It is all about independence. Get the skills and confidence to travel on your own using public transport to and from school or college.
Travel training helps people develop the skills they need to travel independently and safely on public transport or by foot.
It aims to help people travel on their own without fear so they can get to work, to education, or places where they want to go to for leisure.
Eligibility
Travel training is for children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
People are eligible if:
- Their needs are caused by a physical or mental impairment or illness
- They are currently unable to travel independently
- Being able to travel independently will help them to take part in education, training or work placements, or on their general wellbeing
The SEND service refer people for travel training if they are eligible.
How it works
Our travel trainer work with young people to find out what help they need. They go with the person on some journeys until they are confident on their own.
Training might be one-to-one, in groups or in the classroom. The training gives advice on all the events young people might find on their journeys. It covers:
- Meeting with your 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.
- Build on your road safety skills and awareness
- Cover 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.
Benefits of travel training
The training has many benefits including:
- The increased independence gives people improved confidence, self-esteem and resilience.
- Provides greater freedom. Young people become less reliant on parents and carers to take them to places.
- It creates more opportunities to take part in social activities.
- People may be more likely to find themselves work or volunteering opportunities because they can travel.
- Develop social skills
- Use of own initiative
Contact us
The SEND service refer young people to us. Speak to your SEND officer if you would like to know more about getting support.
We are also contacting schools and colleges in Blackpool to find out if they could benefit from the travel training programme. However, if we haven’t contacted you or you would like more information, please get in touch with us using the Blackpool online enquiry form or the Lancashire online enquiry form.