This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
In June, the council held a consultation on three proposed changes to the current policy. These were:
1. Post 16 transport – Removing subsidised transport to post 16 students. In future students will be supported by the national bursary scheme and the council will explore alternative options for post 16 transport with local providers.
2. Alternative school clause – Removing this clause that allows a pupil to be entitled to receive free home to education transport to an alternative school (chosen by parental preference) that is also more than three miles from their home address, provided that the alternative school is not more than three miles from their priority area school. This applied where the priority area school was in Newport because of the close proximity of those schools. With the removal of priority areas and the introduction of two new secondary school providers, it is proposed that pupils will only receive free transport to their nearest school (if living over two miles from the school for primary and three miles for secondary).
3. Transitional transport arrangements – There are some longstanding transitional transport arrangements in place following the school reorganisation that allow children in Chale to be transported to either Niton Primary or Brighstone CE Primary School free of charge. The council proposes that transport is provided to the child’s nearest school in line with the rest of the Island, which over time would create a more efficient arrangement.
Bringing policy in line with statutory requirements
These three areas are discretionary and cost the Isle of Wight Council around £230,000 per year to fund. The proposals will bring the current home to school transport in line with statutory requirements.
A clause is also proposed to be added to the policy which clarifies the entitlement for children whose nearest school is Christ the King College. This makes it easier for parents living near the school and in the West Wight area, who do not wish to send their child to a faith school, to apply directly to Carisbrooke College which would be their nearest secondary school.
Councillor Richard Priest, Executive member for children’s services, said:
“It has been well documented that the council is facing huge financial challenges and we must consider all of the discretionary services we provide.
“With increasing transport costs, coupled with the introduction of the new Free School and Studio School, we need to ensure our transport policy is fair to everyone and offers the taxpayer value for money.”
Any changes will take effect from September 2015, however under the proposals pupils currently receiving free home to school transport would continue to receive the same service until the end of their current stage of schooling provided there are no changes in personal circumstances.
For those interested in comparing what the council offers with statutory requirements, these are laid out below.
The current statutory home to school transport requirements are:
Pupils up to the age of 8 (year 3) — Free transport to the nearest qualifying school if it is more than two miles walking distance from home.
Pupils between the ages of 8 and 16 (years 4 to 11) — Free transport to the nearest qualifying school if it is more than three miles walking distance from home.
Pupils from low income families aged between 8 and 11 (years 4 to 6) — Free transport to the nearest qualifying school if it is more than two miles walking distance from home.
Pupils from low income families aged between 11 and 16 (years 7 to 11) — Free transport to one of the three nearest qualifying schools if it is between two and six miles away. Or the nearest school preferred by reason of a parent / carer’s religion or belief that is more than two miles by the shortest available walking route and not more than 15 miles away.
Pupils with Special Educational Needs or disability or mobility problems — Free transport to the nearest qualifying school, where the pupil lives within the statutory walking distance from school and where due to their special needs or disability they are unable to walk in reasonable safety even when accompanied.
Pupils living within the statutory walking distance but who are unable to walk in safety to school because of the nature of the route — Free transport to the nearest qualifying school, where the pupil lives within the statutory walking distance from school and where, due to the nature of the route, they are unable to walk in reasonable safety even when accompanied.
Image: alexpanoiu under CC BY 2.0
