Making travel accessible

An innovative scheme that teaches children with special educational needs to use public transport has been launched at Manchester Town Hall.

Manchester Travel Training Partnership is a City Council scheme supported by GMPTE and Lancasterian school.

A dedicated team of five travel trainers work with pupils aged 15 plus on a range of skills such as road safety, planning a journey, accessing buses and trams, personal safety, learning routes and using mobile phones.

Ann Thornber, Learning Strategy Officer, Manchester City Council says: "The scheme is all about equipping these young people with the skills they need to travel to and from school safely and independently.

"Full risk assessments are made for each route and there is continuous liaison and involvement with parents, families and carers."

Eight children have successfully completed the travel training course which includes learning a variety of travel routes, recognising landmarks, communicating with drivers and travelling on routes initially with their trainer, then shadowed by their trainer and lastly doing the journey by themselves.

Cllr Sheila Newman, Executive Member Children's Services, Manchester City Council says: "This scheme will help pupils increase their independence while also raising their self esteem and confidence. As well as equipping them with the skills needed to make their own way to and from school, it will also allow them to access health services, leisure facilities and post school training independently."

There are currently five travel trainers with more being recruited in September.

On average it takes six to eight weeks for a child to reach the level of being able to travel independently.

The scheme will also help older children tackle routes to and from college.

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Maggie Doyle, Press Office, tel: 0161 234 4610