How to apply for transport assistance for post-16 provision

If your request for assistance is approved, parents/carers may need to make a contribution towards transport costs. This is a fixed rate and cannot be offered pro-rata for individual timetables or circumstances. The parent/carer must pay for the first term of travel or send proof of exemption before transport will begin.

Distance to travel is measured from the allocated pick up point to the school. Hampshire County Council will use GIS mapping software to measure this distance.

From September 2024 the following policy statement applies: Post-16 Transport Policy Statement 2024.

From September 2025 the following policy statement applies: Post-16 Transport Policy for 2025-2026.

The charges for the 2024/25 academic year are:

Distance to travel	Annual charge	Termly cost
Up to 5 miles	£808.25	£269.42
5.01 to 7.5 miles	£1,119.43	£373.15
7.51 to 10 miles	£1,568.01	£522.67
Over 10 miles	£1,791.62	£597.21

To apply for Post 16 discretionary transport, use the Education Online Portal.

As a discretionary transport service there is no automatic entitlement, even if your child has previously had transport. Only students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and/or an EHCP will be considered for this transport. Transport assistance after school year 11 is not provided for ‘mainstream’ students under any circumstances.

Hampshire County Council will very likely already be aware of SEND needs of the student. The main focus of the application assessment therefore why no member of the household can transport the young person. Work commitments or financial difficulties alone are not sufficient reasons and the application will be declined. For reasons such as parental health, you will need to provide written documentation and by attaching this to your application, this will speed up the decision.

You may withdraw your application at any time before September 2024 by contacting the School Transport Team via the online enquiry form.

A new transport application is required for each academic year for all Post-16 students. This applies to all students Year 12 and above, even if they are remaining at the same school they attended in Year 11.

If you can't afford the contribution towards transport assistance

The contribution may be waived if the family is in receipt of certain benefits. See the Post-16 Transport Policy Statement for more information.

If you can't afford the contribution and don't receive any benefits you may request a reduction to the contribution based on annual income by submitting an enquiry on our online form.

Select the following options:

I am a parent/carer
Payments
Queries about parental contribution for School Transport for 16 - 19 year olds and exceptional circumstances

You must state the reasons for your request in writing within the form.

If you can't afford the contribution and don't receive any benefits

You may request a reduction to the contribution based on annual income by submitting an enquiry on our online form.

Select the following options:

I am a parent/carer
Payments
Queries about parental contribution for School Transport for 16 - 19 year olds and exceptional circumstances

You must state the reasons for your request in writing within the form.

What medical information to provide if student, parent or carer has a disability

You must send a letter from a medical professional evidencing a medical condition or disability. It does not have to be a GP letter, it can be a letter or medical summary setting out your medical needs. We can't consider any medical condition or disability unless evidence is received. Attach all relevant evidence to the request form.

When to reapply for transport assistance

A new application for Post 16 discretionary transport must be submitted each year.

We are accepting applications now for the current academic year. For those planning ahead to September 2025, you should note that we will not review these applications until after March 2025.

If the student’s home address or other circumstances change during the school year, then parents/carers must submit a new application form. We cannot provide travel assistance until your new transport application has been assessed against the Post 16 Policy.

When transport arrangements are made

There is no automatic eligibility for post-16 transport. All applications received are considered on a case-by-case basis and therefore can take significantly longer than 15 working days to process. Parents/carers are notified in due course.

You will be contacted via email when you need to pay the contribution. Do not try to make payment until you have received this email.

The quickest way to pay is online via Hampshire County Council’s e-invoice payment facility. Alternative payment options will be outlined on the reverse of your invoice.