Our travel training programme helps give young people with disabilities, special educational needs or additional needs the confidence and skills they need to be able to travel safely independently.
“This is a fantastic course that Havering should use more. Independence for our son has and always will be a big ask. This course allowed him to be confident, empowered him and assisted parents at a time when health is not good.”
Parent of a student with special educational needs and disabilities in Havering
What does it do?
The travel training programme can support students to learn how to use public transport, including buses, trains, tubes or a combination of different types of transport, and can support young people with finding and walking to destinations. Although it focuses on journeys between the student home and school, it will also teach young people how to make all kinds of journeys outside the school day.
“They understood how scared I was and helped me get over my fear of travelling independently.”
Havering student with special educational needs and disabilities who undertook travel training
Being able to travel on public transport is a key life skill. It enables young people to make choices about how they live, go about their daily life and fulfil their potential. Our programme is designed to support students to travel to school or college safely by themselves, as well as creating long-term positive effects so people can continue travelling safely independently in the future.
Travel training can improve:
- social interaction skills
- life skills
- self-esteem
- responsibility
- time management
- communication skills
What does the training cover?
The training is personalised depending on the student, their strengths and the support they need. However, normally during the training, we’ll cover:
- Confidence using public transport
- Coping strategies and what to do when things go wrong, for example, when the bus is late or a train changes destination
- Managing fears and anxieties
- How to use timetables and buy tickets
- Personal safety
- Road safety
- Stranger danger
“They explained everything I was going to do in a way I can understand.”
Havering student with special educational needs and disabilities who undertook travel training
Usually, after agreeing this with the student’s parent, we’ll complete role play with the student and a ‘stranger’ (a travel trainer the student doesn’t know) to test their learning and capabilities.
“From start to finish any and all information given and sought was actioned and provided in a clear and concise manner.”
Parent of a student with special educational needs and disabilities in Havering
Who provides the training?
Our travel training is provided by DABD in partnership with Havering Council. The service has a team of travel trainers, and one of these trainers who can best support the student will be allocated to work with the family.
“Fantastic course which went far further than we thought it would. We had brilliant contact and information from the travel trainer – fab organisation.”
Parent of a student with special educational needs and disabilities in Havering
“They treated me like an adult.”
Havering student with special educational needs and disabilities who undertook travel training
How do I apply?
You can complete an application form at www.havering.gov.uk/schooltravelassistance to apply for the travel training programme. We will assess the student’s strengths and suitability for the programme with the student and the family, and let you know whether you have been accepted for a place.
What happens after an application?
If a student is accepted for a space on the travel training programme, an officer from DABD will meet with the student and their family to develop a personalised travel plan built around the student’s strengths and needs. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
meetings may happen virtually or over the phone, depending on the situation.
‘The person asking the assessment questions was helpful because they helped make my mum not so nervous about my travel training.”
Havering student with special educational needs and disabilities who undertook travel training
The student will then have their own travel trainer allocated to them who will accompany them on their journey and support them to develop the skills and coping strategies they need.
The programme can last up to 12 weeks, depending on how much support the young person needs.
“Totally happy with the assessment and questions asked, it was far more involved in aspects and areas that we had not previously considered.”
Parent of a student with special educational needs and disabilities in Havering
What if my child was due to undertake the independent travel training programme last academic year?
Like many services, the independent travel training programme was put on hold in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If your child was due to undertake the programme, or had started the programme, you should hear from DABD soon to talk to you individually about the suitability of resuming your travel training.
No students will lose their place on the programme due to the pandemic, however we recognise that some things may have changed since you were previously offered a place. Therefore we’ll work with people individually on the next steps, depending on what is right for them. Any travel assistance service students’ received while waiting for their programme to start, such as a Council bus, will continue unless individually stated otherwise.
How do I get more information?
Our travel training service is provided by DABD in partnership with Havering Council. If you have any questions about the programme or how it works, you can contact DABD on 020 8215 9630 or via email at traveltraining@dabd.org.uk.
“They made it fun so I was not so nervous about travel training.”
Havering student with special educational needs and disabilities who undertook travel training
Watch the video of Jamie’s story, and how travel training has helped him become more independent at: https://youtu.be/ORh7i7o99zY
Get involved in travel assistance
Last year parents got involved with testing our application form for travel assistance before it went live.
If you’re interested in getting involved or hearing about future tests and co-production work relating to travel assistance, please contact the Council at CADTransport@havering.gov.uk.
Support from TFL
Read some of TFL’s accessible travel stories
Apply for a ‘please offer me a seat’ badge
Ask your local school about getting involved with TFL and MET Police on ‘safe bus days’ with students with special educational needs and disabilities