How to apply for mainstream post 16 travel assistance
Before you make an application, please read the post 16 transport statement (link to post 16 transport statement) to see what other options are available and to check that you meet the entitlement criteria of the Staffordshire post 16 travel scheme.
If you need travel assistance due to a learning difficulty or disability a different form applies.
Please note: if you do want to apply for support under the Staffordshire travel scheme please return your application form by 1 August of the year before you start in year 12 or above. This is so arrangements will be in place for the beginning of the autumn term.
Before filling in the Post 16 application form, we would always advise you to contact your local bus company to see if they offer alternative travel options that could be cheaper for you.
If you intend to apply for a local service bus pass or rail pass through the Post 16 Scheme, your pass will only be valid for travel on school days only. Please note this will not be a 24/7 pass and will only be valid Monday-Friday. There is no variation in price for this scheme dependent on the number of days or distance travelled – the price remains unchanged.
The application form for 2024-25:
Your data
Any personal data collected through your application for education travel is handled securely and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
We will use the information to process your application for education travel.
We use personal information about children and families to enable us to provide relevant services to them and to carry out specific functions for which it is responsible.
For more detailed information please see our data information pages and our data protection and fair processing notice.
Terms and conditions
- This scheme may not be the cheapest or best option for you – always check out your other options before applying
- For students studying in year 12 and above support is offered to Staffordshire residents studying a full-time course at level 3 or below which began on or before the date of the students 19 birthday, with at least 16 hours of timetabled study per week. The low income criteria must also be met. Transport assistance is not given to higher education courses (level 4 and above, such as Foundation Degrees or Higher National Diplomas). For a further explanation of qualification levels, see the Direct Gov website.
- For students with learning difficulties and disabilities, we will continue to offer support until a course is completed providing the course was begun on or before the day of their 19 birthday. However, if you are unable to access public transport (even when accompanied) due to a learning difficulty or disability, you should apply under the SEN scheme.
- The course must be funded by the local authority - transport support is not given to students paying fees for their tuition or attending a course as part of a paid apprenticeship.
- Transport support is given to your catchment school or the nearest training provider with places available for the course/courses you wish to study.
- The school/college must be between 3 and 15 miles away. The distance will be measured by Staffordshire County Council using the shortest driving route. Please see our post 16 statement for further information. The distance criteria will be waived for students where their learning difficulty or disability prevents them from walking to school or college or using public transport to complete their journey.
- When considering if a course is available, we take into account – the end qualification awarded, not the individual units taken; the training provider having a place available to offer to you on that course; you meet the entry requirements demanded by that training provider; that the location meets any requirements you have as a result of any learning difficulty or disability you may have.
- Suitability of transport will be determined by Staffordshire County Council – this will be based upon balancing reasonable costs and reasonable travel/waiting times and enables you to access your learning place during school/college days at the school or college general start/finish times. This could mean that you may not receive transport assistance for the quickest or most convenient transport.
- For students with a learning difficulty or a disability, the need for specialised transport and the type of transport required due to an inability to walk or use public transport will be based upon information obtained from the school, college, Education, Health and Care plan and any other appropriate professional(s).
- Students using this transport scheme are expected to make their own way to the nearest pick-up point/bus stop/train station up to 1 mile away from the home address or destination if required.
- Any public bus pass issued under this scheme will provide travel at a minimum during term time only between home and your place of learning.
- Transport assistance is not given to attend work placements or work experience.
- We will provide transport to your registered base only, to enable attendance for the general start/finish times of the academic day. Transport to other sites or work placements, is not covered by this scheme. Transport to your registered base outside standard hours to attend activities that are not essential to passing your course is not covered by this scheme.
- Any travel pass issued under the scheme remains the property of Staffordshire County Council and must be returned if a student leaves school or college. Should you lose your pass a charge will be made for a replacement.
- Should you leave your course and require a refund you must return your pass to Transport & the Connected County. Refunds will not be made until the pass has been received. An administration fee of £10 may be deducted.
- Please be aware should payment not be made per your agreed payment method (in full, termly or instalments), transport support will be withdrawn following a notice period, and the same payment method will not be offered the following year.
- Unacceptable behaviour such as fighting, bullying or foul language whilst using transport may result in the pass being withdrawn. Parents will be held responsible for any damage caused and may be charged for it.
