Independent Travel Training

Independent travel training

It is all about independence. Get the skills and confidence to travel on your own to get to work, school, college or place of leisure. The training aims to help people travel on their own without fear. It also helps to develop the skills needed in order to travel independently and safely using public transport or walking.

Benefits of travel training

The training has many benefits to the young person, including:

• Increasing independence giving improved confidence, self-esteem and resilience
• Providing greater freedom for the young people so they become less reliant on parents and carers to take them to out
• Creating more opportunities to take part in social activities
• Increasing opportunities to work or to volunteer
• Developing social skills
• Using their own initiative

Eligibility

Travel training can be considered for children or young people aged up to 25 who have Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Training is suitable if the child or young person:

• Has an EHCP and their needs are caused by a physical or mental impairment or illness
• Are currently unable to travel independently
• The ability to travel independently will help them to take part in education, training or work placements, or for their general wellbeing.

How it works

If training is to be offered, the Trainer will work with the child or young person, and their Parent / Carer to establish what support they need.

A personal training plan is then developed for the individual and the trainer will go with the child or young person on journeys until they can travel confidently by themselves.

The training might be conducted on a one-to-one basis, or in groups or in the classroom, depending on need. 

The training gives advice on all the events young people might find on their journeys.

The training includes:

• Meeting with parents/ carers and the student before any training starts
• Personal and road safety awareness
• Journey planning including a detailed journey plan. This may include photos and maps of your journey
• Building on road safety skills and awareness
• Covering a wide range of ‘What If’ situations
• Preparing for a journey, what to take, what the weather might be like
• Leaving the home safely, locking up if need be
• How to cope with an emergency or unexpected circumstances, cancelled buses, missed stops
• Using technology like travel cards and mobile phones

Please complete the referral form