Transport policy statement for students aged 16-18 in school sixth forms and further education, and continuing students aged 19 and over

2008-09

 

Name of Local Authority: Medway Council

Department responsible: Transport and Benefits Team, Children’s Services Directorate

 

 

1       What is our overall policy?

 

You can find out here the support available for Medway students aged 16-19  travelling to school or college.

 

If you live in Medway, and study at a college or sixth form, you may be able to take advantage of the travel assistance offered in section 2 below.

 

If you are not eligible for transport assistance, please see section 3 below, which tells you about public transport support.

 

If you live in the Kent County Council (KCC) area, you should approach your school or college, or KCC’s Transport Team tel (01622) 696565 or email kent.admissions@kent.gov.uk.

 

Medway Council works with the Medway Post 16 Transport Partnership of schools, colleges and other organisations to plan and deliver travel arrangements for post 16 students.

 

           

2.      What travel assistance is available, and where from?

 

Ø       Medway Council

 

            If you are a student aged 16-19 years living in Medway and studying at a school or college, you are eligible to buy a termly or annual ticket through Medway Council’s bulk purchase arrangements.

 

            The Council can provide a travel pass to enable you to travel to your school/college, at a flat rate termly or annual charge. The charges for 2008/09 are:

 

Type of Travel

Termly Cost

Annual Cost

Bus

 £182

 £544

Rail under 30 miles

 £TBA

 £TBA

Rail over 30 miles

 £TBA

 £TBA

 

            Because the Council bulk-purchases these travel passes, they can be good value, depending on what it would cost you to purchase one direct. However, the Council does not subsidise the cost, and therefore you should check first to see if it’s cheaper for you to buy an ordinary bus pass or railcard direct from the appropriate transport operator (see section 3 below).

 

What are the times of travel? The pass allows travel for one return journey up to 6pm each week day during term time.

 

How do I apply? Contact your school or college, or the Medway Transport and Benefits team on (01634) 331155 from 1 June. Your pass will be available within 4 weeks of the date you apply for it.

 

Will support continue to be made available if I reach 19 while continuing on a course? Yes.

 

What help can you provide me as a student with learning difficulties and/or disabilities? You can receive support up to the age of 19. If you are between the ages of 19-25, we will consider requests for transport support. You or your parents are expected to make a flat rate contribution equivalent to the cost of a bus pass. Applications should be made to the Medway Council Transport and Benefits team on the telephone number given above.

 

A free off-peak bus pass is available from Council offices to people of all ages with specified disabilities (see section 3). Call the Cashiers department on (01634) 333128 if you have any queries.

 

Do you provide mobility/independence training for students who face experience difficulties in travelling?  Mobility/independence training is offered by some schools. Please contact the particular school direct for details.

 

What help is available if I attend a further education institution which is beyond daily travelling distance, and I need to stay away? If you are in this situation, you can apply for the Learner Support Fund, through the Transport and Benefits Team (01634) 331155.

 

What if I have to go to a different school or college for some of my course for part of the week? If you need to go to a different school or college to receive part of your course during the week, and you have purchased through Medway Council a termly or annual bus pass to your normal school/college, you can buy a ‘rover’ pass for the days concerned.

 

The ‘rover’ pass costs an additional £48 per 2 terms (assuming 6 in the full year) (£144 a year)  for one day a week, or  £66 per 2 terms (£198 a year) for two or more days a week . This will entitle you to unlimited travel up to 6pm on the days in question throughout the Arriva network of services in Medway and Kent, and on other companies’ services where the timetable shows that they operate under contract to Medway Council.

 

If you have not purchased a termly or annual pass through Medway, but nevertheless need to travel to a different school or college for part of the week, you can buy a ‘rover’ pass for the appropriate number of days as follows:

 

 

 

 

Number days per week

1 day

2 days

3 days

4 days

5 days

Cost for 2Terms cost

£48

£96

£144

£192

£241

Annual cost

£144

£288

£432

£576

£722

 

This will entitle you to unlimited travel up to 6pm on the days in question throughout the Arriva network of services in Medway and Kent and on other companies’ services where the timetable shows that they operate under contract to Medway Council.

