From 6 January 2025 to 14 February 2025 Rutland County Council is consulting on proposed changes to the Council’s mainstream, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and post-16 travel policies.
Why are the policies being reviewed?
The Council’s travel to school-post16 policies have not been reviewed since 2016. In January 2024, the Department for Education updated its statutory guidance on ‘travel to school for children of compulsory school age’, which sets out what local authorities must do to comply with the law.
By law, the Council is required to offer free travel assistance to school for those who meet certain criteria. The Council may also provide travel assistance to school, whether free of charge or subsidised, for others who they are not legally required to help.
There are currently three separate home to school transport policies, plus a fourth policy that covers the travel of young people aged 19 to 25 with SEND who remain in education and training. This number of policies can be confusing for parents and carers who wish to find out about the options available to them and how the assistance offered may change as children grow older.
The Council’s budget for school transport continues to be overstretched in response to increased demand and requests for more tailored transport arrangements. The Council must consider how to balance rising demand, the needs of children and young people, and parental expectations against the need to deliver value for money for the public purse.
It is intended that the new policy will be implemented from September 2026 for pre-16 pupils, with the Post-16 element being implemented from September 2025.