Are you aware of the proposed changes to home to school transport consultation?


1. What are the proposed changes?

The council is proposing three separate changes to entitlement to free education transport which may affect travel for some young people between home and their school or college.

A. Withdraw or phase out free transport for pupils between home and school where this is provided on religious/faith grounds

B. Charge for transport for pre-school children with special educational needs (SEN) and their parents between home and their
assessment setting

C. Charge for transport for post-16 learners with special educational needs (SEN) between home and college.


2. Why are these changes being proposed?

The proposed changes would enable the council to save money by reducing the cost of discretionary transport services. The proposed changes may enable the council to spend money more fairly, allocating free education transport only where the needs of individual pupils make it necessary.


3. What are the proposed changes to faith transport?

The council currently provides free travel for children who adhere to a particular faith between home and their nearest faith school, if the safe walking distance exceeds three miles for secondary school pupils or two miles for primary school pupils.

The annual cost to the council of providing free school transport on faith grounds exceeds £160000.

The current policy gives an additional entitlement to free transport to qualifying pupils attending a faith school that is not available to pupils attending other schools. The proposed revisions to the policy may therefore bring greater fairness and equity to education transport provision.

The proposed changes are a complete withdrawal of provision of free transport on faith grounds, or a gradual phasing-out over a number of years (e.g. pupils already allocated free travel on faith grounds may continue to be supported, without accepting new applicants).

The proposed changes would not affect any pupil with a statutory entitlement to assistance with their travel between home and school. A child may still be eligible for free transport to a particular school under statutory distance rules, e.g. if that school is the closest to their home but further than the statutory walking distance, or on grounds of low income.


4. What are the proposed changes to transport assistance for pre-school children with special educational needs?

The provision of free transport for pre-school children with special educational needs (SEN) to assessment centres is discretionary. This affects the families of children with SEN who are younger than compulsory school age and who do not have a Statement of special educational needs.

The annual cost to the council of providing non-statutory transport for pre-school learners with SEN exceeds £40000. It is established practice in some local authorities to ask parents to contribute towards transport costs in these circumstances.

The proposed changes are to ask parents to contribute to the cost of their pre-school child's use of non-statutory education transport services provided on SEN grounds.

Suggestions are welcome on possible ways to calculate charges or contributions; for example, contributions to travel costs could be calculated using existing means-tested benefit entitlements.


5. What are the proposed changes to transport assistance for post-16 learners with special educational needs?

If a pupil has a Statement of special educational needs, this lapses when the pupil reaches 16 years old and leaves school to attend a college. The council currently provides discretionary travel assistance for learners with SEN up to the age of 25 attending a local college.

The annual cost to the council of providing non-statutory transport for post-16 learners with SEN exceeds £100000. It is established practice in some local authorities to ask for contributions towards transport costs from such learners or their parents, or for colleges to subsidise costs.

The proposed changes are to ask parents to contribute to the cost of their child's use of non-statutory transport to college provided on SEN grounds.

Suggestions are welcome on possible ways to calculate charges or contributions; for example, contributions to travel costs could be calculated using existing means-tested benefit entitlements.


6. When might the proposed changes happen?

If these proposals go ahead, the following timescales are proposed:

A. Withdrawal or phasing-out of faith transport from September 2012

B. Introduction of charging for transport of pre-school children with SEN from April 2012

C. Introduction of charging for post-16 learners with SEN attending college from September 2012.


7. Are other councils considering similar changes?

Neighbouring areas including Hartlepool, North Yorkshire and Middlesbrough are also proposing changes to their non-statutory arrangements for free education transport.


8. Who is being consulted?

This consultation involves Head Teachers, teaching staff, governors, pupils, parents, colleges, Social Care and the diocese. This document will also be sent to elected members. Anyone can give their views on the proposed changes during the consultation period, which runs for ten weeks from Monday 31st October 2011 until Monday 16th January 2012.


9. Will there be opportunities to discuss the proposals?

We are holding three information drop-ins during the consultation period. Anyone with an interest in the proposals is welcome to attend any of these events:

Ormesby and Normanby Children's Centre
Daisy Lane, Ormesby TS7 9LF
Thursday 15th December 2011, 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m.


Loftus Youth & Community Centre
Duncan Place, Loftus TS13 4PR
Friday 6th January 2012 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Redcar Coast Children's Centre
Rainbow Lane, Redcar TS10 1RR
Tuesday 10th January 2012, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.


HAVE YOUR SAY

10. How can I comment on these proposals?

We want to hear any comments you may have on any aspect of these proposals. Please tell us your views and make specific comments or suggestions relating to the proposed changes to faith transport, pre-school SEN and post-16 SEN transport. Please respond using our online survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RCBC_EducationTransportConsultation Paper copies are also available on request, please contact:

Andrew Joyce, Pupil Services Team
Adult & Children's Services
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council
Redcar & Cleveland House
Kirkleatham Street, Redcar TS10 1RT

Telephone: 01642 771121
Fax: 01642 771186
E-mail: consultation@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk


11. What happens next?

The council's Cabinet will consider the outcome of this consultation during Spring 2012. The council's Cabinet will consider all comments about these proposals received during the consultation period, before deciding whether any of the proposed changes should be reflected in the councils transport policy.


12. Where can I get more information?

During the course of this consultation we will be collating all the views and comments we receive and we will produce a list of frequently asked questions. This will be made available at the information drop-Ins. If you have any questions, please contact the Pupil Services team. Copies of this consultation document and other council documents can be found on the council's website www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk, by contacting the Pupil Services Team or e-mail consultation@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

This consultation document is also available on request in other languages and formats.