Free Merseytravel pass
FreeDisability
Free bus, train and Mersey Ferries travel for Merseyside residents with a qualifying disability, including a learning disability.
🚌 Travel help in Sefton
Help with getting to school, college or training for young people with SEND who live in Sefton. Travel support depends on where the young person lives, not where the school or college is.
✔ Checked October 2026⚡ Sefton at a glance
Post-16 charge
No charge
Where a student can't use public transport, support is free or offered as a personal travel budget.
Age range
16 to under 24
Measured at the start of the academic year.
Travel training
Sefton Council
One-to-one training, with a trainer travelling alongside the student.
Decision time
Up to 25 working days
Can be longer at busy times or for complex needs.
Source: Based on Sefton Council's Post 16 Travel Policy Statement for 2026–2028 (version dated April 2026).
👥 Who can get help
Up to 16
School age
Covered by Sefton's home to school travel policy for 2026–2028.
16 to 18
Post-16
There is no automatic right to free transport after 16. Students with an EHCP who can't use public transport are assessed individually. Most students at mainstream colleges and sixth forms are expected to use public transport.
19 to 23
Adult learners
The same criteria apply up to age 24: the student must be under 24 at the start of the academic year, live in Sefton and meet the conditions below.
What the council looks at
For discretionary travel support, the student must:
- live in Sefton
- be over 16 and under 24 at the start of the academic year
- attend a course of at least 30 weeks a year
- have an EHCP or an individual assessment that identifies a need for specialist transport
- attend the nearest school, college or institution that can meet their needs. Distance is measured along recognised walking routes from home to the nearest suitable setting.
🔍 Try these first
College travel support
BursaryCollege
Sefton expects most post-16 students to get help from their college, employer, training provider or bursary. Vulnerable students may get up to £1,200 a year.
Merseytravel term-time tickets
Students
Solo (bus), Railpass (train) and Trio (bus, train and ferry) tickets for students in full-time education or work-based learning.
🧭 What help might be offered
For eligible students, travel support may be a travel pass, independent travel training or a personal travel budget. Council-commissioned transport is offered only where there is no other workable option.
💷 Costs
Council charge
None
Students assessed as unable to use public transport get travel support free of charge, or a personal travel budget.
Bursary
Up to £1,200
For vulnerable students aged 16–19 on full-time courses. Apply through the college.
Young parents
Care to Learn
Help with childcare and travel for students under 20 at the start of their course.
📝 How to apply
- Confirm the setting and timetablePost-16 travel support can't be arranged until the parent or carer confirms in writing where the student will study and their timetable.
- Complete the applicationThe form is on the Sefton Directory's Home to School Transport page.
- AssessmentIt can take up to 25 working days to put support in place, and longer for complex needs.
- Decision letterIf the application is refused, the letter explains how to appeal.
Apply on time: late applications are acknowledged but not processed until the Travel Support Assessment Panel reopens in October. Families make their own travel arrangements until support officially starts.
🚶 Travel training in Sefton
Sefton's independent travel training gives students with SEND the skills and confidence to travel to and from school or college on public transport.
- One-to-one: a travel trainer goes with the student to and from school or college over an extended period, until they are ready to travel on their own.
- Personal programme: each student gets their own travel programme.
- How to get it: suitability is usually identified at the annual review. Students already on specialist school or college transport who want to learn to travel independently can also apply.
- Colleges too: some schools and colleges run their own travel training. Ask them directly.
⚖️ If you disagree with a decision
Sefton has a two-stage review and appeals process. Parents and carers can appeal in writing within 20 working days of the decision, either against a refusal or against the travel arrangements offered. If you are still unhappy afterwards, you can contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
📎 Documents, forms and contacts
Post 16 Travel Policy Statement 2026–2028
PDF16–25
Sefton's policy for post-16 learners, including those with SEND.
Travel support (Sefton Council)
Council page
Sefton's travel support page, with the current policies.
Home to School Transport (Sefton Directory)
ApplyAppeals
Application information, deadlines, appeal form and fact sheet.