Personal Travel Budgets
What is a personal travel budget?
A Personal Travel Budget (PTB) is a payment to a parent, carer or student as an alternative to transport provided by Rochdale Borough Council. A Personal Travel Budget (PTB) is available to parents of children and young people or students with special travel needs who have been assessed as being eligible to receive home to school or college travel assistance from the council.
Having a PTB enables families to arrange home to school or college travel in a way that suits them. A PTB allows families to make flexible arrangements and, if they choose, to work with other families who are receiving a PTB.
A PTB is part of the council’s ‘Home to School or College Travel Assistance Policy’, which can be viewed below at:
Will I be offered a personal travel budget?
Any parent carer who has a child or young person that has been assessed as eligible for requiring home to school or college transport can request a PTB. However, the council decides who receives the PTB based upon any special travel needs. It may not always be possible to offer a PTB, particularly if it would have a negative impact on services provided to other transport users, or where it is not an efficient use of the council’s resources. Under these circumstances the council will arrange alternative travel arrangements taking into account the child’s needs.
How will my personal travel budget be calculated?
The personal travel budget will take into account the route from home to school or college. The distance is measured using google maps and will be based on the postcodes of the child/young person’s normal place of residence to the school or college. Also taken into account will be whether an adult or buddy needs to accompany the child or young person.
How much money will I receive for my personal travel budget?
The amount you receive as a PTB will be based on the mileage for a total of four journeys a day (i.e. to school or college and back home twice a day during term time). Mileage will be paid, based on the number of school or college days in the half term at a rate which will not exceed the cost of direct provision of transport by the Council or a share of that cost where the child or young person would otherwise travel with others in a shared vehicle.
How will the personal travel budget be paid?
We can pay your individual PTB amount directly into a bank account. However, you do not need to open a separate bank account to be used solely for receiving the PTB payments*. For instance, if you already have an account for social care direct payments, you can use that. Payments will be made as detailed in the agreement, in advance every half term and are based on the number of days in your child’s school or college timetable for that period.
(*N.B. If your child or the young person you care for moves across to Adult Services, you may need a separate bank account at this point).
What happens after I have been offered a personal travel budget?
If you have been offered a PTB you will be asked to sign an agreement. This sets out the role of the recipient, parent or carer and the council in the PTB process and will contain a form for completion with details of your chosen bank account, into which the money will be paid.
The council will make arrangements to transfer the PTB funding into your chosen bank account. You can then arrange and manage your child's travel arrangements in a way that best suits you.
What should I spend my personal travel budget on?
There are no restrictions on what you should spend your PTB on. However, you must ensure your child gets to and from school or college comfortably and safely in a way that guarantees their timely attendance in line with the school or college academic calendar. Suggestions could include:
• You or someone in your family can cover the cost of driving your child to and from school or college
• You can arrange with a friend or relative to takeyour child to school or college
• You can car share or book a joint taxi with other parents where their children are going to the same school or college as your child
• You can pay for a bus pass on a vehicle, that the school or college organises, to take children to and from their school or college
• You could purchase a travel pass for an adult to accompany your child on public transport to get to school or college
• You could buy travel passes for your other children so they can get home whilst you're collecting your child who receives the PTB
Could my personal travel budget be reduced or stopped?
As part of your PTB agreement, if you move house or your child changes school or college you must inform the SEN Assessment Team. You can contact them using the details below:
Email:
Tel: (01706) 925981
A review of the most cost effective method of your child getting to school or college will then be carried out and you will be kept informed.
The council is keen to encourage children and young people to travel as independently as possible, so for example, if your child undertakes ‘Independent Travel Training’* and is able to travel to school or college independently, it may no longer be necessary to provide a PTB.
*(Independent Travel Training is a way to teach people with a learning disability how to use public transport like buses or trains. For further information please contact the SEN Assessment Team (01706 925981).
If the school or college tells us that your child’s attendance is less than expected we will discuss this with you, and if a way forward cannot be found, your PTB may be reduced or you may no longer be offered a PTB.
The council will review your child’s need for travel assistance as well as the suitability and value of your PTB on at least a yearly basis or if you move house, school or college. If your child is no longer eligible, or a PTB is no longer appropriate, you will be provided with 28 days advanced notice before the withdrawal of your PTB.
Can I choose to stop my personal travel budget?
You do not have to accept a PTB, but in taking one you accept that unless your circumstances change significantly it is expected that you will normally continue with it for each academic year. If your circumstances change significantly and you no longer want to have a PTB, you will need to notify the SEN Assessment Team using the details below:
Email:
Tel: (01706) 925981
The council will set up alternative travel arrangements as quickly as possible. However it could take up to four weeks and during this period it will be your responsibility, by continuing to use your PTB, to ensure your child attends school or college.
Will the personal travel budget have any impact on benefits I receive?
Personal Travel Budgets are not a benefit, and will not affect any other benefits or tax credits you might receive.
Will I need to report to the Council how I am spending my personal travel budget?
The council wishes to encourage you to control the PTB in a way that works best for you, so will keep monitoring to a minimum. Monitoring will take place through discussions with the school or college about your child’s attendance or any other issues affected by home to school or college travel. You are unlikely to be expected to complete any paperwork related to your PTB other than the agreement at the start.
What happens when my child leaves statutory school and moves into further education?
It is hoped that as many young people as possible with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities will have started to travel independently by the time they begin attending college. However, some young people will still need special travel arrangements or support for their travel as a result of their needs. Before applying, and to find out who is entitled to travel assistance in further education, please read Section B of the Home to School/College Travel Assistance Policy which can be find at:
The documents provide comprehensive information regarding travel assistance which may be available from the council to students aged 16-18 and students aged 19+
Do I need to make a contribution to my child’s travel costs when moving to college?
All Personal Travel Budget requests for learners that are post 16 will be subject to a £510 contribution towards transportation costs. This would be subtracted from any annual PTB allocation before you receive a payment.
Who can I contact for more information?
For more information on personal travel budgets you can contact the SEN Assessment Team.
Telephone: 01706 925981
Email: