Councillors are set to note North Tyneside Council’s new home-to-school transport plans amid a financial pressure of £1.77m.
North Tyneside Council’s family friendly sub-committee is set to discuss the local authority’s reduced home-to-school provision for children with special health and education plans. Following cabinet approval in November 2024, the local authority made a series of changes to its transport policy.
Previously, North Tyneside Council provided travel assistance free of charge for pupils with an education and health care plan who lived over one mile from a suitable special school or suitably equipped mainstream school. However, as of September, the distance requirements will be two miles for children up to eight years old and three miles for children aged eight and above.
The new restriction is also subject to individual assessments on a pupil’s ability to walk or associated health and safety issues related to their special educational need or disability.
Students already receiving home-to-school transport will continue to get it until they leave their current phase of education. That will be either the end of Year 6 or the end of Year 11.
In addition, the council’s new policy will provide transport for eligible pupils at the start and end of school days only.
The local authority also provides fully funded transport for pupils aged 16 and above with education and healthcare plans who also have special educational needs and disabilities. From September this year, a “travel contribution” of £672 per academic year can be paid in monthly instalments over 12 months.
Exemptions to this include young people in the care of the council, low-income families, and young people already making payments to adult social care through a personal budget. This change proved the most unpopular, with 122 (48%) respondents to a public consultation on the changes stating it was not a reasonable proposal.
Councillors will be asked to note the changes to the policy, to be implemented later in the year, on Thursday, January 6 at the council’s Cobalt HQ.
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