Home to School Travel Assistance Consultation
Home to School/College Travel Assistance Policy
Introduction
We are consulting on a revised home to school travel assistance policy for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Southend-On-Sea City Council. Southend’s revised proposed policy will, where possible, encourage pupils and students with SEND to gain greater independence.
This document explains home to school/college travel, summarises the main changes being proposed to the policy and how you can have your say on it.
Who gets home to school/college travel?
Councils must provide free home to school travel for all children of compulsory school age (between 5 and 16 years of age) who qualify. For many, this is if they live outside the ‘statutory walking distance’ (2 miles between home and school for those aged under 8 and 3 miles for those aged 8 and over). Some children may be entitled to free travel if they live within the statutory walking distance. These include children with special educational needs, a disability and mobility issues which means that they cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school. (children of compulsory school age don’t need an education Health and Care plan to qualify for travel assistance).
Councils can also provide travel support for children and young people who are not of compulsory school age (this is called discretionary travel). Southend-on-Sea City Council supports students aged 16 and over, with or without SEND, some adult learners (if they have an Education Health and Care plan) and some parents of pre-school age children who have special needs.
Why propose a revised policy?
Councils must publish their home to school travel policies and should keep them under review. Last summer, the Department for Education (DfE) published new guidance that tells councils what they must do by law and what they should do to develop good practice in home to school travel. The policy has been updated to clarify the eligibility criteria and to outline all travel assistance options for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) more clearly.
Our new proposed policy document:
ensures we are making the most efficient use of resources
makes the information easier for parent carers and guardians to understand
makes it easier for consistent decisions to be made
ensures we are aligned with DfE requirements
is in a readable form, making it easier to understand.
talks about home to school travel assistance more than transport to help a shift towards more independent forms of travel, away from school buses and taxis where this is suitable
shifts focus to independent travel and sustainability
We are seeking your views on an updated Home to School/College Travel Policy based on the following principles:
the promotion of independent travel for children and young people with SEND
promotion of travel training and use of personal travel budgets in preparation for adulthood
the efficient use of public resources
that home to school (or college) travel happens at the beginning and end of the school day and from one address
that parent carers may be expected to accompany their child to and from school if they live close to the school
that a young person’s travel needs should be regularly reviewed, to see if other forms of travel – particularly independent travel training are appropriate.
Independent travel training is practical help for people with some special educational needs and disabilities. It helps them develop the skills and confidence to travel on buses and trains. It will be offered to parents of secondary age school children and to students aged over 16 where we think it might be appropriate.
Personal travel budgets are where the Council offers to pay parents to take their children to and from school. The amount awarded will be on a case-by-case basis. Typically, a personal travel budget is about half the cost of a private hire taxi. We currently pay 45 pence per mile for two return journeys a day between home and school and part of the consultation will be to hear from parent carers on the suitable payment amount. Some families in Southend-on-Sea have personal travel budgets in place already.
Who is affected by the proposals?
The revised policy will make the eligibility criteria clearer and easier to understand. You will also be able to find out about alternate travel options that may be available to you.
Southend-on-Sea City Council provides travel support for children and young people who are not of compulsory school age (5 to 16 years). This is called ‘discretionary’ travel support. This includes children with SEND who are of nursery school age (under 5); students with SEND, aged 16- 18 years, and adult learners - students aged 19 or over who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). We don’t have to provide transport in these areas, but these remain unchanged.
Many councils up and down the country have consulted on reducing their travel support to the statutory minimum, which is for 5 to 16-year-olds. Or, if they keep it as it is, introducing charges or contributions towards the costs of travel. We are not proposing to do that.
However, we are saying that, wherever possible, our travel offer in discretionary areas will be independent forms of travel support – using buses and trains or by using vehicles belonging to the family. We will do this by providing travel training, personal travel budgets, and reimbursements, with organised transport (taxis and minibuses) only where it is necessary.
Your feedback will allow us to look at how we implement the policy. If you are a parent or carer, a student, a resident, a school or college, partner organisation or a contractor, we want your views of the current travel assistance service in Southend-on-Sea.
How to get involved:
complete an on-line questionnaire
provide written responses to consultations@southend.gov.uk or request a paper questionnaire
take part in upcoming meetings and focus groups with partner organisations
attend an online drop-in session. These will run every Wednesday from 4th Dec until Wednesday 29th January between 12 noon and 1pm (excluding 25th December and 1st January). Sessions can be accessed through this link: https://tinyurl.com/bdd5rr58
come to an in-person event at Southend Civic Centre:
Monday 9th December 2024 between 5pm and 8pm (Committee Room 6)
Wednesday 8th January 2025 between 12pm and 3pm (Jubilee Room)
Consultation closes at 5pm on 31st January 2025
