Free one to one tailored training for students, young people and adults with Special Educational Needs, Disabilities or Learning Difficulties, to teach them how to use public transport on their own in Suffolk.
Watch the video below to find out more about the Travel Training journey.
What is Independent Travel Training?
Independent Travel Training teaches students, young people and adults with special educational needs, disabilities, learning or mental health difficulties, a safe way of travelling independently that will build self-esteem and confidence. Being able to travel on public transport is a key life skill which lets young people and adults make choices about how they live, go about their daily life and fulfil their potential.
The training involves supporting trainees to use all forms of public transport and walking routes to their school and/or college, day service provision, and for adults to access their community.
Often once training has been successfully completed, trainees go on to make more independent journeys to further colleges, social activities and even volunteering or job opportunities.
Once a trainee is Travel Trained, if they were travelling via a SCC taxi the taxi service would be withdrawn. This enables the trainee to maintain their new life skill. We encourage the trainee, if eligible, to use their Suffolk County Council obtained bus pass, and assist them to apply for a Concessionary bus pass to allow free travel after 9:30 am. Bus operators in Suffolk can also be contacted to find out what their current multi-trip offers are.
For college students, this can be a considerable saving in the cost of their Post 16 transport which Suffolk County Council is unable to provide free of charge. We also want them to use their new life skill, to reinforce their learning engraining it into their everyday life.
How is independent Travel Training delivered?
Our expert travel trainers work one to one with all trainees over a number of weeks to train and assess their ability to make the journeys. The training is designed to make the trainee feel comfortable and to reduce anxiety.
A trainer will create a training plan for the trainee that meets their individual needs as every trainee will learn at a different pace. This will take into account all suitable routes for the trainee’s destination. Trainers provide guidance such as looking out for landmarks, how to buy a ticket, and where to sit on the bus.
The training covers all aspects of travelling independently giving the trainee many skills for life. Specifically, it covers and gives:
- Safe ways to travel independently, including specific training on stranger danger and road safety
- Confidence in using buses and trains
- How to use timetables and buy tickets
- Preparing the young person for adulthood
- Enhances the young persons and adult’s life skills
- What to do when things go wrong (e.g. the bus is late, lost bus pass, bus broken down)
- Regular communication with the trainee, their families, school, college or day service provision
The trainer will be with the trainee until they are ready to start travelling on their own. Support will be reduced gradually, and as confidence grows the trainer will move to shadowing the trainee on the route. Family or carers will be kept informed about the whole training journey.
Once the trainer is confident that the trainee is ready to become an independent traveller, they will complete their final journey independently and receive a certificate. The training can take a few weeks to several months, but as long as progress is being made by the trainee the trainer will continue to provide support and training, providing regular updates to families.
Even if you are unsure if Independent Travel Training is right for you, your student, young person or adult, it is best to submit a referral, and a travel trainer will arrange a home visit to talk through the process and assess suitability.
How do I apply for Independent Travel Training?
We need a referral. To participate in Independent Travel Training a referral needs to be submitted which can be completed by clicking the box to the right, or online at www.travel-training.co.uk. Alternatively, you can call 0345 6032200 where your details will be taken over the phone and submitted on your behalf.
A referral can be made by the trainee, their family or carers, or professionals involved with the trainee such as Social Workers and school, college and day service staff. Before any training can be considered, an assessment of the trainee and their route will be carried out by the trainer. If the trainee or the route is not suitable at that time the referrer will be notified and the referral closed. A further referral can be submitted again at a later date and there is no limit to the number of referrals that can be made. As much detail as possible is required about the trainees needs and disabilities, to help the trainer make a full suitability assessment.
In Suffolk, Essex County Council are contracted to deliver the Independent Travel Training Service. They have been doing so since 2015, and to date they have successfully travel trained over 900 people in Suffolk.
The Independent Travel Toolkit
Want more confidence with independent travel? Our Independent Travel Toolkit is full of tips and helpful resources.
The toolkit brings together easy-to-understand information for young people learning to travel on their own, guidance for parents and carers who want to support that journey, and useful resources for professionals all in one place. It can be used by anyone at any time. Check it out at Independent Travel Toolkit.
The toolkit aims:
- To identify the elements needed for successful independent travel on public transport.
- To build confidence for nervous travellers.
- To help with road and personal safety.
- To help plan journeys and what to take.
- To provide advice for when things go wrong.
The Travel Training Foundation Course – TTFC
The Travel Training Foundation Course has been launched in Suffolk. It has been designed and delivered by the Essex Travel Training Team in various mainstream units and special schools around Suffolk.
It is a classroom-based course delivered in school with practical sessions to Year 9 students. The course aims to:
- Prepare students for independent travel, considering emotions and coping strategies.
- Consider the barriers students may have accessing public transport and journey planning.
- Equip the students with some practical skills in order to keep themselves safe covering road safety and stranger awareness.
- Identify students who have the skill level required to complete full travel training.
This course is for the whole year 9 group in the school setting, regardless of ability, to equip all pupils with some skills for traveling on public transport and keeping safe when away from home. Learn more about the TTFC below:
Further Information
View contact details for bus service operators in Suffolk
Find a timetable for your bus service
For specific Suffolk Travel Training enquiries please email transporttraveltraining@suffolk.gov.uk
For general enquiries please call 0345 606 6173 or email passenger.transport@suffolk.gov.uk