You and your parents or carers need to explore all avenues available to get you to and from the school or college. This could be walking to college, cycling, car share, public transport, vacant seat scheme or a private taxi.

Public transport

Where there is public transport serving a school or college, it is expected that you, your parent or your carer should make travel arrangements directly with the bus or rail company.

Contact Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit the Traveline South West website for information on the public services in your area.

National Rail Enquiries can help with rail information. A new national rail card for 16-17 year olds has been introduced saving up to 50% on fares. Please visit 16-17 saver.

If there is no suitable public transport available to take you to your school or college, but there is a contract vehicle already running, you can apply for a ‘vacant seat’ on that vehicle. Find out more about vacant seats.

If you are not able to travel by public transport or on a contract vehicle because you have additional needs, Devon County Council may be able to provide support for independent travel training. Please contact a member of the Transport Co-ordination Service to discuss this further on 0345 155 1019.

If your family are on a low income, the school or college should be approached for help. Most establishments receive 16-19 bursary funds to provide targeted help to individuals in need. They may choose to make financial awards to young people in ways that best fit their needs and circumstances.

Bursary awards should be targeted towards young people facing financial barriers to education, such as the costs of transport, meals, books and equipment. You will need to contact the establishment direct to discuss possible bursary funding.

If there is a spare seat on a Devon County Council contract vehicle operating to your school or college, and there is no public transport available nearby, you may be offered a seat on the vehicle. This is known as a vacant seat. If you choose to take the seat, it will be guaranteed for that academic year.

A contribution towards the cost of your travel is required and an online application needs to be completed and sent to the Transport Coordination Service by 1 July, for the following academic year.

Applications within the current year may be considered if there is availability on a service.

Is there an age limit or other restrictions?

Yes. You must generally be under 19 years of age on 1 September, attend your nearest appropriate establishment and live more than three miles away. If public transport is available, we would not normally be able to make any vacant seats available.

Is it free?

No. There is a parental charge in all cases. For the academic year 2024/25, the seat cost is £750 for the year or £250 each for the autumn, spring and summer terms.

For the forthcoming academic year 2025/26, the seat cost will increase to £800 for the year or £270 each for the autumn and spring terms and £260 for the summer term.

Some schools and further education colleges hold bursary funds which can help towards transport costs. More information on this is available from your education setting.

When will I find out whether there is a vacant seat?

We hope to make a decision within 14 days of receipt of your application and you will receive a letter of confirmation. Where a vacant seat is available, we will send you a payment form.

I currently use the school bus. Can I continue to use this?

Where possible we will try to accommodate you on the same vehicle but, it may not always have available spaces. In these circumstances we may offer an alternative vehicle but, you will be required to make your own way to and from the pick-up point.

Vacant seats are not offered where there is a public bus service available. If public transport is available, we would expect this to be used.

What times will the transport run?

All Devon County Council contract routes, where vacant seats are offered, operate one outward and one inward journey per day to serve the establishment at the official start and finish times. There are no alternative journeys running at different times of the day or non-term time.

Where you cannot make your own arrangements to get to a school or college and there is no public transport or vacant seat available then you can talk to the Transport Co-ordination Service about what other support may be available. In some cases this will mean that an assessment of need will be carried out.

During the assessment of need process, the Transport Co-ordination Service will ask a series of questions to find out why you, your parents or carers are not able to make the necessary travel arrangements. They will identify the minimum help required to remove transport as a barrier to you continuing in education.

To be eligible for help:

• you must be over 16 and under 19 on 1 September
• you must live in the Devon local authority area (not Torbay or Plymouth)
• you must be attending a full-time further education course
• you must attend your nearest appropriate establishment
• the journey from home to the main school or college campus must be three miles or more

You, your parents or carers will need to provide additional evidence to support the assessment of need. The normal parental contribution for the academic year will be applied to any support provided by Devon County Council.

For those who are successful with their assessment of need appeal, transport can take up to and including 10 working days to be put in place, however, during peak periods this may be longer.

For further information about whether you are eligible to be considered for an assessment call 0345 155 1019.

The form of assistance you are offered will vary on a case by case basis and will be dependent on your family’s circumstances.

If support is agreed by Devon County Council, the Transport Co-ordination Service will decide what the minimum level of support required is. This may be:

• independent travel training
• a vacant seat on a contract vehicle
• a petrol allowance to assist your parents or carers to take you to school or college in the family vehicle
• a financial contribution to assist your parents or carers with the cost of making private transport arrangements to enable you to get to school or college

Will any help offered be free of charge?

No. Any help offered by Devon County Council will be subject to the payment of the parental contribution.

Will any help offered be for the duration of my post-16 studies?

No. Any help offered by Devon County Council will be for that academic year only, or the duration agreed upon, if for a shorter time. You will need to re-apply each academic year.

If you need advice as to which school or college is the nearest to your home, or advice on help with your travel to education, contact 0345 155 1019 or visit devon.cc/schooltransport

We have a code of conduct because we want everyone to stay safe and travel in comfort. By providing a photograph for your pass, and accepting transport assistance from the Local Authority you are agreeing to abide by the code of conduct.

Your parents or carers will be told if you do not keep to the code, and you may not be able to use college transport anymore.

On the transport

• Treat the driver or train conductor with respect and follow their instructions.
• Stay in your seat and use the seatbelt if there is one.
• Don’t distract the driver, except in an emergency.
• If you have to stand on a public bus don’t stand forward of the driver or in the stairwell.
• Only use emergency exits if there is a genuine emergency or when told to by the driver.
• Don’t eat, drink or smoke on the transport.
• Don’t drop any litter.
• Don’t use foul or abusive language or language which could offend others.
• Bullying of any kind will not be tolerated.
• Don’t carry real or replica weapons.
• Don’t throw things.
• Don’t damage the bus or train. If it is damaged the police will be contacted and you will have to pay for the damage.
• If the bus breaks down or is in an accident, follow the driver’s instructions and stay with the bus until another one arrives.
• Always try to set a good example for younger passengers.
• If you see others behaving inappropriately tell the driver, train conductor or your college.

Keeping safe

• Queue sensibly for the bus, or train and stand well away from the edge of the road or platform.
• Don’t push or trip others.
• Don’t try to open the doors of the bus yourself and be careful opening the train doors.
• Mind the gap between the train and the platform.
• Let other passengers get off before you get on.
• Get on and off in a sensible way so you don’t hurt yourself or other people. Don’t try to get back on the bus or train once you have got off.
• Be careful not to get coats, bags or scarves caught in the doors.
• If you need to cross the road once you have left the bus, wait till the bus has driven away so you can see other vehicles and their drivers can see you.
• Don’t use a mobile phone or earphones while crossing the road.

Your travel pass

• Carry your travel pass with you when you travel to and from college.
• Be ready to show your pass – if you can’t show it, you will not be allowed to travel.
• Only use your pass to travel on the route it is for.
• Do not use anyone else’s pass or let them use yours or it may be confiscated.
• If you lose your pass phone 0345 155 1019.

Your pick-up point

You are responsible for making sure that you get to the pick-up point safely.

Arrive at the pick-up point at least five minutes before the bus or train is due. It runs to a timetable and can’t wait if you’re late.

When you’re waiting at the pick-up point don’t go onto, or damage, private property.

If the bus or train is late, only wait at the pick-up point for 20 minutes. Decide in advance what you will do if the transport doesn’t arrive – this could be going home or going to a friend’s house to arrange another way to get to college.

If there is storm or snow you can find school and route closure information or listen to the local BBC radio station. If you make your own way to college in the morning because you are not sure if the transport is running you must be prepared to make your own way home, if the weather is still bad.

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You can also download and print a leaflet version of this code of conduct.