Travel assistance for schools, SEND and post-16

We do not have a statutory duty to provide travel assistance to pupils over 16 years old.

You should first make sure you have:

• read the travel assistance policy for the exceptional circumstances where travel assistance may be provided
• all the necessary supporting evidence for your application – these are detailed on the online form

This application is for young people who do not have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

If you are a young person with a EHCP aged between 16 and 19 (and over) need to apply using the SEND travel assistance (with EHCP) application form.

Who is eligible

Young people meeting all of the following criteria are eligible to receive assistance with travel costs from Luton Council:

• from low income families and learners in local authority care or those that have recently left local authority care
• must be resident in Luton throughout the duration of the course
• must be over compulsory school age but not aged 19, or over, on 31 August in the year in which their course of study began
• must live further than three miles (walking route) from the nearest institution to offer their chosen course
• where a young people opts to attend an institution other than their nearest college the chosen course must differ by at least 50% to that offered by nearer institutions. for example, a young people may be studying 4 A levels and 2 of these may not be available at nearer colleges. in this case assistance with travel costs will be provided. however, if 3 of the A levels are available at a more local institution then assistance will not be provided
• enrolled on and attending a full-time course engaged with learning or training at:
  • a further education institution (for example, Luton Sixth Form college, Barnfield college, Central Bedfordshire college)
  • a school or academy (for example, Cardinal Newman Catholic school)
  • a local authority maintained or assisted institution providing higher or further education
  • at any establishment (not falling within the above categories) at which the authority secures the provision of education or training under section 15za of the education act 1996

Low income is defined as young people whose parents meet the criteria used for assessing eligibility for free school meals (the current criteria is set out below) or where their parents (with whom the child lives) receive maximum working tax credit:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)

We will provide eligible students with half termly payments direct into their bank account.

We will pay half (50%) of the cost of a weekly bus ticket up to a maximum value of £7.50 per week. For example, if a weekly bus ticket costs £10 the Council will provide £5 towards these costs. If the weekly ticket costs £17 the Council will provide a subsidy of £7.50 and the student will need to contribute the remaining £9.50.

Further information:

• applications will not be approved when a place in a nearer college was not offered due to late application or missed interviews
• applications for transport assistance must be received by 16 September 2025 to qualify for financial assistance in the first half of the autumn term
• half termly cash payments will only be made if the young person’s attendance is 95% or above

How to apply

You can apply online.

Start now

If you experience any difficulty completing the form online

You can download the mainstream and post 16 application for travel assistance form:

Mainstream application for travel assistance to school (DOCX, 46.95KB)

Save the completed form and email to:

Email: mainstreamtravelassistance@luton.gov.uk

Alternatively, you can post it (with supporting documentation) to:

Address:
Mainstream Travel Assistance team
Planning and Admissions
Luton Council, Town Hall
Luton
LU1 2BQ