School Transport and Post-16 Transport Changes

This guide explains changes to School Transport and Post-16 Transport services and provides answers to questions about how the changes will affect users

On 8 August 2025, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet agreed further steps to help protect essential services by changing the way some local services are delivered, including changes to both the School Transport and Post-16 Transport services.

This decision followed the Future Services: Spring 2025 public consultation, which ran from 12 March – 7 May 2025.

Below, you’ll find a summary of the changes to the School Transport and Post-16 Transport services below, followed by Frequently Asked Questions sections with more detailed information.

Changes that apply to both School Transport and Post-16 Transport

The changes that have been agreed are:

Change 1: using bus pass usage data to deactivate bus passes on School Transport contracted buses where they are not used.

Change 2: using licensed standing capacity on large buses transporting children to mainstream settings in exceptional circumstances.

Change 3: increasing parental contributions towards discretionary transport for school-age children.

Change 4: changing the transport commissioning process so that public transport season tickets and personal transport budgets are prioritised over contracted transport where this is appropriate and more cost effective.

The County Council will retain the ability to award transport outside of policy in exceptional circumstances, which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

A new School Transport Policy (effective from September 2025) has been published which incorporates the above changes.

See frequently asked questions for the changes that affect both School Transport and Post-16 Transport.

Changes that apply to Post-16 Transport only

The changes that have been agreed are:

Change 1: focussing the County Council’s resources on those most in need, by amending the eligibility criteria for Post-16 transport assistance so that the County Council would only assist with travel for Post-16 students with special educational needs or a disability, and who are from a low-income family.

Change 2: making Post-16 transport provision more sustainable in the long term by requiring all families of students who receive County Council-provided Post-16 transport assistance to contribute to the costs of transport for their child.

Change 3: supporting SEND students to develop their independent travel skills by introducing mandatory Independent Travel Training (ITT) for some Post-16 students.

Change 4: making Post-16 Transport provision more sustainable in the long-term by requiring parents/carers/responsible adults to act as a Passenger Assistant where it is reasonable for them to do so.

The County Council will retain the ability to award transport outside of policy in exceptional circumstances, which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The changes to Policy outlined in changes 1 and 2 will only apply to Post-16 students starting a new course from September 2026. Students that are currently on transport that they wish to continue in September 2026 will need to reapply for transport as usual, but the Post-16 Transport Policy 2025/26 will apply if the student’s circumstances (course, address and needs) remain the same.

The County Council has a statutory duty to publish an annual Post-16 Transport Policy statement. A new Post-16 Transport Policy for the 2026/27 academic year will be published in March 2026 to reflect the above changes.

See frequently asked questions for the changes that affect Post-16 Transport only.

School Transport and Post-16 Transport – FAQ

When will digital bus passes be introduced?
Digital Bus Passes are already in operation on approximately half of our larger bus routes, with the rollout scheduled to be completed across all larger buses by September 2026.

What is a digital bus pass?
Students are provided with a QR code that must be scanned when they board one of our large buses. Students can either present the QR code on a smartphone or can use a printed copy of the QR code.

How will digital bus pass data be used?
The use of data from digital bus passes would enable the County Council to commission routes and vehicles based on the actual number of students who travel on them. In addition:

Adjustments could be made during the year if it is found that individual routes were significantly underused because of students not using their bus passes/ allocated transport.
When retendering routes, transport commissioners could procure vehicles based on accurate usage figures.
Individual usage data could also enable the County Council to identify where and investigate why passes are not used by individual students. Bus passes that are no longer required could then be deactivated.

How would the County Council take into account a student’s circumstances when reviewing bus pass data?
Students with particular conditions – including some students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) – may be more likely to be absent from school on multiple occasions, and therefore the data for that student’s journeys may suggest non-usage of a bus pass over a particular period of time. A bus pass would not be withdrawn or deactivated without consulting with the school, and the process would only commence when a significant pattern of non-usage is established. Additionally, digital bus passes are only scheduled to be rolled out on routes to mainstream schools.

Will families be notified if their child’s bus pass is at risk of deactivation?
Yes. Before any action is taken, the County Council will consult with the school and notify the family. Deactivation will only occur after a significant pattern of non-use is identified and reviewed.

When would standing capacity be used?
The service would only allocate places up to the limit of the licensed standing capacity on a vehicle. Standing capacity would serve as an ‘overflow’ in the exceptional circumstances where children who do not normally use their allocated transport require it on a particular day.

The accuracy of the data the County Council collects from digital bus pass usage means that standing capacity will rarely need to be used. In almost all cases there will be more than sufficient seats for the students who are travelling.

