Post-16 help isn't automatic
Age 16+
Councils must help school-age children who qualify. After 16, help is at the council's discretion and depends on the young person's needs.
🚌 Travel: leaving school and getting around
Moving from school to college, training or work often means a new journey. Travel help for young people with SEND is very different after 16, and each council has its own rules. Use this section to find out what support is available, what it costs, how to apply and who offers travel training.
✔ Checked October 2026📍 Choose your council
Travel help is arranged by the council where the young person lives, not where the school or college is. If you aren't sure which council you're in, check a council tax bill or use the GOV.UK council finder.
✅ Six things to know before leaving school
Reapply when leaving Year 11
Reapply
Even if the young person had transport at school, and even if they are staying at the same setting, you usually need a new application for post-16.
Apply early
Deadlines
Most councils want applications in the summer before September. Late applications may not be ready for the start of term.
Nearest suitable setting
Distance
Councils usually only help with travel to the nearest school or college that can meet the young person's needs.
Families travel until it's sorted
Waiting
While an application is being assessed, parents and carers are usually responsible for getting the young person there.
19 to 25 is different
Adult
For adult learners, travel may be assessed differently, for example through adult social care. Check your council's page.
Plan it at the EHCP review: raise travel at the Year 10 and Year 11 annual reviews. Ask about travel training early, as it can take months.
📊 Compare the six councils
A quick comparison. Open each council's page for the details and links.
| Council | Post-16 charge for council transport | Who offers travel training | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | £680 a year (£340 low income), only for council-arranged transport | Liverpool City Council, up to 18 | Online form |
| Knowsley | £725 a year (50% off for low income), if council transport is needed | Knowsley Council travel training officers | Online form, from April. Pass applications by 31 July |
| Sefton | No charge | Sefton Council, one-to-one | Sefton Directory application. Late applications wait until October |
| St Helens | None stated. Check with the council | Council, Mill Green, Carmel College, Shaw Trust, St Helens CDP | Form to the School Transport Team |
| Wirral | No charge (a proposed £680 charge was not approved) | Wirral Council's new travel training team | Application to the Assisted Travel Service |
| Halton | Check the 2026–27 policy with the council | Halton Independent Travel Team, ages 11 to 19 | Contact Halton Borough Council |
Remember: charges usually apply only when the council arranges transport, such as a taxi or minibus. A free disabled pass, travel training or a personal transport budget normally doesn't carry the charge.
🎫 Passes and cheaper travel across the city region
Merseytravel disabled person's pass
FreeMerseyside
Free travel on buses, trains and Mersey Ferries river crossings, all day in Merseyside, for residents with a qualifying disability, including a learning disability (Category F). Apply at a Merseytravel Centre or by post.
Halton disabled bus pass
FreeHalton
Halton isn't part of Merseyside, so Halton residents apply to Halton Borough Council instead.
MyTicket
Under 19£2.20
Unlimited bus travel all day for under-19s across Merseyside and Halton, frozen at £2.20 for the ninth year running.
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.
16–19 Bursary Fund
Up to £1,200
Money towards travel and course costs. Vulnerable students can get up to £1,200 a year. Apply through the school or college.
16–25 Railcard
Trains1/3 off
A third off most rail fares for 16 to 25 year olds. Disabled people can also look at the Disabled Persons Railcard.
Care to Learn
Young parents
Help with childcare and travel costs for young parents under 20 at the start of their course.
Access to Work
JobsDisability
Once in a job, an apprenticeship or a supported internship, Access to Work can help with travel costs if a disability means you can't use public transport.
🧠 Am I ready to travel on my own?
Go through this with a parent, carer or teacher. Tick the things the young person can already do. It's a conversation starter, not a test, and nothing is saved.
Tips for new journeys
- Practise first: try the journey together in the holidays, at the same time of day as the real one.
- Plan ahead: use the Merseytravel journey planner and save it on your phone.
- Have a backup: agree what to do if the bus doesn't come, and who to ring.
- Carry ID and your pass: keep them somewhere safe, along with an emergency contact card.
- Know your rights: ask the college about travel support and bursaries before enrolling.
🚶 Who offers travel training
Independent travel training teaches a young person to make a regular journey safely on their own, usually with a trainer who goes with them until they're confident. It builds independence for college, work and social life.
Liverpool
Travel training
Liverpool City Council, up to 18.
Knowsley
Travel training
Knowsley Council travel training officers.
Sefton
Travel training
Sefton Council, one-to-one.
St Helens
Travel training
Council, Mill Green, Carmel College, Shaw Trust, St Helens CDP.
Wirral
Travel training
Wirral Council's new travel training team.
Halton
Travel training
Halton Independent Travel Team, ages 11 to 19.
📖 Words explained
- EHCP
- Education, Health and Care Plan. Most post-16 travel help is for young people with an EHCP.
- Post-16 contribution
- A yearly charge some councils make for council-arranged transport for 16 to 18 year olds.
- Personal transport budget
- Money paid to the family so they can arrange their own transport, often a daily amount plus mileage.
- Independent travel training
- Training, usually one-to-one, to learn a journey and travel safely without support.
- Passenger assistant
- An adult on council transport who supports and supervises passengers.
- Nearest suitable setting
- The closest school or college that can meet the young person's needs and offers a suitable course.
- 16–19 Bursary
- Money from the college to help with costs such as travel, equipment and meals.
- Appeal
- Asking the council to look at a travel decision again. There are time limits, often 20 working days.