FAQs
Why are you consulting on the Home to School travel policy now?
Councils who provide home to school travel assistance should keep them under review. The Council is asking for people’s views on its updated home to school/college travel policy. This brings different parts of the existing policy into one place. It has been brought up to date following guidance from government to all councils last year. This is also a good opportunity to consider more flexible forms of travel assistance that better promote the learning of life skills and preparation for adulthood.
What are the changes that the new Home to School travel policy would bring if adopted?
The new policy talks about enhancing more independent forms of travel (such enabling young people to use public transport and by offering families personal travel budgets), away from school buses and taxis where this is possible. We want to promote independent travel and sustainability.
My Child has complex needs and is currently attending a special school or specialist provision in a mainstream school – will their transport change?
The Council’s approach to assessing transport provision is needs-based so that young people with the most complex needs and greatest barriers to attending school will continue to be supported. Given the nature of the service, there are often changes where operators change their vehicles, drivers or passenger assistants or where we need to find new providers for particular routes. However, this is part of normal service and falls outside the consultation’s scope. If families have any concerns, they should email educationtransport@southend.gov.uk
Who is currently eligible for travel assistance?
Eligibility criteria for travel assistance is set out in Southend On-Sea City Council’s current Home to School Travel policy. In line with recently updated DFE guidance it is important to note that parents have a responsibility to transport children to school unless there are exceptional circumstances which mean this is not possible and /or their SEND needs have a significant ability on the transport arrangements they require. The presence of an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) does not mean a child is eligible. Equally, sibling childcare, working or study commitments or the absence of a car cannot be considered as the sole basis for receiving travel assistance. For eligible children and young people, the provision will be safe and appropriate for their needs, but the Council can’t organise assistance around the individual preferences of parents or their individual circumstances.
Who would be impacted by the travel policy if adopted?
There will be no changes to the groups of young people who are currently eligible for travel assistance. Some councils don’t support students aged 16-18, adult learners over 19 who have Education Health and Care plans, or pre-school age children with SEND. Southend Council will continue to provide support for these children and students.
Independent forms of travel will be encouraged where possible and suitable to enhance pathways to adulthood.
Organised travel will be provided where necessary.
How will the new policy affect me?
1. My son is picked up and dropped off at our house each day by one of the school buses. Will that carry on?
Yes, there will be no changes to current arrangements for children and young people receiving home to school travel assistance. Every year individual arrangements for children and young people are reviewed so that changes in needs and arrangements can be taken into account.
2. My daughter is picked up by a taxi each morning to take her to school. She shares the taxi with two other pupils. There is a passenger assistant in the taxi as well as the driver. Will the PA still be there in future?
Yes, there will be no changes to current arrangements for children and young people receiving home to school travel assistance. At the moment, passenger assistants are allocated to most of our taxis and minibuses. The policy is that PAs should only be allocated if the individual child actually needs support. We will consult with parents and schools on the details of the PA requirements and with individual parents on whether a PA is needed.
3. You say you want to see more parents taking up personal travel budgets. What if I don’t want one?
If your child is eligible for free home to school travel, we will offer you a personal travel budget where it makes financial sense for the Council to do so. We can pay a family so they can take their son or daughter to and from school. But, it is voluntary- you don’t have to take one. We will move on and offer you another form of travel if that is the case. And if you do have a personal budget and it doesn’t work for you, then you can hand it back. For post 16 students - where the Council does not have to provide free travel - we are likely to offer you a travel budget, with a seat on a bus or in a taxi only where it is necessary.
How can I support my child with preparation for adulthood?
The Council will be promoting independent travel training (ITT), already in place to support preparation for adulthood. This is available for families who are eligible for transport where this would be an appropriate offer. If you would like more details for families with an interest in exploring this for young people, please contact the Travel Assistance Team email: educationtransport@southend.gov.uk
Will my son be expected to carry out travel training and will we lose the seat on the bus if we say No?
No, travel training is voluntary. We are offering travel training to pupils of secondary school age who have SEND and who are entitled to home to school travel. We will discuss the benefits of travel training with parents. We can assure you that your son or daughter will not lose any travel entitlements until they are confidently able to travel independently. The programme is personalised to meet the needs of the young person. For students with SEND who are aged 16 and over travel training will be the prime offer of support where appropriate.
Are you only doing this to save money?
No, we need to update our policy and produce one that is up to date and compliant with the DfE. That is why we are promoting travel budgets and travel training to provider greater opportunity and choice for families. Of course, we can’t ignore the costs of providing home to school travel and all our arrangements need to provide value for money without compromising quality services.
How will you use the feedback provided during the consultation? Will responses influence future decisions?
Yes, we will report back to the Council’s Cabinet on the outcome of the consultation. We will share the findings with schools and parents. We will act on findings and recommendations that come out of the consultation to possibly amend aspects of the policy and to shape the way we do things.
Where can I find more information about what support my family and I can access?
There is a home to school travel webpage on the Council’s website that sets out the overall arrangements for home to school travel and transport in Southend and which shows you how to apply.
There is also a page on the Local Offer that provides more information on travel and transport for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Southend and also includes application forms.
0-25 SEND Local Offer | Family Information Service | SEND Transport - Support getting to and from school or college Local Offer - (SEND) – Southend-on-Sea City Council