Agenda item

The SEND travel policy has been reviewed and rewritten in line with new Department for Education guidance. It has also been updated to clarify the eligibility criteria and to outline all travel support options for SEND children and young people more clearly.

Councillor Paul May introduced the report to the Panel and sought to compliment the Head of SEND for the work that has taken place regarding the review of the policy. He stated that the policy was currently in a consultation phase and that they would welcome any comments from the Panel.

He added that they have met with the local Parent & Carers Forum who have been complimentary on the work of the review.

The Head of SEND addressed the Panel and explained that the current SEND Home to School Travel Policy had not been updated for several years and since then a number of DfE guidance updates have been issued, causing the current policy to become out of date.

She stated that the SEND Home to School Travel Policy has been reviewed and rewritten in line with new Department for Education guidance and has also been updated to clarify the eligibility criteria and to outline all travel support options for SEND children and young people more clearly.

She informed the Panel that the consultation process has been followed robustly, including writing to 477 parent/carers, contacting 69 schools, transport providers, B&NES parent carer forum and consulting our B&NES colleagues.

She said that feedback was given online, via the telephone and at 6 in person events. She said that through the consultation process some concerns had been raised regarding whether any changes would make it more difficult for young people to attend their current schools and said that this was not the case and that as part of the Annual Review process they discuss travel options with families and would continue to do so.

She added that some families have also raised the issue of whether they could change schools once the proposed new facilities are in place as they might be closer to their home.

Councillor Robin Moss thanked the officer for a comprehensive report, but said that he felt that the issue was bigger than just this review. He added that the policy was likely to have financial consequences on a budget that is already overspent and that any changes need to be fully understood as to how they will affect our young people and their families.

He stated the need to make the most of the money that is being spent.

Councillor May replied that the changes are driven by the conditions that have been set down by the Government and that the procurement of the associated transport services is a separate matter. He added that this review was about establishing whether this policy is correct and fair for our young people and their families.

The Head of SEND added that there is an option for families to have an individual budget to claim fuel expenses so that their young person can be driven to school by somebody that they know.

Councillor Liz Hardman said that she considered there to be three significant changes to the current policy.

1.  A child / young person would attend their nearest appropriate school if it is able to accommodate their needs.

2.  The policy has become much clearer for parents, carers and those officers who work within the process.

3.  Car Seats – need to be provided by the families for those children / young people who need them.

She said that she also recognised the need to address the overspend within this work area at some point.

The Head of SEND replied that 11 specific points in the guidance need to be included in the policy and that previously there was only 4 that had been in place. She added that this was mainly references to other pieces of legislation.

She added that the guidance concerning the distance between the nearest school and the nearest appropriate school was not that specific previously.

She informed the Panel that the matter of available car seats was not concerning for a large number of local children or young people, but it was the case that some Taxis do not always have one available for a journey.

Kevin Burnett asked when the policy would be implemented.

The Head of SEND replied that a Single Member Decision confirming the policy was due to be taken on 10^th June and then steps would be taken to implement this for new applications. She added that at each EHCP Annual Review the issue of travel to school would be discussed and stressed that there are no plans to move children from their current schools.

She added that as previously mentioned some families have enquired about attending the proposed new schools when they are ready to open as they could be significantly closer to home than the school currently being attended by their child / young person.

Kevin Burnett queried why, on page 36 of the agenda, there was reference to a key milestone as being the end of Year 3.

The Head of SEND thanked him for this observation and said that it should be the end of Year 2.

Kevin Burnett asked what the key costs were affecting SEND travel to school.

The Head of SEND replied that she felt that this was a question that the B&NES Transport Team should respond to.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding commented that significant consultation has been undertaken with connected parents and carers and that the new policy was bringing clarity rather than changes.

He acknowledged that separate discussions need to be had regarding the overall budget and stated that one of the biggest drivers to consider was being able to have enough operators in place.

Councillor May said that young people across all areas of the Council will have different needs and that our Transport Team are looking at ways to take this matter forward. He said that first and foremost a policy needs to be in place.

Councillor Dave Harding asked how many young people will no longer be able to receive transport to school.

The Head of SEND replied that transport to school would not be taken away from any child or young person with SEND. She added that the eligibility hasn’t changed, but the type of transport may differ in the future.

Councillor Joanna Wright asked whether the issue of the Climate Emergency had been addressed as part of this review and if the use of electric vehicles or cargo bikes should be promoted.

The Head of SEND replied that this was an interesting point and that some families might be willing to look at these options.

Councillor Wright asked if School Streets had any part in this process to be able to deliver healthy routes to school.

The Head of SEND replied that she did not think that it would as it is a specialist provision that is put in place and that it would normally take the child or young person directly into the grounds of the school.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding commented that travel training, to enable a young person to travel to school or college independently, would be offered when deemed appropriate.

Councillor May informed the Panel that he had a meeting scheduled with the Commissioning team and would raise with them the issue of electric vehicles.

Kevin Burnett noted that within the report around a third of the 32 respondents were not satisfied with their Home to School transport provision and asked if their concerns had been addressed as part the review.

The Head of SEND replied that many parents prefer their child to travel in a taxi with a guide and that this was not the best use of Council budgets. She added that from speaking with the Parent & Carer Forum there are some frustrations when the service is late when a vehicle is having to make multiple pick-ups.

Kevin Burnett asked how it is checked that parents select the nearest appropriate school and was that done in conjunction with the Transport team.

The Head of SEND replied that applications for these children & young people are not part of the normal school admissions process when they have an EHCP in place and that they are discussed as part of their Annual Review process.

Kevin Burnett referred to HERS (Hospital Education Reintegration Service) travel and how changes to this structure had affected how some young people are able to access this service. He asked if any comment could be given on whether the resources allocated to the service were being used as expected.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding replied that they would have to make enquiries on this point and form a response for the Panel.

Kevin Burnett asked if this policy solely related to SEND pupils and was there a separate travel policy for non-SEND pupils.

The Head of SEND replied that yes there was a separate travel policy for non-SEND pupils, without an EHCP, for when they live over three miles away from their school.

Councillor Ruth Malloy asked if the independent travel training could take place prior to Year 10 if deemed appropriate for the child or young person.

The Head of SEND replied that all three of the Special Schools within B&NES offer this service and it was considered that a definite date needed to be put in place for when this issue will at least be first discussed. She added that the schools make the judgement for when it is most appropriate to begin these discussions.

The Chair on behalf of the Panel thanked all parties that had taken part in the review and the consultation process.