 

            What are Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) and how can I apply? You may be entitled to an EMA, depending on your parents’/guardians income, or your income if you no longer live at home. If you qualify, the EMA will be paid directly to you to help with your study and transport costs. EMAs are payable for up to three years. You can obtain further information at http://ema.direct.gov.uk/ema.html. You can get guidance on how to apply from:

§    Your school or college

§    Your Connexions PA

§    The EMA website (above)

§    The EMA Student Helpline free on 0808 101 6219

 

 

Ø      Travel assistance from Mid Kent College

 

Mid Kent College may provide travel permits if you do not qualify for support from the Council or the Medway Post 16 Transport Partnership.

 

Eligibility: to qualify, you must:

 

§        Live more than three miles from the College

§        Be under 19 at the start of the course

 

How do I apply? Application forms are available from Learner Finance  at the College, on (01634) 884465 email: michelle.brien@midkent.ac.uk

 

 

Ø            North West Kent College

 

            The College may provide assistance towards the cost of your travel to and from the College, normally by the cheapest form of public transport. However, funding for other forms of transport such as private car or motorcycle will be considered if public transport is unavailable or inappropriate. Each case will be considered on its merits, and will be subject to the availability/allocation of the Learner Support Fund. The amount is reduced proportionately if you are a part-time student.

 

Eligibility: to qualify, you must:

 

§        Be eligible for exam fee remission or your parents are on a low income

§        Live more than three miles form the College site at which your course is based, and

§        Have been refused free travel support by the Council

 

How do I apply? Applications should be made direct to the College after enrolment. The college can be contacted on 0800 074 1447 or at www.nwkcollege.ac.uk

 

Ø      UCA (University for the Creative Arts)

 

            Students requiring assistance with their travel costs should contact the Student Advice Centre to see whether they may be eligible for assistance from the Learner Support Fund.

Priority groups for the Learner Support Fund are as follows:

 

§        Students from low income families in receipt of means tested state benefit or tax credits

§        Those who have been in care, on probation or are young parents

§        Lone parents

§        Students who are economically or socially disadvantaged,
disabled, medically ill and/or have learning difficulties


Any assistance will normally be a contribution towards the cost of
travel to and from college by public or private transport. Any amount
awarded will depend on the total amount of the Learner Support Fund for
the year and the number of applications received.

For further information or an application form, please contact the
Student Advice Centre as follows:

§        Telephone: 01634 888644

§        e-mail: adviceroch@ucreative.ac.uk

 

Ø                  Travel assistance through school/college consortia

 

            The Chatham, North Medway and Rochester and Walderslade school/college consortia offer free transport where appropriate to students studying courses at another institution as part of the consortium’s collaborative offer.  See ‘Your Choice in Medway’ www.yourchoiceinmedway.org.uk

 

Times of travel: normally to and from your school to the school or college providing the course at the appropriate times.

 

Eligibility: to qualify, you must:

 

§         Live in Medway

§         Attend a Medway Partnership School or College in the relevant consortium

 

How do I apply? There is no need to apply – the transport is normally provided as part of the collaborative course concerned, but check beforehand with the school or college that free transport is available for that particular course.

 

Ø                  Yellow bus scheme

 

            The Yellow Bus Scheme is a service operated by Medway Council in association with various bus companies, including Nu-Venture and Manns Travel.

 

            The aim is to provide a safe, enjoyable journey to and from school. It is aimed at encouraging children and young people to use the bus to travel to school, and relieves the inconvenience to the parent or carer, from arranging daily transportation for their child.

 

            The buses serve schools in different areas across Medway, including:

·        2 buses from Lordswood running to Greenacre School, Walderslade Girls School, Chatham Grammar School for Boys and Chatham South School

·        1 bus from the Gillingham area to Rainham Mark Grammar School Rainham School for Girls and The Howard School

·        1 bus from Hempstead to Chatham Grammar School for Girls

·        3 buses from Hempstead/Wigmore/Parkwood to Rainham Mark Grammar School

 

 

            These routes have been chosen according to where the majority of pupils/students live, within a 2 to 3 mile radius of the school. An additional journey will be run to allow those staying after school for clubs, sports etc to get home later in the afternoon.  The bus will stop at the nearest, safe agreed spot to your home, and not just stop at existing bus stops.

 

            All tickets are available through Medway Council. The prices are as follows:

·        £36 for one term

·        £70 for two terms

·        £200 for the whole school year

 

            Further information is available from Medway Council’s Transport Procurement Team on 01634 331112. These services are proving very popular and – in many cases – a waiting list applies for people wanting to join the service.

