A new approach to some school transport delivery across Leicestershire will be discussed this month.
Leicestershire County Council is considering proposals that could see changes to its special educational needs school (SEN) transport service and the home to school transport service.
If given the thumbs up, the authority would look at launching a public consultation giving people a chance to have their say on options which would include:
• Reducing the level of discount available to students from low income families; and
• Stopping council arranged taxi and minibus provision for transport students to post 16 education and providing direct financial support instead.
The changes have been put forward as SEN transport costs have increased from £6.5million in 2011/12 to £9.2million in 2016/17 – an increase of 42 per cent. The costs are expected to grow further by four to five per cent every year unless something is done to manage this spend.
Every pupil must have the chance to get to their school or nursery, but rising budget pressures mean we need to reconsider how we can assist.
“We need to focus on providing statutory services to those families who are in most need of support.
Person:Councillor Pam Posnett, cabinet member for passenger transport
The council does not have a statutory duty to provide home to school and college transport free of charge to students aged 16 to 19 in the same way it does for children aged between five and 16 years old.
The council’s cabinet will meet at 11am next Friday (15 September) – it will be webcast, live, at http://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/webcast - with a recording available from the following day.
If approved, a public consultation would take place this autumn.