Northumberland County Council is celebrating the launch of a new travel initiative, following a successful trial with over 100 special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) pupils in the county.
The Independent Travel Training initiative was launched to help empower SEND children to travel to and from school using public transport. Initially rolled out with Year 10 and 11 pupils across Northumberland, the scheme has been hailed a success by parents and students alike.
Designed in partnership with local schools, families, businesses and community spaces, the Independent Travel Training programme provides step-by-step support on how to use public transport, including reading timetables, identifying the correct bus or train, and asking the right questions to build real-world navigation skills.
Independent Travel Trainers, Donna Jackson and Dawn Atkinson, play a vital role in helping young people gain the skills and confidence to travel safely alone. Through small group work within schools and a series of one-on-one sessions, they provide patient, practical guidance that reassures parents while empowering children to enjoy the freedom of independent travel.
Donna said: “We are overjoyed that this initiative has successfully supported students across Northumberland. We understand it’s a tall order to ask parents to trust us with their children, and that’s why safety is our number one priority.
“We ensure that we work patiently and methodically with parents and children to fully equip them for independent travel, completing the journeys with them and gradually giving more responsibility to the students as their confidence grows.
“Not only does this help those with additional needs lead a more independent life, but it also helps them become more sociable. It’s lovely to see pupils interact with others while on the bus or train, and these skills positively impact all areas of their lives. Travelling solo really is a life skill, and it’s a fantastic scheme to be a part of.”
Alongside the school programme, the council has also launched the Independent Travel Friendly scheme, working closely with local businesses and community hubs to create a safe and welcoming environment for young travellers. Shops, cafés, and public spaces across Northumberland have signed up to be recognisable “safe stops” for children travelling alone.
These venues provide simple but vital support, such as a warm drink, access to a phone charger, or friendly advice if a child feels lost, scared, or unsure. In the rare event of emergencies, staff are also trained to contact parents or the Independent Travel Training team quickly.
The scheme aims to give parents peace of mind that, beyond public transport, there is a strong safety net of community support in place. It reassures families that their children are never far from a helping hand as they gain independence.
Local parent Lynsey Thain has attested to the joy of watching her child develop into a confident young person because of the scheme. She said, “I felt very confident in the initiative. Donna and Dawn were working very closely with my son, Callum, but keeping me in the loop the whole time. I knew exactly where he was at all times and how he was coping with the training.
“At first, Callum was nervous to take part, but after day one, he was so excited about it. He really gained a new lease of life and so much confidence.
“He now regularly travels on his own, and it’s not just to school; he hops on the bus to visit friends and family members, something I couldn’t have dreamed of previously.
“It’s such a reward to see him being more independent, it really has been life-changing for him – he comes home every day with a smile on his face.”
Northumberland County Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, says the programme has great potential and encourages those eligible to sign up or talk to the team about how it could work for their family.
He explains: “We are very pleased with the success of this programme in Northumberland.
“The scheme aims to give parents peace of mind that, beyond public transport, there is a strong safety net of community support in place. It reassures families that their children are never far from a helping hand as they gain independence.
“Looking to the future, we aim to roll out this initiative to the wider community and include more children of different age groups.”
Northumberland County Council encourages schools, parents, carers, and young people to look into Independent Travel Training and discover the benefits for themselves. This service is available to young people under the age of 25 who live within the Northumberland County Council district, who have an EHCP and currently access council-commissioned home-to-school transport.
To read more and enquire about signing up, please visit the website: https://www.northumberlandsend.co.uk/travel-training