Independent Travel Training is a free scheme which has been set up by Children’s Services at Torbay Council. Our Independent Travel Training programme provides targeted support for Children and Young People with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Our Trainer works with students from mainstream and special schools, education other than at school, and colleges of further education.

The scheme aims to support Children and Young People with SEND throughout Torbay, as they learn how to develop the skills required for safe and successful, independent travel between home and school. We use a Total Communication approach to support successful interaction, providing a range of communication aids throughout training, suited to the needs of the Trainee.

The Independent Travel Training programme will include road safety awareness, accurately telling the time, handling money, how to use a bus/train pass, appropriate social behaviour, stranger danger, location identification, strategies for solving problems and overcoming barriers, and any other issues that might arise.

If your Child or Young Person currently travels to school or college on assisted transport and would like to travel on their own, then our Independent Travel Trainer could help.

Benefits of our Independent Travel Training programme include:

• Children and Young People develop skills to travel independently and without fear, between home and school or college.
• Learning core travel skills on a familiar route is an excellent foundation from which to support independence for their future, such as travelling to work, or social and leisure activities.
• Less dependency on friends and family and greater autonomy.
• Providing preparatory one-to-one or group training in a school or college setting.
• Children and Young People are prepared for safer and more confident engagement with the community by becoming more independent.
• Parents and carers are reassured that their child is being supported to become more independent.

We provide a person-centred approach, before any training commences our Independent Travel Trainer will liaise closely with the Trainee and their support circle including Parents/Carers, Tutors and Social Workers to gain an understanding of how to tailor the programme to best suit the needs of the Trainee.

If you would like your child to take part in this scheme, or for more information, please contact ITT@Torbay.gov.uk