Do other councils use standing capacity on their routes?
Yes – the practice of using standing capacity is already in place within other local authorities, including Lincolnshire County Council, and also Lancashire County Council, whose policy is similar to this proposal.

How will the County Council ensure safety when using standing capacity?
Standing capacity will only be used on vehicles that are licensed for standing passengers and only in exceptional circumstances. Safety regulations and vehicle licensing standards will continue to be strictly followed.

Would standing capacity apply to SEND transport?
Routes to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision are not impacted.

What is discretionary transport?
Where a student does not have statutory entitlement to School Transport, they can appeal or ask for discretion to be applied. In exceptional circumstances, this can result in a decision to award them transport on a discretionary (non-statutory) basis.

How much are parental contributions towards discretionary transport increasing by?
The rate as of September 2025 ranges from £635.30 per year (for journeys up to five miles), up to £1,408.25 per year (for journeys over ten miles).

The current approximate average contribution is 15% of the average cost of School Transport provision, and we are proposing increasing this to 30%. This will mean that the new rate will range from £1,270.60 (for journeys up to five miles) to £2,816.50 (for journeys over ten miles). Hampshire County Council would still be providing a subsidy on average of around 70% of the costs of travel.

The September 2025 rates will apply to applications received on or before 31 October 2025. The new, higher rates will apply to applications received on or after 1 November 2025. This means that if you submitted an application to us on or before 31 October 2025, and you are provided with discretionary School Transport as an exception to policy and/or after a successful appeal, you will be subject to the September 2025 rates, even if our transport decision is made after 31 October 2025. You can visit our parental contributions webpage for more information.

The rate of contribution will continue to be updated each academic year with charges adjusted in line with the March Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Are the parental contributions towards Post-16 Transport increasing in the same way?
No. From September 2026, parental contributions will initially be based on existing rates (with an increase applied in line with the March Consumer Price Index). From September 2027, this will rise to approximately 15% of the average cost of Post-16 Transport. You can find out more about the rates in the Post-16 Transport Only section of this FAQ.

What is a Personal Transport Budget?
A Personal Transport Budget is an advance payment which allows you to make flexible travel arrangements for eligible children rather than travelling on a vehicle contracted by the County Council. The payment is paid to the parent or carer who is named on the School Transport application. See more information about Personal Transport Budgets.

How will families be offered a Personal Transport Budget or public transport season ticket instead of contracted transport?
Where appropriate and cost-effective, the County Council will assess whether a PTB or public transport season ticket is a suitable alternative. Families will be contacted directly if this applies to their child’s transport arrangements.

Will families be able to choose between contracted transport and a PTB or season ticket?
In most cases, the County Council will determine the most cost-effective option. However, the offer of Personal Transport Budgets for children of compulsory school age would continue to be subject to parental consent.

What happens if a family declines a PTB or season ticket offer?
The offer of a PTB would be subject to parental consent. However, if a family declines an offer of public transport/a season ticket that meets the child’s transport needs the County Council might not offer an alternative form of transport assistance.

Will these changes affect children who already receive transport assistance?
Changes such as bus pass deactivation and standing capacity use may affect current arrangements. Some parents may be offered a Personal Transport Budget or a public transport season ticket when transport is next reviewed (usually over the summer holidays).

Would the County Council consider exceptional circumstances?
There is an existing mechanism in place for the School Transport service to consider whether in exceptional cases transport can be granted as an exception to policy. This mechanism would remain in place.

There is also a statutory right to appeal for any family who wishes to challenge a transport entitlement decision. This right of appeal covers decisions on whether a child is entitled to transport, and on the form of assistance offered.

Post-16 Transport only – FAQ

What changes are being made to Post-16 Eligibility?
Currently, Post-16 Transport is only provided to young people with SEND, and a parental contribution is required for students aged 16 – 18. The contribution is currently waived where a student is from a low-income household. From September 2026, only those students with SEND and low income who satisfy the requirements set out in the Post-16 Transport Policy would be offered transport assistance, and a contribution would be required for students aged 16 – 18.

What changes are being made to parental contributions for Post-16 Transport users?
The County Council currently requires a parental contribution towards the cost of transport for students aged 16 – 18. The contribution is currently waived where a student is from a low-income household. From September 2026, only those students with SEND and low income who satisfy the requirements set out in the Post-16 Transport Policy would be offered transport assistance, and a contribution would be required for students aged 16 – 18.

Will students who are already receiving Post-16 transport assistance lose their support?
No. Students who began a course before September 2026 will continue to receive transport assistance under the 2025/2026 policy, as long as their circumstances (course, address, and needs) remain the same.