 

 

 

3.      What public transport schemes are available?

 

Ø      16 – 25 Railcard

 

If you are aged 16-25 (or 26+ and in full time education) you are eligible for a 16 – 25  rail card enabling one third off most rail travel anywhere in the UK for a whole year. The card costs £24 per year and is available for use anytime at weekends, Bank Holidays or during the week. The only restriction is that if you travel at or before 10.00 a.m Monday – Friday (except during July – August) a minimum fare will apply.

 

An application form and more information is available from manned stations or the South Eastern Railway website by clicking on this link  http://www.youngpersons-railcard.co.uk/

Ø      Bus passes for people with disabilities

 

These passes are available only if you are a Medway resident and are available for people of all ages with learning and or physical disabilities as defined in the Transport Act. They are issued free of charge but can only be used during off peak periods, and are not available before 9am. Applications can be left at any of the Council’s Contact Points or sent by post. The passes will be sent out by post 5 to 7 working days after the application is accepted.

 

 

Chatham Contact Point
Riverside One
Dock Road
Chatham
Kent ME4 4SL

 

Opening times:
Monday to Thursday: 8.30am-5.15pm
Friday: 8.30am-4.45pm
Saturday: Closed

 

Gillingham Contact Point

Gillingham Library

High Street

Gillingham

Kent ME7 1BG

 

Opening times:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9am-5pm

Tuesday: 10am-5pm

Saturday: 9am–1pm

 

Rainham Contact Point
1-3 Station Road
Rainham
Kent ME8 7RS

 

Opening times:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9am-5pm
Wednesday: 9am-7.30pm
Friday: 9am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-1pm

 

Rochester Contact Point
Visitor Information Centre
95 High Street
Rochester
Kent ME1 1LX

 

Opening times:
Monday to Friday: 9am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-1pm

 

Strood Contact Point

Annex B

Civic Centre

Strood

Kent ME2 4AU

 

Opening times:

Monday to Thursday: 8.30am-5.15pm

Friday: 8.30am-4.45pm

Saturday: 9am-1pm

 

 

Ø                  Citizen card

 

Medway Council also promotes the use of the citizen card, which is free if you are aged 16 – 18, or £5 if you are aged 18 or above. The citizen card scheme confirms your age and allows you to get discounts on many services. The card offers half price travel for 16 and 17 year olds at the following times:

          

§        Monday to Friday after 6.00 pm,

§        all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. 

 

Your journey must start or finish in Medway.  Excludes special shopping and seaside services.

 

This card is valid on all services run by Arriva and the other bus companies serving Medway

 

For further information on the citizen card,  visit http://www.citizencard.com, or write to: CitizenCard, 6 Leeward House, Square Rigger Row, Plantation Wharf, London SW11 3TX.

 

 4          Other useful contact information

 

 

School and college transport information with detailed maps and lists of bus services are available at www.16-19travel.info/

 

Medway Council website www.medway.gov.uk

 

Department for Children, Schools and Families website: www.dfes.gov.uk

 

For bus and coach information use www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk, www.transportdirect.co.uk or call Traveline on 0871 200 2233.

 

For trains use the Southeastern website (www.southeasternrailway.co.uk) or UK Railways on the Net (www.rail.co.uk). Both these sites give information about service disruptions. You can also get information from National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.

 

Canterbury College: Contact the Learner Support Fund on 01227 811197. Or look on our website www.cant-col.ac.uk This also provides information on Sheppey College

 

Hadlow College: Hadlow, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 0AL Telephone: 0500 551 434 Email: enquiries@hadlow.ac.uk

 

Sheppey College: Claire Telford, Sheppey College, Bridge Road, Sheerness, Kent ME12 1HL. Tel 01795 582507 Email: c.telford@cant-ac.uk

 

South Kent College: All our sites – Dover, Folkestone, Jemmett Road, South Ashford and the Ashford School of Art and Design promote assistance with travel. Tel: Folkestone 01303 858240 Dover 01304 244338 Ashford 01233 655580

 

Thanet College: Thanet College welfare team: 01483 605048

Website: www.thanet.ac.uk

 

West Kent College: for general student advice and guidance, contact Student Services on 01732 358101 website: www.wkc.ac.uk

 

 

Document last updated: 18.07.08