- It can take up to 20 working days for the pass to be issued. Claims for payment of travel costs before 20 working days after receipt of your payment and photographs where applicable will not be accepted. No backdated claims for payment will be accepted.
- However long your course is, you must make a new application for transport assistance each year.
- You must notify the Authority if you change address or your course of study.
- If you have any dispute regarding our decisions, please use our transport appeal process.
Charges
Low income criteria
If you, or the parent or carer you live with, receive any of the following benefits, you will be required to pay the low income contribution rate as specified in our post 16 transport statement:
- Income Support
- Income Based Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) on income of less than £16,190
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned household income of no more than £7,400 as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- Maximum level of Working Tax Credit (your tax credit award notice will state ‘deduction due to income £0.00’).
Proof of receipt will need to be provided with your application form – a copy of your recent award notice for benefits being received, a letter from the Home Office detailing support as an asylum seeker or copy of the Tax Credit State TC602.
Payment methods
Payments can be made annually or termly by debit or credit card payment, or by cheque or postal order using one of the following payment methods:
Telephone
24 hour, 7 days a week automated telephone payment system.
Post
Please make cheques or postal orders payable to Staffordshire County Council.
Direct Debit
Instalment payments are available by direct debit only for payment of annual passes consisting of 8 payments commencing in September each year. Payments can be made on the first or fifteenth day of each month.
Confirmation
Once your application has been processed and you have been allocated transport, we will email and confirm this allocation and attach an invoice for payment as applicable to your chosen payment method.
Alternatively, if no email address is provided we will write to you and advise you of this information.
Single payment or termly invoices must be paid within 28 days from the date the invoice is issued.
Invoices
If you decide to pay termly an invoice will automatically be forwarded to you each term unless indicated otherwise. If you have nominated to pay by instalment a direct debit mandate will be forwarded to you with your invoice for completion and return us.
Please indicate your chosen method of payment on your application form.
Please note: do not send any payment with your application form. Payments should be made when you receive the invoice.
Travel arrangements will not commence, and passes will not be issued until invoices have been paid in full, or a direct debit mandate has been completed, returned and accepted.
If payments are defaulted once your pass has been issued, we reserve the right to terminate transport with immediate effect. This payment method will then be disallowed the following year.
Photos
In order to produce local service and rail passes, a quantity of passport photographs may be required. A request for these photographs will be sent to you once transport is confirmed and sent with your invoice if applicable.
Local service and rail passes cannot be ordered until the appropriate number of photographs are received.
Please note: do not send any photographs with your initial application. We will request these where required once your application has been processed.
Issuing of travel passes
In order for your request to be processed in time for the beginning of the academic year you will need to return your application form by 1 August.
Please note: it can take up to 28 days for passes to be supplied by local service operators, therefore it is imperative that payment is made and photographs are returned one month prior to the commencement of term. Students who submit a late application outside these requirements will not be able to claim for a refund of fares paid prior to the issue of a pass.
If travelling by local bus service or rail, passes will be sent direct to school or college for collection on your first day of term, or as soon as possible after that date. If travelling on a contracted school or college route, not local service, passes will be sent direct to home addresses.
If you are attending a school or college outside of Staffordshire your pass will be sent to your home address.
Lost passes
If you lose your travel pass, please report this to Transport and the Connected County as soon as possible for details on obtaining a replacement.
Please note: an additional fee and photographs may be required for a replacement.
If you no longer need your pass
Please return the travel pass to Transport and the Connected County immediately.
Do not throw it away. It may then be possible to reimburse you with a proportion of the contribution you have made, less a £10.00 administration charge. If passes are not returned, we reserve the right to recover any loss from you.
Withdrawn applications
If your application is withdrawn prior to the issue of a travel pass, a full refund will be made.
Change of circumstances
If your circumstances change, for example you change address, or change your course of study, you must inform us immediately so that your application can be reviewed.
Renewal
However long your course is, you must make a new application for transport assistance each year. Information can be found on our webpages or telephone the numbers listed below.
What if I'm not entitled?
Find out more information on other travel options to consider and our two stage review and appeal process.
Contact us
Contact us
Please return your application to:
Transport & the Connected County
Staffordshire County Council
2 Staffordshire Place
Tipping Street
Stafford
ST16 2DH
Please use the contract form above. For any urgent mainstream transport queries please call: 01785 895024
Hours of Business:
- Monday - Thursday: 8.30am – 5pm
- Friday: 8.30am – 16.30pm