What travel help you may get
We choose the cheapest suitable option based on your child’s needs. This could be:
- a personal travel budget (PTB) – for children under 16
- an independent travel allowance (ITA) - for young people age 16 and over
- a bus or train pass
- a shared vehicle like a coach, minibus or taxi
Switching from PTB or ITA to contracted transport
If your child is under 16 and you get a PTB, you must give us 28 days’ notice if you want to switch to contracted transport.
If your child is over 16 and gets an ITA, you can’t switch. You’ll need to appeal instead.
Personal travel budget (PTB)
A PTB gives you money to arrange your child's travel. You can use it to:
- drive your child yourself
- arrange travel with family, friends or a shared service
- buy a travel pass
- help with childcare for other siblings
If your child is eligible and you want a PTB, fill in the .
How much you get
We pay 45p for every mile you travel.
We include 2 return journeys for each day your child goes to school - that's 4 trips in total.
We pay PTBs on the first working day of each month. This helps us check what trips have been completed.
How much is the independent travel allowance (ITA)?
If your child is 16 or over and qualifies, you will get an ITA. The amount depends on how far your child lives from school or college:
| Distance (miles) | Annual amount |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5.99 | £1,600 |
| 6 to 10.99 | £2,700 |
| 11 to 15.99 | £4,200 |
| 16 or more | £5,000 |
We pay the ITA in 11 instalments. It’s based on the shortest road route and is a contribution, not full reimbursement.
We pay ITAs on the first working day of each month. This helps us check what trips have been completed.
What you might need to pay
If your child is aged 16 to 19 and we agree to use a private hire vehicle, like a taxi or minibus, they may need to pay:
- £659.01 if they get free school meals, maximum Universal Credit , or are in care
- £908.85 for all other students
If your child is 19 or older and eligible, they don’t need to pay.
If you're having money problems
You can ask us to delay, reduce or cancel the charge. You’ll need to give evidence, like bank statements or a letter from the college.
If you accept the ITA, you won’t need to pay the contribution.