Travel support from the government

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help young people overcome specific barriers to participation, so they can remain in education.

There are two types of 16 to 19 bursaries:

A vulnerable bursary of up to £1,200 a year for young people in one of the defined vulnerable groups below:

• in care
• care leavers
• in receipt of Income Support, or Universal Credit in place of Income Support, in their own right
• in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit and Disability Living or Personal Independence Payments in their own right
• discretionary bursaries which institutions award to meet individual needs, for example, help with the cost of travel, meals, books and equipment

Discretionary bursaries which institutions award to meet individual needs, for example, help with the cost of travel, meals, books and equipment

To be eligible for the discretionary bursary young people must:

• be aged 16 or over but under 19 at 31 August 2024 or
• be aged 19 or over at 31 August 2024 and have an Education, Health and Care Plan
• be aged 19 or over at 31 August 2024 and continuing on a study programme they began aged 16 to 18 (‘19+ continuers’)
• be studying a programme that is subject to inspection by a public body which assures quality (such as Ofsted), the provision must also be funded by either a government funding agency or the local authority

Schools and colleges are responsible for managing both types of bursary. Young people who want to apply for support from the bursary fund should contact their chosen school or college to make an application.

Further information: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund webpage (GOV.UK)

If you are a young parent under 20, Care to Learn support can help pay for your childcare and related travel costs, up to £180 per child per week, while you’re learning.

Care to Learn support can help with the cost of:

• childcare, including deposit and registration fees
• a childcare ‘taster’ session (up to 5 days)
• keeping your childcare place over the summer holidays
• taking your child to the childcare provider

The childcare provider must be Ofsted registered and can be a:

• childminder
• pre-school playgroup
• day nursery
• out of school club

If your child needs specialist childcare, the provider must also be on the Care Quality Commission’s register for specialist provision.

If you want a relative to get Care to Learn support for looking after your child, they need to be both:

• providing registered childcare for children they’re not related to
• living apart from you and your child

Childcare payments go directly to your childcare provider. Before your childcare provider can be paid:

• your childcare provider needs to confirm your child’s attendance
• your school or college needs to confirm that you’re attending your course

Payments for travel costs go to your school or college - they’ll either pay you or arrange travel for you.

Payments will stop if:

• you stop attending your course
• you finish your course
• your child stops attending childcare

You can get Care to Learn support if:

• you’re a parent under 20 at the start of your course
• you’re the main carer for your child
• you live in England
• you’re either a British citizen or a national of a European Economic Area (EEA) country
• your course is publicly funded (check with your school or college)
• your childcare provider is registered with Ofsted or the Care Quality Commission

Care to Learn support is only available for courses in England that have some public funding.

This includes courses that take place in:

• schools
• school sixth forms
• sixth form colleges
• other colleges and learning providers, including Foundation Learning
• your community at Children’s Centres

Young parents are also entitled to apply for an Under 19 Bus Only Ticket or for those aged 19 and over can apply for the 19-25 card.

For more information, please visit Care to Learn scheme webpage (GOV.UK)