SEN Travel Training
SEN Travel Training supports and teaches children with special educational needs how to use public transport independently.
Overview
HCT Group and BOP partnered to design and deliver an independent travel training programme for young people with special educational needs.
Using public transport safely not only allows these children to go to school independently, but also has a significant impact on their future independence, including improved wellbeing and higher employability.
HCT Group is a social enterprise bus operator that uses its profits to provide community transport services, meaning it was the perfect partner for this approach.
For over three years, this project has had both direct and systemic positive impact, including: improved access to after-school and other social clubs and leisure activities, increased confidence and motivation to learn, access to further education opportunities, and work experience for individuals; and, via this greater independence, providing a significant amount of relief to families in terms of time and resources, as well as savings to the local authority.
Outcomes
80% of the 132 young people who started the SEN Travel Training programme successfully completed it. The programme saved at least £2.8m in transportation costs (net of costs of outcomes) for the three local authorities involved.
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132
Starts to the programme
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105
Successful completions of travel training
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86
Students sustaining two terms of independent travel
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£1.1m
Outcomes achieved