What counts as a “new course” for the purposes of the September 2026 changes?
A new course refers to a different programme of study, typically at a new level (e.g. moving from Level 2 to Level 3), or at a different institution. Continuing the same course at the same institution would not be considered a new course.

Do other County Councils require a contribution towards Post-16 services from low-income families?
Yes – many local authorities, including Dorset County Council, Staffordshire County Council and Derbyshire County Council, already require a contribution from low-income families.

When will the changes come into effect?
The changes to eligibility criteria and parental contributions would apply from September 2026 to students starting a new course who apply for post-16 transport assistance. Students who are continuing on a course started in September 2025 would not be affected by these changes, even when reapplying for September 2026, unless they start a new course or their circumstances change (such as a change of address or attending a different college/education establishment).

The other changes – relating to Independent Travel Training, and the introduction of Parental Passenger Assistance – would come into effect from 2026. This would mean that any applications for transport assistance that would commence during the 2026/27 school year (or later) would follow the revised criteria and contributions and would be subject to the new approach to Independent Travel Training and parental passenger assistance.

How much will parents be expected to pay towards Post-16 Transport?
Parental contributions for low-income families will be approximately 15% of the average cost of Post-16 transport. However, the County Council will initially implement the existing Post-16 contribution rate, and the increase to 15% will be phased in over the following 1 – 2 years.

For those who are required to contribute towards transport from September 2026, contribution rates would be based on the existing contributions, uplifted by March 2026 CPI:

Distance	Contribution
Up to 5 miles	£829.26
5.01 to 7.5 miles	£1,148.54
7.51 to 10 miles	£1,608.78
Over 10 miles	£1,838.20

For those who are required to contribute towards transport from September 2027, this rate would increase to 15% of the average cost of Post-16 transport. The County Council would fund the remaining 85% of the cost.

The table below indicates the potential Post-16 contributions based on 15% of the current average cost. This rate will change prior to September 2027 in line with transport costs:

Distance	Potential Contribution
Up to 5 miles	£1,090.38
5.01 to 7.5 miles	£1,510.20
7.51 to 10 miles	£2,115.36
Over 10 miles	£2,417.02

The final September 2027 post-16 contribution rates will be published by May 2027.

How would the County Council define low-income families?
Families would continue to be defined as having a low income when the student’s parents are in receipt of any of the following:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of State 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
Free school meals (due to low income)

Parents would need to provide evidence of the above.

How will families be informed about the changes and how to apply under the new criteria?
Information will be shared via the County Council’s website, schools and colleges, and direct communications to families. Updated guidance and application forms will be available ahead of the 2026/27 academic year.

Would the County Council consider exceptional circumstances?
There is an existing procedure in place for the School Transport service to consider whether in exceptional cases transport can be granted as an exception to policy. This procedure would remain in place.

I am a student or parent and Post-16 transport arrangements are already in place this year. I want these to continue – do I need to reapply for Post-16 Transport?
Yes – you will need to reapply for Post-16 Transport as normal. However, if your circumstances remain the same (course, address and needs) then transport entitlement will be assessed under the criteria within the Post-16 Transport Policy for the 2025/26 academic year.

Would all students on Post-16 Transport need to undertake Independent Travel Training?
A student’s suitability for Independent Travel Training (ITT) would be assessed on application. We appreciate that for some children and young people travelling independently would not be appropriate; in these cases, there would be no requirement for ITT. For other Post-16 students whose independence skills would be enhanced by ITT, this would form a mandatory component of the transport offer.

Will the Independent Travel Training be tailored to individual needs?
Yes. ITT will be personalised to each student’s needs and circumstances. The aim is to build confidence and independence, and training will only be offered where it is appropriate and safe to do so.

Would Independent Travel Training be mandatory for children of compulsory school age?
No – whilst Independent Travel Training may be offered for children of compulsory school age, this will remain subject to parental consent.

Would all parents be expected to provide Passenger Assistance for their child?
No – the County Council expects that parents and carers take responsibility for facilitating their child’s attendance in education where they are able to, which would include passenger assistance unless it can be evidenced that it is not reasonable to expect them to do so.

What happens if a parent cannot reasonably act as a Passenger Assistant?
If a parent/carer can demonstrate that it is not reasonable for them to act as a Passenger Assistant – for example, due to work commitments, health issues, or other caring responsibilities – the County Council will consider alternative arrangements.

Will there be guidance or training for parents acting as Passenger Assistants?
Yes. The County Council will provide information and support to help parents understand their role and responsibilities, including safeguarding and practical advice.

How is the County Council ensuring that the most vulnerable Hampshire residents are supported?
The County Council would still offer assistance to those students with SEND and low income who satisfy the requirements set out in the Post-16 Transport Policy.