Motability Scheme lessons in Woodlands

Starting from your own front door

The wide avenues and grass verges of Woodlands make door-to-door pick-up straightforward, so you do not need to get to a meeting point. Your first lesson can begin outside your house, with time to get settled in the car before you drive anywhere.

When you phone us, please mention any adaptation needs, any equipment you travel with and anything that affects how you get into a car. We would much rather hear it at the start than find out on the day.

Sixth formers and the age 16 rule

Most learners must wait until 17, but there is an earlier start for some disabled young people. Anyone who gets the enhanced rate of the PIP mobility component, or has applied for it, can drive a car from age 16. For a student at Outwood Academy Adwick, that could mean learning during the first year of sixth form. The provisional licence can be applied for from 15 years and 9 months, and we can collect you from the academy on Windmill Balk Lane.

Funding from the Motability Foundation

Up to 40 hours of driving lessons can be covered by a Motability Foundation driving lessons grant. It is aimed at disabled people on the Motability Scheme who also meet additional criteria, such as receiving a means-tested benefit, and you need a theory test pass before applying.

Because the Foundation books grant-funded lessons through its own process, contact it first on 0800 500 3186. If it turns out you do not qualify, or you would like to begin straight away, you are welcome to book lessons with Alma privately.

Getting assessed by Driving Mobility

Some learners find it useful to have a driving or adaptation assessment before lessons start. Driving Mobility, a charity, offers these at an outreach centre in Doncaster, with bookings handled by its centre in Leeds. The assessment can recommend controls and adaptations that suit you, which helps everyone plan.

Your first Motability lesson

The first session is mostly about getting comfortable. Your instructor will help you set up the seat and mirrors along with the steering wheel so you can reach everything easily, and explain the automatic controls one at a time. You will then drive slowly around The Park, stopping whenever you need to.

At the end, your instructor will talk through how the car suited you and whether anything should change before the next lesson. If an adaptation looks necessary, they may suggest an assessment with Driving Mobility before you continue.

How lessons progress around Woodlands

We start on the roads around The Park and along the avenues, where you can get used to the automatic gearbox and the steering at low speed. As you build confidence, we add The Crescent and Green Lane, then the junctions onto the Great North Road and the Highwayman Roundabout. Later lessons head down York Road towards the city and the test centre side of Doncaster.

Read more on our main Motability driving lessons page, or compare with Motability driving lessons in Adwick-le-Street. Our Woodlands driving lessons page covers the rest of the area.

Motability Scheme driving lessons in Woodlands: your questions

Who arranges Motability Foundation grant lessons?

The Motability Foundation arranges them itself, not Alma. Call the Foundation on 0800 500 3186 to check whether you qualify. If you do not, or you want to start sooner, you can learn with us as a private pupil.

Do I need an assessment before lessons?

Not always. If you are unsure which car or adaptations will suit you, an assessment through Driving Mobility is a good idea. If you already know an automatic car works for you, you can start lessons with us straight away.

Why are Motability lessons in an automatic?

An automatic car removes the clutch and gear lever, so there are fewer controls to use while driving. That helps many disabled learners concentrate on steering and observation.

Can I take my practical test with adjustments?

Yes. When you book your test, you can tell the DVSA about your disability so they can make reasonable adjustments. The driving standard is the same, but the arrangements on the day can be adapted.

Can lessons start from Outwood Academy Adwick?

Yes. If you are a sixth form student at the academy on Windmill Balk Lane, we can collect you after college and take you home at the end of the lesson. Let us know about any access needs at the pick-up point when you book.