Transport provision for post-16 students in England

Transport provision for students in England between the ages of 16 and 19 are arranged by each individual local authority. These arrangements must be published in an annual Transport Policy Statement.

Local authorities have discretion to make arrangements which suit their own specific local needs and transport provision will therefore vary across local authorities.

The Department for Education (DfE) publish statutory guidance that local authorities must consider when making their Transport Policy Statements – these statements must include provisions for students with special educational needs and disabilities.

Local authorities do not have to provide free transport, but they may provide discounted schemes. The details of transport schemes are set out on local authority websites.

The cost of post-16 transport has received increased attention since the Government raised the participation age in education and training to 18.