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School and College Transport Policy

 

Introduction
The Education and Inspections Act 2006 has introduced some new requirements for local authorities to provide school transport assistance for statutory school age children in some low-income groups.

The council has made some changes to the policy to incorporate the new legal requirements. There are also changes in respect of special transport provided for some pupils with special educational needs and to their discretionary policy in respect of post 16 students.

The existing policy (full text attached as Appendix A)

The current policy provides for free transport where:

  • A child is registered at the nearest appropriate primary school and lives more than two miles from the school.
  • A child of compulsory school age is a registered pupil at the nearest appropriate secondary school and lives more than three miles from the school.
  • A child is a registered pupil at the nearest appropriate (within the travelling distances referred to above) school but to ensure attendance there are in the authority’s view exceptional circumstances arising from the child’s special educational needs.
  • The distances are measured by the nearest available walking route.
     

The new policy effective from September 2008 (full text attached as Appendix B)

The main sections of change:

  • Clarification of boundaries of transport zones and ecclesiastical parishes.
  • Extension of rights to free school travel for children from low income groups defined as:
    • those who are entitled to free school meals or
    • those who families are entitled to their maximum level of Working Tax Credit
  • Post 16 students choosing to attend schools or colleges outside the Borough of Warrington.
  • Special educational needs transport
  • The method of measurement of the nearest available walking route.
  • The appeals process.
  • The requirement for parents to notify the authority of a change in circumstances.
  • Children in supported nursery places.
     

The timescales for introducing the new policy

In accordance with statutory legislation, the council will:

  • Publish its arrangements by 31 May 2008
  • Implement these arrangements from September 2008