Agenda item

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 individual needs required provision outside of the agreed policy, then in those exceptional circumstances the policy would provide flexibility to deliver that. A commitment was also provided that communication and engagement would continue with the parents, carers, children and young people affected using a range of methods.

Further detail was also provided on the actions being taken regarding the delivery of SEND provision in Leeds, with the aim of minimising the need for learners having to travel significant distances outside of the city wherever possible. The opportunities arising from the proposals in relation to independent travel were also highlighted. As part of the discussion on this report, clarification was also provided to Members on several specific areas within the proposed policy.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That in general terms, the contents of the submitted report, be noted;

(b)  That the outcomes from the consultation exercise, as agreed by Executive Board at its meeting on 19 June 2024, be noted;

(c)  That approval in principle be given to the proposed Children and Young People’s Transport Policy (October 2024) as presented at Appendix 3 to the submitted report, which details how a stepped model of transport assistance would be offered to eligible young people with SEND in post-16 education. Transport assistance would in future be made available on the following basis, depending on eligibility and the level of transport need, assessed against the policy:-

(i)  limiting post-16 transport assistance to learners with SEND, living 3 or more miles from their education setting;

(ii)  provide Independent Travel Training and a free bus pass (or equivalent cost) for a young person who is able to travel independently or could make the journey to their learning setting on public transport accompanied by an adult as necessary;

(iii)  issue a Personal Transport Allowance for post-16 learners with SEND, as set out in paragraph 8 (b) of the submitted report;

(iv)  the consideration of transport assistance for applications made against the exceptional circumstance criteria set out in the Children and Young People’s Transport Policy (October 2024) as detailed at Appendix 3 and as detailed in paragraphs 24-25 of the submitted report.

(d)  That it be noted that implementation would be with effect from the commencement of the new academic year (September 2025) and that transitional arrangements would apply to the application of the new policy, as detailed in paragraph 22 of the submitted report;

(e)  That it be noted that a Children and Families Scrutiny Board Working Group meeting took place on 24 September 2024 to discuss the recommendations detailed within the submitted report and due to timing associated with Executive Board agenda publication and the Scrutiny Board meeting schedule, the resulting Working Group Statement was circulated to Board Members as supplementary information which forms Appendix 2 to the submitted report; 

(f)  That further to the approval in principle of the Policy (resolution (c) above), it be noted that any further amendments to this policy would be taken in accordance with existing delegations by the Director of Childrens and Families.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor A Lamb required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on the decisions referred to within this minute)