may still be taken into account
when determining what (if any) level of assistance to provide.

Charging for Post 16 Transport Assistance
Where it is agreed to provide assisted transport the student and/or parents will be expected to pay a
contribution towards their transport based on the cost of a School Plus Metrocard.
Costs will vary depending on the actual number of study weeks and charges will apply to all post 16
students regardless of whether they are living in the parental home or sheltered/residential
accommodation.
Where invoices are submitted for payment but parents/carers wish to appeal against the
charge they must do so within 21 days of the date of the invoice.
Full details can be found in the Transport Policy for Learners Aged 16-18 in Further Education and
Continuing Learners with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (LLDD) aged 19-24 years before
completing the form.

Appeals
Students and/or parents/carers who wish to appeal against the decision not to award travel
assistance, withdraw existing support or appeal to have the post 16 charges waived, should do so by
completing and returning the appeal form, together with any supporting documentary evidence to
Children and Young People, Home to School Transport Team, Wakefield One, PO Box 700, Burton
Street, Wakefield, WF1 2EB clearly setting out the reasons for the appeal.