Personal transport budgets
A personal transport budget (PTB) is funding to help you get your child to school or college. It allows you to make flexible travel arrangements rather than travelling on a vehicle contracted by the council. A PTB is not a short-term alternative while your transport application is being processed.
You may be eligible for a budget if your child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan. Or they have a statement of special educational needs (the old name for the EHC plans). You also need to meet the criteria for free school transport.
How much you receive is based on the distance between your home and school, college or learner provider. We measure this as a straight line distance, not the distance as calculated by a route planner.
- Less than 5 miles: annual budget = £2,000
- 5 to 10 miles: annual budget = £3,000
- Over 10 miles: annual budget = £5,000.
If your child receives a PTB partway through the school year, or attends school on a part-time basis, the total payment will be on a pro rata basis to account for the reduced amount of time that a parent will be responsible for transport arrangements.
Deductions for 16 to 19-year-olds
An annual charge applies to transport for students who are over 16.
Each year, a contribution equivalent to the cost of a 16+ Kent Travel Saver (or half for low income families), will be deducted from the amounts shown above, even if they only attend part time.
Apply for a personal transport budget
Apply for a personal transport budget
Before applying, make sure you have read our Transport Eligibility privacy notice.
For any questions:
- email personaltransportbudgets@kent.gov.uk
- call: 03000 41 21 21.
PTB applications require additional information about journey costs from transport providers, so can take longer to assess than standard transport applications.
How we pay you
We'll make 11 monthly payments to you on the 15th of each month or the previous working day. The money goes straight to your bank account.
No payment will be made in July to allow the council sufficient time to confirm that a reduction is not required in the final monthly instalment to account for low attendance. The final payment will be made in August to account for transport that parents have provided in July of that school year.
We can stop paying if your child's attendance is not satisfactory but will always give you 28 days notice.
We review your budget each year to make sure your child still meets the criteria.
How you can use the budget
It's up to you how you use the money, as long as it helps you get your child to school or college. For example:
- to cover fuel costs or wear and tear on your car
- to pay for a shared taxi journey with other students
- paying other people to take your child to school or college when you can't
- paying for a chaperone
- paying for childcare for your other children whilst you're collecting your child with SEN
- buying travel passes for your other children so they can get home whilst you're collecting your child with SEN.
We will review the budget each year.
Read our personal transport budget guide (PDF, 281.0 KB).
Contact us
For any questions:
- email: personaltransportbudgets@kent.gov.uk
- call: 03000 41 21 21.
If you move, have a change of circumstance, or change schools email us as we will have to check your child is still eligible for a personal transport budget.