Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Children and Families providing details on the outcomes from the public consultation undertaken on proposed changes to transport assistance for post-16 learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The report presents proposed next steps and seeks approval of an updated Children and Young People’s Transport Policy, as presented in Appendix 3. The report also includes a Statement on this matter arising from a recent working group meeting of the Scrutiny Board Children and Families (Appendix 2). 

(Appendix 2 to follow)

Further to Minute No. 10, 19 June 2024, the Director of Children and Families submitted a report presenting the outcomes from the public consultation exercise undertaken on proposed changes to transport assistance for post-16 learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The report detailed proposed next steps and sought approval of an updated Children and Young People’s Transport Policy, as presented at Appendix 3.

Supplementary information had been provided to Board Members and published ahead of the meeting in the form of the Scrutiny Board Children and Families Working Group statement regarding the proposed changes to transport assistance for post-16 SEND learners. This had been submitted following the Scrutiny Board’s agreement of the statement at the meeting held on 9th October 2024. The statement was presented as Appendix 2 to the submitted report.

In presenting the report, the Executive Member extended her thanks to Children and Families Scrutiny Board for the work that it had undertaken in this area. Also, it was highlighted that the Local Authority’s duty was to provide home to school transport assistance for children with SEND of statutory school age, and that although it was the parents’ responsibility to provide transport arrangements for post-16 year old learners with SEND, the Council had continued to provide substantial assistance. With regard to the proposals within the report, it was noted that they had followed consultation undertaken with young people and their families. The Board was also advised that the proposals would reduce the significant overspend which existed in this service area, whilst maintaining a discretionary transport offer for post-16 students with SEND. The provisions which would be put in place to support those affected were also noted.

In acknowledging the reasons for a review being undertaken, a Member raised his concerns in respect of the proposals and in doing so relayed to the Board an individual concern which had been raised with him, advising that this was representative of others he had received. The Member sought reassurance that the implementation and communication of the proposed policy would be proactive and would be centred around the needs of children, young people and their families, and that for instance, there would be flexibility on the 20-mile radius cap being proposed. In raising such concerns, the Member suggested that further work needed to be undertaken and perhaps a deferral of the final decision was required in order to provide the necessary assurance to parents and families around the approach which would be taken to implement the proposals. 

In response, whilst acknowledging the impact of the proposals, it was noted that the current policy was unsustainable. It was also noted that the matter had been considered in detail at Scrutiny Board, where the challenges being faced had been acknowledged, and it was confirmed that the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Board had been accepted.

Assurance was provided to the Board that the proposed policy would take into consideration the individual needs of children, young people and their families, and where such  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60