Contact: Terry Rath, 01962 846457, [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report updates the county council's home to school transport policy by incorporating the new denominational school transport policy, changes to transport entitlement introduced by the Education Act 2006 for children in receipt of free school meals and recent guidance issued by the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF).

1.2 The new policy also acknowledges the contribution of the Hampshire Post-16 Transport Partnership in contributing to the range of assistance available for post-16 students travelling to schools/colleges. The report describes the links between this policy and the County Council's Sustainable School Travel policy which was approved by the Executive Member in September 2007.

1.3 The decision to approve this updated policy will contribute to the County Council's priorities by ensuring that entitled children are able to have a safe and secure journey to school which will enable them to maximise their wellbeing by arriving at school able to benefit from the education being provided.

2 Recommendations

a) That the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) approves the updated County Council Home to School Transport Policy as attached as Appendix I of this report

3 Background

3.1 The current home to school transport policy is dated September 2000. Since that policy was agreed the County Council has made changes to its denominational transport policy, there have been legislative changes affecting children's entitlement to home to school transport, a post-16 Transport Partnership has been formed and further guidance has been issued by the DCSF. The County Council also has had to produce a sustainable school travel policy, the first version of which was approved by the Executive Member in September 2007. There have also been changes in school admissions arrangements from September 2007 which have also had to be reflected in the home to school transport policy. All these changes mean that the current policy has many aspects which need to be amended or enhanced. The following paragraphs set out the main changes incorporated in the new policy.

3.2 The Education Act 2006 introduced new home to school transport entitlement for children who are in receipt of free school meals, or whose parents receive the maximum level of Working Tax Credit. From September 2007 children in receipt of these benefits, who are aged eight to ten years and live more than two miles from their catchment or nearest school are entitled to free home to school transport. This additional duty was supported by a DCSF grant of £115,000 for 2007-8. The grant has increased to £285,000 in 2008/9, £456,000 in 2009/10 and £626,000 in 2010/11.

3.3 From September 2008 a child aged eleven years or above will be entitled to free transport if they are in receipt of the benefits described in paragraph 3.2, if they live more than two but less than six from their three nearest secondary schools. There is also an entitlement for children in receipt of these benefits who attend schools based upon their parents' religion or belief. Additional funding will also be provided, as a grant, by the DCSF to meet the estimated costs of this additional duty. Schools have been made aware of these additional entitlements for children.

3.4 The Executive Member decided in May 2006 to amend, following extensive consultation, the County Council's policy for home to school transport entitlement to denominational schools. Assistance would continue to be granted but a charge of £1 per day was introduced from September 2007 for entitled children. Families in receipt of free school meals and who have more than two children travelling to denominational schools were excluded from this charge.

3.5 Following the introduction of the equal preference admissions system from September 2008, transport assistance will continue to be provided to pupils travelling to their catchment area or nearest school. When their catchment area or nearest school cannot accommodate them then transport will be provided to the next nearest school with a place, providing that their nearest or catchment area school was named amongst their preferences.

3.6 The Disabilities Discrimination Act 1995 does mean that children who are covered by this legislation do need to have home to school transport provided which enables them to have the opportunity to participate in activities at school similar to those engaged by their able bodied peers. The Aiming Higher for Disabled Children's initiative may raise issues about how home to school transport policy links with other provision, which may need to be considered at a future date.

4 Corporate Priorities

4.1 The decision to approve the updated policy will contribute to the County Council's priorities by ensuring that entitled children were able to have a safe and secure journey to school which will enable them to maximise their wellbeing by arriving at school able to benefit from the education being provided.

4.2 It also supports the following outcomes of the Children's Act

- staying safe

- enjoying and achieving

5 Consultation

5.1 There was extensive consultation in 2006 about the changes to the County Council's denominational transport policy.

6 Legal Implications

6.1 None

7 Financial Implications

7.1 The new duties imposed by the Children's Act 2006 will be met by additional government grant. The details are set out in paragraph 3.2 of the main report. The cost of the new duties and the grant levels will be monitored.

8 Personnel Implications

8.1 None

9 Impact Assessment

9.1 Race and equality support assessment has been considered in the development of this report and adverse impact has been identified. Section 51 of the Equalities Act 2006 specifically excludes home to school transport from the provision of the Act affecting education.

10 Crime prevention issues

10.1 There are no crime prevention issues.

11 Views of the Local County Councillor

11.1 The changes in the revised policy are countywide.

12 Conclusion

12.1 The revised policy proposed for approval incorporates recent national and local changes affecting home to school transport.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

List documents here or type `none'.