1 What is a Personal Transport Budget (PTB)?
A Personal Transport Budget (PTB) is a sum of money provided by the council to support parents and carers to arrange transport for their child to school or other educational setting.
It is aimed at children who are eligible for council travel assistance and have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The flexibility of PTBs allows families to create transport solutions that best meet their unique requirements.
Key features of a PTB
Advance payments: A PTB is usually paid monthly in advance, as an equal amount over 10 months, with the month 11 payment being a reconciled amount. Your child’s school attendance will be monitored by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) throughout the school year to ensure we are continuing to pay the correct amount.
Cost per mile: A PTB is paid at 70 pence per mile for a child with SEND. The council will calculate an annual reimbursement figure for you.
Attendance basis: The PTB is offered on the assumption that the child attends 190 days of education per year, based on the statutory school year. For students over 16 attending a full-time learning programme, the PTB is based on annual guided learning hours.
Flexible use: Families can choose how to spend their budget.
2 How to use a PTB
PTBs are flexible and can be used in various ways, including, but not limited to:
- paying for fuel or running costs of a family vehicle used for transport
- hiring a vehicle if the family does not own one
- paying for shared taxis with other students
- paying for another person to transport siblings, allowing the parent or carer to focus on the eligible child’s transport
- purchasing travel passes for other children in the family to facilitate the transport of the eligible child
- childcare for other children in the family to free up the parent or carers time to facilitate the transport of the eligible child
- collaborative transport arrangements, for example, carpooling with other families
Restrictions on PTB usage are:
- the budget cannot be used for council organised transport services
- it must only be used to facilitate the eligible child’s travel to their educational setting
- PTBs are not allowed for purposes unrelated to education, such as work experience, or any illegal, unlawful, or unsafe activities
Conditions and accountability
Eligibility and use: PTB’s are awarded based on the child’s eligibility for council travel assistance. The budget can be withdrawn, reclaimed, or reduced if the child’s circumstances change, attendance drops below 90%, or the funds are used inappropriately. Medical absences may be considered when assessing attendance requirements.
Legal and safety obligations: If parents employ someone using the PTB (for childcare or transportation), they are responsible for complying with relevant employment laws, taxes, insurance, health and safety regulations and ensuring that any employed individuals have up-to-date Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates.
Cost efficiency: The council can withdraw or reduce the PTB if it is no longer cost-effective, or if changes occur in national legislation or local council policies.
3 How the amount is determined
Rate per mile
The standard rate is 70 pence per mile, calculated based on the shortest road distance between the child’s home and their educational setting. The amount includes 2 return trips per day (4 legs of the journey).
The council does not consider other variables such as faster routes when assessing applications.
Additional considerations
Families may be awarded higher amounts if the child requires a personal assistant (PA) for safe transport. The parent or carer is responsible for hiring the PA and this cost may be included in the PTB.
Assessment criteria
Factors such as the child’s needs, distance, time of the journey and other available council provided transport options are also considered when determining the PTB amount. We will also take into consideration whether the child can travel independently or requires assistance.
Mileage allowances
While PTBs have largely replaced mileage allowances, in some exceptional cases, mileage allowances may still be offered temporarily, usually for children whose school attendance is necessarily low. These are assessed individually and granted on a case-by-case basis.
4 Applying for a PTB
We will contact you if you are eligible.