Didcot sixth former provides independent travel training for Oxfordshire councillor

Kiera Dimond used to find travelling to school from her home in Didcot a daunting experience.   

The sixth former, aged 18, from Fitzwaryn School, Wantage, has a heightened sense of anxiety, meaning doing things independently like travelling on public transport is a real challenge.

Luckily, help was available for Kiera through Oxfordshire County Council’s independent travel training.

The scheme is designed to help young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) use public transport. A travel trainer helps them gain knowledge, experience in completing their planned route, and develop road safety skills. 

It has boosted Kiera’s self-esteem for her daily journey to such an extent that she offered to be a guide for Councillor John Howson – Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services – so he could experience the training first-hand.

Kiera pointed out aspects she had gone through such as stranger awareness, journey planning, using a bus pass or money, understanding the Green Cross Code, and other practical safety advice including ‘what if scenarios.’

“Before the training, my confidence in travelling on public transport was so low that I couldn’t do it,” explained Kiera.

“I was getting to school by taxi, a journey I found noisy and lacking the sense of independence I get from being on a bus, which has better views out of the windows too.

“Look at me now, my confidence has changed a lot since I began the travel training. Now I’m independent, which feels good and helps me in things like talking to the bus driver, and I’m even showing Cllr Howson how I cope on my travel from school.

“My independent travel trainer has been amazing. Nothing has been a problem and nothing is ever an issue, I can’t praise the trainer enough and will never forget how their support and kindness has changed my life.”

Councillor John Howson, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “I’m a regular bus user, and a champion of public transport, so I couldn’t resist the invitation to join Kiera on her journey from school.

“Kiera pointed out to me that it’s not always the same driver or passengers on board each day. This can be daunting in itself, particularly when Kiera and other young people on our independent travel training programme are often more comfortable and confident in familiar surroundings.

“However, the scheme is clearly working for Kiera. She was leading and acting as my guide because it is her route. Kiera knows when to press the bell to alight, making good use of the digital information screens to identify the correct bus stop.

“Indeed, I’d like to thank the bus companies and their drivers who support our independent travel training. They make our young people and their travel trainers welcome and look out for them throughout their journeys.

“We are rightly proud of our county’s bus services and it’s brilliant that we are encouraging young people to use public transport through initiatives like this, giving them independence, boosting their confidence and their freedom to explore and learn.”

Further information about the independent travel training scheme is available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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