Decision details

(a)      That the responses to the public consultation on proposed changes to the Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Mainstream Home to School Transport Policies be noted;

(b)      That the following changes to the above Policies be approved for implementation with effect from September 2019:

          (i)       Nursery Transport

          A reduction in the exemption, from a 100% discount to a 50% discount for low-income families with an annual contribution of £330 (50% of the current full charge rate) for affected children/families, with the charge being reviewed annually.

          (ii)      Post-16 SEN Transport

          A reduction in the exemption, from a 100% discount to a 50% discount for low-income families with an annual contribution of £330 (50% of the current full charge rate) for affected children/families, with the charge being reviewed annually.

Provision of traditional transport (Council fleet minibuses or taxis) for all eligible children between 16 and 18 removed and replaced with a Personal Transport Budget (PTB) direct payment, noting that

•   PTBs will be amended to take account of the low-income “discount” of 50% (i.e., a PTB amount offered will be £330 higher for students from low-income families), and

•   Exceptions to the Policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

          (iii)      Mainstream Post-16 Transport -

          Provision of traditional transport (mainly taxis and commercial bus passes) for students removed and the exemption for students from a qualifying low-income background removed, to be replaced with an annual travel grant of £150 for those from a low-income background or living in isolated rural areas.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To enable savings to be made to help address the shortfall in the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/19 to 2021/22 (MTFS).  The Council does not have a statutory duty to provide home to school/college transport free of charge to students aged 16-18 (SEN and Mainstream), nor to provide home to nursery transport for children under 5 years with SEN.  With transport costs for all home to school transport continuing to rise, the Council needs to reduce the cost of non-statutory education transport provision.

An annual review of the charges for Nursery and Post-16 Transport will help ensure that they are adjusted to reflect transport costs.

An exception clause for Post-16 SEN Transport would enable individual circumstances to be accommodated where a PTB would not be appropriate or feasible and traditional transport arrangements need to be maintained.

The £150 travel grant will assist those mainstream Post-16 students from low-income backgrounds or living in isolated rural areas with their transport costs.

Implementing the changes with effect from September 2019 will give students and their families plenty of notice so that alternative arrangements can be made where necessary.  This also removes the need for any transitional provision to be put in place.