Consultation on Changes to Home to School Transport

Home-to-School Transport is one of a number of areas where savings are being considered.

The Current System

Generally parents and carers are responsible, in law, for making sure that their children are able to get to and from school. This means that when choosing a school, they have to decide whether they need transport and then organise provision themselves.

Local Authorities are required, by law, to provide assistance for those pupils who have real difficulties getting to their nearest suitable school. If a pupil qualifies under the following circumstances then transport is provided free, this includes pupils who:

• Face a long journey to their nearest school (Statutory walking distance assessment over 2 miles 4-8 years, over 3 miles 8-16 years).
• Pupils who are unable to walk to school due to an unsuitable walking route.
• Have particular needs (medical, special educational needs or disability)
• Are from low-income families (entitled to free school meals or on maximum working-tax credit).

Worcestershire County Council's Home to School Transport policy has developed to provide additional support, well beyond these basic legal requirements. These discretionary areas which the Council subsidises include:

• Denominational Schools: Subsidised transport assistance is provided for pupils to attend their nearest faith school, over the statutory walking distances. A family ticket arrangement offers a further discount.
  
• Joint Catchment Areas: For historic reasons, pupils in several parts of the county live within joint catchment areas and therefore have a choice of more than one school. If they live more than three miles away, they currently receive free transport to any of these schools, even though they may not attend the school nearest to where they live. This could be viewed as being inconsistent and unfair.
  
• Transport to Post-16 Courses: We provide travel assistance to the nearest suitable Sixth Form Centre or Further Education College, if it is located more than three miles away. Some students want to travel further, often because the course they want is not available locally. As the number and diversity of courses continue to increase, the authority is receiving an increase in applications for assistance with longer and more costly journeys, sometimes involving out-of-county travel. Current provision now exceeds the original purpose of the policy, which was to provide universal access to Post-16 education.
  
• Pupils of pre-statutory school age attending special nursery assessment centres: We currently provide free travel for pupils to specialist pre-school nursery units or to nursery assessment classes. Similar assessments held by the Health Authority for such pupils at their assessment units are not usually supported with transport assistance.
  
• Transport for Non-Entitled Pupils: In the past, we have assisted individuals who were not entitled to transport but whose particular circumstances were unusual. Sometimes this resulted from a legal requirement or a unique circumstance. Such instances include
  • Pupils with a Special Educational Need who do not attend their nearest suitable school
  • House move - pupils moving home part way through year 10 and 11 external examination courses

Reason for Change

It costs the Worcestershire Council tax payer over £13million each year to transport around 10,000 pupils and students to and from school/college. Around 8,300 pupils are entitled by law to receive free transport assistance.  However, around 1,700 young people benefit from subsidised transport which the council helps pay for and this is known as discretionary travel. In the current financial climate, Worcestershire County Council simply cannot afford to continue the current amount of discretionary provision, and so intends to review this provision.

A number of changes are proposed that if implemented, will ensure a more consistent, easy-to-understand service which is cost-effective and fair.

A Phased Approach:

Worcestershire County Council proposes to reduce its support for discretionary home-to-school travel services. The preferred option is to deliver this change using a phased approach, and propose the following:

However, the Council will also consider bringing in the changes for all existing and new pupils from September 2012.

The Authority is proposing the following:

• Denominational Schools: Currently subsidised travel assistance with dedicated bus routes is provided for approximately 500 pupils at a net cost of  c£220,000 per annum. It is proposed to further reduce this subsidy for September 2011. Some students may still receive free transport if the preferred school is the nearest school and the distance exceeds the statutory walking distance or they qualify for free transport because of low income. In other circumstances, where buses continue to be provided, the Authority is proposing to charge the full cost of the service, with no subsidised travel arrangements.
  
• Joint Catchment Areas: Currently free transport to a school which is not the nearest (unless they qualify on other grounds) is provided to approximately 200 pupils at an additional cost of c£50,000 per annum.  From September 2012,  it is proposed that the assessment for free transport is based exclusively on the nearest suitable school. If places are available at another school which is not the nearest, Worcestershire County Council may be able to offer a seat on transport to that school if there is space on the contracted bus under the vacant seats scheme.
  
• Transport to Post-16 courses: Subsidised travel assistance for students continuing into further education is provided to around 650 pupils (including those with Special Educational Needs). The net cost to the Council for this is c£1,200,000 per annum. From September 2012, it is proposed that assessment will be made to the nearest establishment only. Worcestershire County Council will no longer provide out-of-county transport assistance, unless in exceptional cases where it is to the nearest suitable establishment.
  
• Pupils of pre-statutory school age attending special nursery assessment centres: Currently, free transport is provided for approximately 60 pupils to the nearest specialist pre-school nursery units or nursery assessment classes. This costs the Authority c£130,000 per annum. From September 2012, it is proposed to charge for this transport at the full cost for providing these services.
  
• Transport for Non-Entitled Pupils: The Authority proposes to be more rigorous in its assessment of cases for exceptional circumstances. From September 2012 assistance will no longer be offered for families moving house to pupils in Years 10 and 11.

Contribution Scheme

The Council currently operates a contribution scheme whereby parents can purchase a place on subsidised travel.  The rates are reviewed on an annual basis.

• Vacant Seat Payment Scheme: Worcestershire County Council currently subsidises transport assistance for approximately 500 pupils.
  
• Under 16 Contribution Rates: For those who receive subsidised travel on a contracted bus and are aged younger than 16 years old, the current contribution rate for home-to-school transport is £405, which this year represents a 52% discount on the average cost for transport/pupil of £842. There is currently no additional subsidy for low income families for post 16 travel although there is a statutory entitlement to free travel for under 16s from  low income families under certain circumstances.
  
• Over 16 Contribution Rates: For those who receive subsidised travel on a contracted bus and are aged 16 years old or over, the current contribution rate for home-to-school transport is £547, which this year represents a 35% discount on the average cost for transport/pupil of £842.
  
• Family Ticket: Currently we offer a further subsidy to families with more than one child travelling. The current annual charge made for a family ticket is £625. This is a further saving of 23% on the price of two seats.

We will continue to:

• Provide Travel Assistance to those who are entitled to it by legislation.
• Promote the availability of statutory free transport assistance for children 11-16 from low income families to a choice of local schools between 2 and 6 miles, or to the nearest faith school up to 15 miles.
• Where dedicated bus routes are being withdrawn, we will endeavour to maintain access using alternative public bus route options.
• Remind, advise and promote sustainable transport options including cycling, walking, car sharing and passenger transport options as an alternative to home-to-school travel services.