Last chance ​for parents to have their say on proposed changes to Home to School Transport Policy

The Council launched a consultation in February, which remains open until Wednesday 3 April, and is keen that residents, particularly parents and carers of children who are planning to use the home to school transport service, take part and have their say.

The consultation outlines proposed changes to two of the Council’s Home to School Transport policies:

• the policy for all children of compulsory school age, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or other mobility difficulties.
• the policy for Young People aged 16-19.

Both policies have been reviewed and amended to make them clearer, and to ensure they are aligned with the Department for Education’s (DfE) revised guidance on Home to School Transport, which was published in June 2023.

Every day the Council transports around 6,500 children to and from school across Central Bedfordshire, on around 750 routes, and it is predicted to have spent £19 million on school transport this year.

One of the main changes the Council is proposing is to develop an independent travel training scheme for children and young people with SEND, to help those who can develop the necessary skills and knowledge to travel independently and provide parents or carers with peace of mind that they are travelling safely.

Another key change is around the system the Council currently uses when parents are applying for school transport. The Council is proposing changing this from the school’s ‘catchment area’ to the student’s ‘nearest school’.

Further minor amendments to the policies include changes to make them clearer or bring them up to date.

Cllr Hayley Whitaker, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said: “There is still time left before the consultation on proposed changes to the Home to School Transport Policy closes, and we are keen to make sure that as many parents and carers as possible have had their say.

“We have had to consider some changes to our services because of the pressures on our budget. Although it’s not the main reason for the changes to the policies, some of the proposed changes will help to curb the ever-increasing costs of providing school transport. However, in the main the changes are to bring the policies up to date and make them clear; we understand how important home to school transport is for families, so we’ll continue to provide support for those who need it.

“It’s really important that families know that the proposed changes will not affect anyone who currently uses school transport. If the changes to the policies are approved, they will apply to new applications.”

Any changes would be effective for in-year school applications from the start of 2024/25 academic year, and at the start of the 2025/26 academic year for new compulsory school transport applications and post-16 transport applications.

Anyone who would like to have their say can do so by visiting: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations. Responses must be submitted by Wednesday 3 April 2024.